Play the same Monterey turf the Pro-Am walks in February.
California golf holidays
Pebble Beach Golf Links runs its closing holes along the cliffs above Carmel Bay, and Spyglass Hill drops from the dunes into the Del Monte pines, both on the AT&T Pro-Am rota. We've arranged the Monterey Peninsula ground since 1981, tee times, hotel and transfers handled, so you arrive to a settled itinerary and a confirmed sheet. The 18th green is closer than you think.
★★★★★4.9 from real golfers
· 2 courses · ATOL-protected where flights are added
California gives golf one of its great stages: the Monterey Peninsula, where the fairways run to the very edge of the Pacific and the cypress-fringed coast does the rest. At Pebble Beach Resorts, two of the most celebrated names in the game sit a short drive apart — Pebble Beach Golf Links, the cliff-top links that needs no introduction, and Spyglass Hill, plunging from sand dunes into the pines above Carmel Bay. This is a bucket-list pairing for the committed golfer, set against a backdrop of Big Sur drama, wine country and small, characterful coastal towns. We curate it with the discretion the destination deserves.
We have arranged California golf since 1981. Every itinerary is hand-built and hand-priced around your dates, your group and the courses you want to play.
Why play golf in California
Two world-renowned courses within minutes of each other: Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill
Genuine ocean golf — fairways and greens perched above the Pacific on the Monterey Peninsula
A pilgrimage round at Pebble Beach, one of the most photographed courses on earth
Spyglass Hill's contrasting test: dune-and-ocean opening holes giving way to a tree-lined inland stretch
A compact, walkable golf trip — no long transfers between the headline courses
Carmel, Monterey and the wider Big Sur coastline on the doorstep for non-golf days
The courses you’ll play
Pebble Beach Golf Links is the heart of any Monterey trip — a clifftop course that hugs Carmel Bay, where the closing holes play along the water's edge and the Pacific is in view from the moment you tee off. It is exposed, dramatic and unforgettable, and tee times are tightly held, so we secure access well ahead.
Spyglass Hill offers the perfect counterpoint a few minutes away. Its opening holes tumble through coastal dunes toward the ocean before the round turns inland, weaving through the pines of Del Monte Forest. Many golfers rate it the sterner test of the two. We pair the two courses into a single, well-paced itinerary so each round is given its proper place.
Where you’ll stay
We arrange your stay around Pebble Beach Resorts, the home of both courses and the natural base for a Monterey golf trip. Staying on the peninsula keeps you minutes from the first tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill, with the coast, the forest and Carmel Bay framing the days off the course.
Because every trip is tailor-made, we match the accommodation to your group and your budget — a couple chasing one great round, or a fourball building a multi-day golf escape. Tell us how you like to travel and we shape the stay accordingly.
Best time to play golf in California
The Monterey Peninsula is at its finest in spring and autumn, when the days are bright, the coast is settled and the courses are in peak condition. September and October in particular reward you with warm, clear conditions and the season's best light along Carmel Bay.
Summer brings warm, busy days, though the famous coastal fog can roll in off the Pacific on a morning before lifting. Winter is mild but cooler and noticeably quieter — playable, with the chance of Pacific weather rolling through, but this is not a winter-sun destination. For the surest blend of weather, condition and atmosphere, plan for the shoulder seasons.
A sense of California
History & heritage
The Monterey Peninsula carries a cultural weight that matches its golf. Carmel-by-the-Sea is a storybook artists' town of galleries and cottages; Monterey itself trades on its Cannery Row past, immortalised by John Steinbeck. The 17-Mile Drive threads the coast between the two, past the wind-sculpted Lone Cypress that has become a symbol of the whole region.
This is California at its most refined — a stretch of coastline that has drawn writers, painters and golfers for generations. Between rounds, the peninsula rewards an unhurried pace: a slow morning in Carmel, an afternoon along the shoreline, the sense of a place that has long understood how to live well by the sea.
