Top California Public Golf Courses

🏌️‍♂️ Top CaliforniaPublic Golf Courses (Based on Wikipedia, Course Profiles & Golf Rankings)

California is a golf paradise, offering everything from coastal masterpieces to mountain escapes and desert retreats. With contributions from legends like Alister MacKenzie, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye, the Golden State’s public-access courses are second to none. Whether you’re dreaming of Pebble Beach or chasing hidden gems in the Sierras, here are the top public courses in California.

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Jack Neville & Douglas Grant
   📍 Pebble Beach
   🌊 Legendary oceanside course with cliffside holes and stunning views
   🏆 Host of multiple U.S. Opens and regular PGA Tour stop
   💲 Premier bucket-list destination with a hefty green fee
   🗒️ Wikipedia | Course site

2. Pasatiempo Golf Club – Alister MacKenzie
   📍 Santa Cruz
   🌲 Historic inland gem designed by the architect of Augusta National
   🏌️‍♂️ Rolling terrain, challenging greens, and dramatic bunkering
   🏆 Regularly ranked in top 100 public courses in the U.S.
   🗒️ Wikipedia | Course site

3. Torrey Pines – South Course – William F. Bell, redesigned by Rees Jones
   📍 La Jolla (San Diego)
   🌅 Coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean
   🏆 Host of the 2008 & 2021 U.S. Opens and Farmers Insurance Open
   💰 Municipal rates for residents, public access for all
   🗒️ Wikipedia | Course site

4. PGA West – Stadium Course – Pete Dye
   📍 La Quinta (Palm Springs area)
   🔥 Known for its difficulty—frequent PGA and Q-School venue
   💀 Iconic island green 17th (“Alcatraz”)
   🎯 Challenging layout for golfers seeking a test
   🗒️ Course site

5. The Links at Spanish Bay – Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson & Sandy Tatum
   📍 Pebble Beach
   🌬️ True links-style course with ocean breezes and dunes
   🎻 Features daily bagpiper to close the day
   💲 High-end, scenic experience within the Pebble Beach resort
   🗒️ Course site

6. Rustic Canyon Golf Course – Gil Hanse, Geoff Shackelford & Jim Wagner
   📍 Moorpark
   🌄 Minimalist design that blends with natural terrain
   💰 Great value with strong architectural pedigree
   🏌️‍♂️ Fast, firm, and playable for all skill levels
   🗒️ Course site

7. Yocha Dehe Golf Club – Brad Bell
   📍 Brooks (near Sacramento)
   🏞️ Lush course nestled in Capay Valley near Cache Creek Casino
   🍇 Vineyards, elevation changes, and top-tier conditions
   💲 Excellent public access and value
   🗒️ Course site

8. Sandpiper Golf Club – William F. Bell
   📍 Santa Barbara
   🌊 Coastal holes on bluffs above the Pacific
   🌴 Palm trees, ocean breezes, and picturesque sunsets
   🎯 Often called the “Pebble Beach of Southern California”
   🗒️ Course site

9. CordeValle – Robert Trent Jones Jr.
   📍 San Martin
   🌄 Rolling vineyards and oak-dotted hills
   🏆 Hosted PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open and U.S. Women’s Open
   💲 Public access via stay-and-play resort
   🗒️ Course site

10. Barona Creek Golf Club – Todd Eckenrode
    📍 Lakeside (near San Diego)
    🏜️ Desert-style layout with native grasses and bold bunkering
    🌾 Eco-conscious design with sustainability awards
    💲 Reasonable green fees with top-tier service
    🗒️ Course site

🎯 Why Golf in California?

• 🌅 Courses on cliffs, in deserts, forests, and mountains

• 🧱 Architectural variety from MacKenzie to Fazio to Hanse

• 🛫 Fly-in access to San Diego, L.A., Palm Springs, and Monterey

• 🏌️‍♀️ Year-round play in most regions