The best golf course layouts in California
The golf courses in California that Course Vaults golfers rate highest for layout: routing, hole variety, and design. Each course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers who played it; 65 courses qualify.
Valley of Montecito
Valley Club of Montecito
Santa Barbara, CA, USALayout 5.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PrivateAlister Mackenzie & Robert Hunter
- 5.0Conditions
- 5.0Layout
- 4.8Scenery
- 4.3Facilities
A nearly original Mackenzie in the us, that the average golfer has never heard of. This place is so special, and such a fun golf experience.
Written by
@Sean
- Must play
- Pristine
- Walkable
Dunes
Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Pebble Beach, CA, USALayout 5.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PrivateSeth Raynor
- 5.0Conditions
- 5.0Layout
- 5.0Scenery
- 3.6Facilities
The contour and structure of the greens make you have to think on every shot. You have some incredible holes on the ocean, like the par 3 13th, but the inland holes, like the short 6th hole are great too.
Written by
@Tom_Bloke_67
- Must play
- Pristine
- Walkable
California of San Francisco
California Golf Club of San Francisco
South San Francisco, CA, USALayout 4.9 out of 5 from 16 golfers
PrivateAlister Mackenzie & Robert Hunter
- 4.9Conditions
- 4.9Layout
- 4.4Scenery
- 4.4Facilities
- Must play
- Pristine
- Challenging
Stone Eagle Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA, USALayout 4.8 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PrivateTom Doak
- 4.8Conditions
- 4.8Layout
- 5.0Scenery
- 4.2Facilities
- Must play
- Pristine
- Restaurant
Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, CA, USALayout 4.8 out of 5 from 39 golfers
PublicAlister Mackenzie & Tom Doak
- 4.7Conditions
- 4.8Layout
- 3.8Value
- 4.6Scenery
- 3.9Facilities
Pasatiempo is one of those rare courses where the round ends and you realize you can recall all 18 holes without effort. There’s no filler anywhere. Every tee shot presents a decision, every approach punishes indifference, and every green demands full engagement.
Written by
@KAbbassi
- Must play
- Walkable
- Pristine
Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, CA, USA
Layout 4.8 out of 5 from 18 golfers
(North) The Los Angeles Country Club
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Layout 4.7 out of 5 from 18 golfers
Meadow Club
Fairfax, CA, USA
Layout 4.6 out of 5 from 8 golfers
San Francisco Golf Club
San Francisco, CA, USA
Layout 4.6 out of 5 from 13 golfers
(Lake) The Olympic Club
San Francisco, CA, USA
Layout 4.6 out of 5 from 10 golfers
Diablo Country Club
Diablo, CA, USA
Layout 4.6 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Soule Park Golf Club
Ojai, CA, USA
Layout 4.5 out of 5 from 7 golfers
(18 holes) Poppy Ridge Golf Course
Livermore, CA, USA
Layout 4.5 out of 5 from 7 golfers
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Layout 4.5 out of 5 from 13 golfers
Bel Air Country Club
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 9 golfers
The Preserve Golf Club
Carmel, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 5 golfers
(Stadium) PGA West
La Quinta, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 16 golfers
(Shore) Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 8 golfers
Lake Merced Golf Club
Daly City, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 8 golfers
Oak Quarry Golf Club
Riverside, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 8 golfers
Cypress Point Club
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 27 golfers
Rustic Canyon Golf Course
Moorpark, CA, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 22 golfers
Presidio Golf Course
San Francisco, CA, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 9 golfers
Pebble Beach Resorts
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 59 golfers
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Rams Hill Country Club
Borrego Springs, CA, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 10 golfers
How we rank
This ranking uses each golfer’s layout rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Layout is the layout score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across California. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Valley of Montecito at Valley Club of Montecito is #1 on Course Vaults in California at Layout 5.0/5 (6 golfers). 65 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses each golfer’s layout rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Layout is the layout score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across California. Rankings refresh about hourly.
A course appears once at least 5 different golfers have rated its layout on Course Vaults. Log your round and rate it in the app to help it qualify.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:40 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