Food & wine
The Monterey coast eats exceptionally well, leaning on the Pacific and the farmland of the Salinas Valley just inland. Carmel and Monterey are full of seafood spots and accomplished restaurants, where the catch of the day is genuinely that.
Wine is a real draw too. The Monterey wine country and the Santa Lucia Highlands turn out fine cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while Carmel Valley adds its own tasting rooms a short drive from the coast. A leisurely lunch, a coastal dinner or an afternoon among the vines all sit comfortably alongside the golf — and we can weave them into your itinerary as you wish.
Beyond the fairways
There is more than enough to fill the days you are not playing. The 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach and Del Monte Forest is one of the world's great coastal routes, taking in the Lone Cypress and sweeping Pacific views. Carmel-by-the-Sea invites a wander among its galleries, boutiques and white-sand beach.
Further afield, the coast road south toward Big Sur delivers some of California's most spectacular scenery, while Monterey's waterfront and historic Cannery Row make for an easy afternoon. Whale-watching, coastal walks and the wine country inland round out a trip that earns its place well beyond the first tee.
Getting around & exploring
A trip to the Monterey Peninsula is best done with a car — the headline courses, Carmel, Monterey and the 17-Mile Drive are all close together but spread along the coast, and self-drive gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Distances between Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill are short, so golf days are relaxed. For those who would rather not drive, we can arrange private transfers and chauffeured days. Tell us how you prefer to get about and we build the logistics into your itinerary.
Getting there
The Monterey Peninsula is reached via Northern California's airports, with Monterey Regional Airport the closest and the larger hubs of San Francisco and San Jose within a scenic drive to the south. From there it is a straightforward run to Pebble Beach.
Flights are arranged separately as an ATOL-protected add-on — they are never bundled into the ground package, which keeps your trip clear and properly protected. We are happy to advise on the best routing for your dates, or to build the trip around flights you have already booked.
Good to know
Ground-only specialists: your golf, accommodation and transfers are arranged as a tailor-made package; flights are a separate ATOL-protected add-on, never included
Book early: tee times at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill are tightly held — the earlier we plan, the better the access
Plan for spring or autumn for the best weather and course condition; September–October is the sweet spot
Bring layers: the Monterey coast can be cool and breezy, and morning fog is part of the experience
A car helps: self-drive suits the peninsula, though we can arrange private transfers instead
Trade credentials: we are ATOL (flights), PTS and IATA protected — and have arranged golf travel since 1981
Every itinerary is hand-picked and hand-priced; tell us your dates, your group and the courses you want to play
Golf holidays in California — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.
Are flights included?
Our golf holidays are arranged ground-only — hotel, golf and transfers. You can add flights through us, and those flights are ATOL protected as part of your booking.
How do golf holidays with Golf Planet Holidays work?
Every trip is tailor-made. Tell us your group, dates and the destinations you fancy, and we build a personal itinerary — hotel, golf and transfers — around them. There are no fixed packages to squeeze into; we shape the whole break to suit how your group likes to play.
How much does a golf holiday cost?
It depends on the destination, hotel, dates and how many rounds you want, so every quote is built individually. Many breaks start in the mid-hundreds per person; winter-sun and long-haul trips cost more. Get a free, no-obligation quote and we'll confirm your figure.
Are your golf holidays ATOL protected?
Our packages are arranged on a ground-only basis — hotel, golf and transfers. When you book flights through us, those flights are ATOL protected as part of your booking. Ground-only arrangements are not flight-inclusive, so are not sold under an ATOL.
When is the best time to go on a golf holiday?
It depends where you play: the Canaries, Mauritius and South Africa are winter-sun favourites, while Spain, Portugal and Turkey shine in spring and autumn. Tell us roughly when you want to travel and we'll match you to the destinations in best condition.
How do I get a tailored quote?
Use our enquiry form to send your group size, rough dates and any destinations or courses you have in mind. We'll reply with a free, no-obligation quote built around your trip. No call centre, no pressure — just a personal plan from our golf travel team.
