GOLF Monterey Pines Golf Course PUBLIC/MILITARY Located next to Monterey County’s fairgrounds, Monterey Pines features wide fairways, a sprinkling of trees, small lakes and very affordable greens fees. Manageable par4s and unique par-3s provide scoring opportunities for skilled players and comfortable space for beginners to get swinging. Locals refer to this unique public course managed by the Navy (military discounts) simply as “The Pines.” Driving range. Restaurant. Sample tee: Par 70. 5,860 yards. Rating 68.7. Slope 117. 350 Fairground Road at Garden Road, Monterey. (831) 656-2167, montereypeninsulagolf.com NORTH COUNTY Pájaro Valley Golf Club PUBLIC Located off the Peninsula map and often overlooked by visitors, this course is a favorite for many due to its wide fairways and laidback vibe. A playable par 72 that offers inland vistas. Driving range. Restaurant. Sample tee: Par 72. 6,432 yards. Rating 70.6. Slope 125. 967 Salinas Road, Royal Oaks. (831) 7226300, pajarovalleygolf.com PACIFIC GROVE Pacific Grove Golf Links PUBLIC Local golf patriarch Sam Morse sold this spectacular piece of real estate for close to nothing, strongly suggesting someone develop a golf course on it. Pacific Grove followed Morse’s advice, and the result is a beautiful public course—the “Poor Man’s Pebble Beach”—and the best bargain on the Peninsula. The front nine weaves its way through cypress trees and the back nine is similar to a Scottish links course, playing like two completely different courses for the low price of one. Snack bar (restaurant coming 2026), driving range. Sample tee: Par 70. 5,727 yards. Rating 67.9. Slope 113. 77 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove. (831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com PEBBLE BEACH Links at Spanish Bay PUBLIC Note: Links at Spanish Bay is closed for renovation until April 2027. The new look will take further advantage of the coastal views while giving the course greater playability. Nestled among impressive sand dunes near Asilomar State Beach, the Links are patterned after an authentic Scottish course. A bagpiper finishes the day with a tune to follow Scottish tradition. Restaurants and bar. 2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (800) 877-0597, pebblebeach. com 48 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® 2026-2027 Untitled-6 1 6/16/25 13:45 ’25 Voted BEST ARCADE EscapeRoom_2-3v_VG26_GK.indd 1 6/11/26 4:13 PM
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