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.

Peter Hay Par 3
Pebble Beach Resorts
Pebble Beach, CA, USAScenery 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

Pacific Grove Golf Links
Pacific Grove, CA, USAScenery 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

Dunes
Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Pebble Beach, CA, USAScenery 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

Stone Eagle Golf Club
Palm Desert, CA, USAScenery 5.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PrivateTom Doak
- 4.8Conditions
- 4.8Layout
- 5.0Scenery
- 4.2Facilities
- Must play
- Pristine
- Restaurant

Ocean North
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Coast, CA, USAScenery 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

Sandpiper Golf Club
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Scenery 4.9 out of 5 from 11 golfers

Northwood Golf Club
Monte Rio, CA, USA
Scenery 4.9 out of 5 from 8 golfers

(Valley of Montecito) Valley Club of Montecito
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 6 golfers

Pebble Beach Resorts
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 59 golfers

(North) Torrey Pines Golf Course
La Jolla, CA, USA
Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 25 golfers

(Ocean South) The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Coast, CA, USA
Scenery 4.8 out of 5 from 8 golfers

(Ocean) Half Moon Bay Golf Links
Half Moon Bay, CA, USA
Scenery 4.6 out of 5 from 10 golfers

(Ocean) The Olympic Club
San Francisco, CA, USA
Scenery 4.6 out of 5 from 5 golfers

Pasatiempo Golf Club
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Scenery 4.6 out of 5 from 38 golfers

(South) Torrey Pines Golf Course
La Jolla, CA, USA
Scenery 4.5 out of 5 from 38 golfers

Bel Air Country Club
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Scenery 4.5 out of 5 from 10 golfers

(Shore) Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Scenery 4.5 out of 5 from 8 golfers

(Firecliff) Desert Willow Golf Resort
Palm Desert, CA, USA
Scenery 4.5 out of 5 from 6 golfers

The Links at Spanish Bay
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Scenery 4.5 out of 5 from 19 golfers

Meadow Club
Fairfax, CA, USA
Scenery 4.4 out of 5 from 8 golfers

Oak Quarry Golf Club
Riverside, CA, USA
Scenery 4.4 out of 5 from 8 golfers

Monarch Beach Golf Links
Dana Point, CA, USA
Scenery 4.4 out of 5 from 7 golfers

(North) The Los Angeles Country Club
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Scenery 4.4 out of 5 from 18 golfers

Coronado Golf Course
Coronado, CA, USA
Scenery 4.4 out of 5 from 6 golfers

(California of San Francisco) California Golf Club of San Francisco
South San Francisco, CA, USA
Scenery 4.4 out of 5 from 16 golfers
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.
