
Poppy Hills Course
Poppy Hills Golf Course


About this course
Poppy Hills, conceived as the original home course for the Northern California Golf Association, unfurls through the Del Monte Forest, a demanding test forged from the unique ecosystem of Pebble Beach. Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1986, the course was reimagined by the firm in 2010, softening some edges while enhancing the natural drama. The layout presents a compelling blend of links-style aesthetics and towering Monterey pines. Wide fairways invite aggressive drives, but errant shots find unforgiving sandy scrub and strategically placed bunkers. While the course meanders across rolling terrain, its most memorable moments come from the revamped back nine, where elevated tees offer breathtaking views of the Pacific and challenging approaches require keen judgment. Poppy Hills has served as a host course for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, offering amateurs and professionals alike a taste of championship-caliber conditions. While not as widely celebrated as its neighbors along 17-Mile Drive, Poppy Hills presents a stern but fair test and is highly regarded by golfers who appreciate strategic course design, solidifying its place in the regionโs storied golfing landscape. A popular post-round tradition is the 'Poppy Burger', a local favorite, enjoyed while recounting the dayโs challenges on the course.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in CA
Quick facts
- Location
- Pebble Beach, CA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1986
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 7,002 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.4/144
- Course Vaults score
- 8.3
Getting there
The journey to Poppy Hills Golf Course begins at Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY), a compact regional hub just twenty minutes south by car, or alternatively through the larger San Francisco Bay Area gateways of SFO or San Jose (SJC), each roughly two hours north along the dramatic Pacific Coast Highway. The final approach winds through the Del Monte Forest, a private preserve of Monterey pines and coastal scrub that signals entry into one of golf's most storied enclaves, before arriving at the course's understated entrance on Asilomar Boulevard. From there, the routing ascends gently into the Pebble Beach community, where Poppy Hills sits among the region's most exclusive layouts, commanding views of the Monterey Peninsula's windswept ridges and the distant Pacific beyond. The entire experience - from tarmac to first tee - unfolds with the quiet refinement characteristic of a destination where access itself is a privilege earned through membership or invitation.

FAQ
Common questions about Poppy Hills
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Poppy Hills has a Course Vaults score of 8.3 out of 10 based on 156 logged golfers.
Poppy Hills was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr..
Yes. Poppy Hills is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Poppy Hills is 71.
Poppy Hills plays 7,002 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Poppy Hills is 144.





