Monarch Bay Golf Club

Monarch Bay Golf Club's Marina course sits in San Leandro, a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The course was designed by John Harbottle III and William F. Bell, two architects with deep roots in Northern California golf course design during the mid-to-late twentieth century. Bell in particular was a prolific designer across California and the western United States, known for creating accessible public and semi-private layouts that worked within varied terrain and budgets. The Marina course occupies relatively flat bayfront terrain characteristic of the East Bay shoreline. Courses in this setting typically feature open playing corridors with views toward the water and the San Francisco skyline, and wind can be a factor given the proximity to the bay. The routing likely emphasizes strategic bunkering and water hazards to create interest on land without significant elevation change. Tree-lined fairways and modest greens are common to courses of this era and region. Monarch Bay serves the local golfing community in the East Bay, providing a straightforward test for daily-fee and member play. The facility reflects the practical design philosophy of its architects, who prioritized playability and maintenance efficiency. The Marina course offers golfers a chance to play near the water in an urban setting, with the natural beauty of the bay providing a scenic backdrop to the round.