The most scenic golf courses in California

The golf courses in California that Course Vaults golfers rate highest for scenery, from views and setting to the look of the property. Each course needs scenery ratings from at least 5 different golfers who played it; 65 courses qualify.

  1. Peter Hay Par 3

    Peter Hay Par 3

    Pebble Beach Resorts

    Pebble Beach, CA, USA
    7.7

    Scenery 5.0 out of 5 from 7 golfers

    PublicPeter Hay

    • 3.8Conditions
    • 4.2Layout
    • 2.8Value
    • 5.0Scenery
    • 3.7Facilities

    Fun little par 3 with immaculate ocean views. $75 is a bit steep but you can’t breathe air in this area for $75 so it is what it is. Fun 9 hole putting setup right beside the course. Only need a wedge and a putter.

    Written by

    @middleseatsimon

    • Views
    • Restaurant
    • Walkable
  2. Pacific Grove

    Pacific Grove Golf Links

    Pacific Grove, CA, USA
    7.5

    Scenery 5.0 out of 5 from 7 golfers

    PublicH. Chandler Egan & Jack Neville

    • 3.3Conditions
    • 3.4Layout
    • NRValue
    • 5.0Scenery
    • 3.5Facilities

    Front 9 is a little more on the traditional muni side, but the entire back 9 plays like an old links course right on the ocean. Lives up to the poor man’s pebble moniker.

    Written by

    @jttrumbull

    • Great value
    • Walkable
    • Views
  3. Dunes

    Dunes

    Monterey Peninsula Country Club

    Pebble Beach, CA, USA
    9.0

    Scenery 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
  4. Stone Eagle

    Stone Eagle Golf Club

    Palm Desert, CA, USA
    8.5

    Scenery 5.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers

    PrivateTom Doak

    • 4.8Conditions
    • 4.8Layout
    • 5.0Scenery
    • 4.2Facilities
    • Must play
    • Pristine
    • Restaurant
  5. Ocean North

    Ocean North

    The Resort at Pelican Hill

    Newport Coast, CA, USA
    8.2

    Scenery 4.9 out of 5 from 11 golfers

    PublicTom Fazio

    • 4.1Conditions
    • 4.2Layout
    • 2.5Value
    • 4.9Scenery
    • 3.5Facilities

    Layout was top notch with ocean scenery as the backdrop for most of the holes. Difficult track, even in the fairway it would frequently be an uphill/downhill lie. Greens were lightning fast. Played at twilight for $175 about a year ago - saw rounds going for $400+ now.

    Written by

    @KirklandBomber

    • Driving range
    • Views
    • By water
  6. Sandpiper Golf Club

    Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.9 out of 5 from 11 golfers

    7.9
  7. Northwood Golf Club

    Monte Rio, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.9 out of 5 from 8 golfers

    7.9
  8. (Valley of Montecito) Valley Club of Montecito

    Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 6 golfers

    9.4
  9. Pebble Beach Resorts

    Pebble Beach, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 59 golfers

    9.3
  10. (North) Torrey Pines Golf Course

    La Jolla, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 25 golfers

    8.1
  11. (Ocean South) The Resort at Pelican Hill

    Newport Coast, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 8 golfers

    8.0
  12. (Ocean) Half Moon Bay Golf Links

    Half Moon Bay, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.6 out of 5 from 10 golfers

    7.9
  13. (Ocean) The Olympic Club

    San Francisco, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.6 out of 5 from 5 golfers

    8.2
  14. Pasatiempo Golf Club

    Santa Cruz, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.6 out of 5 from 38 golfers

    9.2
  15. (South) Torrey Pines Golf Course

    La Jolla, CA, USA

    Scenery 4.5 out of 5 from 38 golfers

    8.2

How we rank

This ranking uses each golfer’s scenery rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Scenery is the scenery 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 scenery 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

Peter Hay Par 3 at Pebble Beach Resorts is #1 on Course Vaults in California at Scenery 5.0/5 (7 golfers). 65 courses qualify for this list.

This ranking uses each golfer’s scenery rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Scenery is the scenery 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 scenery 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 scenery on Course Vaults. Log your round and rate it in the app to help it qualify.

This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:38 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.

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