California guide
Best golf resorts in California
Pacific cliffs, desert oases and Ranch-country fairways — California is the most varied golf state in the U.S.
We rank by course pedigree, lodging quality and how naturally each resort fits into a longer California itinerary (wine country, national parks or coast highway).
CA, USA
Pebble Beach
Cliffs, cypress, and the eighth hole — the most copied 100-yard shot in golf.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $4,200
- Luxury
- 98/100
- Nightlife
- 68/100
#2
CA, USA
Monterey Peninsula
Spyglass, MPCC, Pacific Grove. The whole peninsula is a green book.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $1,850
- Luxury
- 96/100
- Nightlife
- 68/100
#3
CA, USA
Sonoma
Sonoma — a quieter regional golf market with a handful of credible tracks and easy access via STS.
- Best season
- Spring-Fall
- From
- $1,330
- Luxury
- 65/100
- Nightlife
- 37/100
CA, USA
Los Angeles
Quiet golf scene in Southern California. Locals know the value plays; visitors should skip unless lodging or schedule already brings them here.
- Best season
- Year-round
- From
- $1,370
- Luxury
- 81/100
- Nightlife
- 36/100
#5
CA, USA
Palm Springs
PGA West, La Quinta, Mission Hills. Mountain backdrops and 100 reasons to play 36 in January.
- Best season
- Oct – May
- From
- $1,310
- Luxury
- 90/100
- Nightlife
- 82/100
CA, USA
San Diego
Torrey Pines, Aviara, Maderas — coastal year-round golf.
- Best season
- Year-round
- From
- $1,610
- Luxury
- 82/100
- Nightlife
- 72/100
CA, USA
Lake Tahoe
Edgewood, Old Greenwood, mountain courses ringing an alpine lake.
- Best season
- Jun – Sep
- From
- $1,900
- Luxury
- 88/100
- Nightlife
- 65/100
CA, USA
Napa Valley
Silverado, Meadowood, Eagle Vines — golf with the wine.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $1,900
- Luxury
- 96/100
- Nightlife
- 55/100
CA, USA
Half Moon Bay
Old and Ocean Course on dramatic San Mateo coast cliffs.
- Best season
- Apr – Oct
- From
- $2,120
- Luxury
- 86/100
- Nightlife
- 42/100
CA, USA
Palos Verdes
Trump National LA on Pacific cliffs south of Los Angeles.
- Best season
- Year-round
- From
- $1,700
- Luxury
- 86/100
- Nightlife
- 45/100
FAQs
When should I play Pebble Beach?
+−
May, September and October offer the best balance of fog-free mornings and reasonable rates. February's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am closes the course to public play.
Is Palm Springs golf affordable?
+−
Off-peak (June–September) green fees drop 60% on top courses. October–November is the value sweet spot before peak January–April pricing.
Notable courses
Courses featured in this guide
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach · Neville / Grant
Par 72 · 7,075 yd
Spyglass Hill
Pebble Beach · Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Par 72 · 6,960 yd
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Monterey Peninsula
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Monterey Peninsula
Sonoma Golf Club
Sonoma
Bodega Harbour Golf Links
Sonoma
Riviera Country Club
Los Angeles
Wilshire Country Club
Los Angeles
Sample itinerary
A 4-day trip, blueprinted
Day 1
- Morning
- Fly into Monterey or Palm Springs, check in.
- Afternoon
- Range + short game at the resort.
- Evening
- Wine bar or coastal dinner.
Day 2
- Morning
- Pebble Beach, Spyglass, or PGA West marquee — fog usually burns off by 10 AM on the coast.
- Afternoon
- 17-Mile Drive or pool.
- Evening
- Cannery Row or Indian Wells dining.
Day 3
- Morning
- Spanish Bay or Stadium Course at PGA West.
- Afternoon
- Wine country drive (Carmel Valley) or hot springs.
- Evening
- Steakhouse.
Day 4
- Morning
- Replay round at sunrise.
- Afternoon
- Drive Highway 1 and fly home.
Travel tips
What our editors actually do
- 01Pebble: May, September, October balance fog-free mornings and reasonable rates. February's AT&T Pro-Am closes the course to the public.
- 02Palm Springs off-peak (June–September) green fees drop 60% on top courses; October–November is the value sweet spot.
- 03Coastal mornings start cool (50s–60s F). Pack a rain jacket even when forecasts are clear.
- 04Combine a Monterey leg with a Bay Area or Napa stop for non-golfers.
Book this trip
Lock tee times and lodging in two clicks.
We send you straight to GolfNow and Booking.com pre-filtered for this guide. Compare prices, book, and we'll save the trip to your account.
Featured destinations
Explore the destinations in this guide
More guides
USA guide
Best golf trips in the U.S.
From the Monterey cliffs to Carolina sandhills, these are the trips every American golfer should put on the list.
Luxury USA guide
Best luxury golf resorts in America
The American resort scene quietly rivals anywhere on earth. These are the addresses that combine championship golf with hotel-school service.
Buddies guide
Best golf trips for buddies
Big group, bigger expectations. These destinations stack multiple championship courses next to walkable lodging and the kind of nightlife that makes a buddy trip a tradition.
Value guide
Best affordable golf trips
World-class golf doesn't have to mean a five-figure trip. These destinations consistently deliver multiple memorable rounds without the resort markup.
Luxury guide
Best luxury golf trips
Caddies, butlers, michelin-listed clubhouses. These trips treat golf as the centerpiece of an indulgent escape.
Arizona guide
Best golf resorts in Arizona
Three hundred days of sun, target-golf in the Sonoran Desert and a resort scene that quietly rivals anywhere on earth. Here is where to go and when.