No state has the diversity of courses as California, with top destinations like Palm Springs, Monterey Peninsula and San Diego all vastly different from one another. The top 25 golf courses in California, according to those of you who rated them on Golf Advisor, showcases a little bit of everything, including a few courses you may be unfamiliar with.
We can also learn from the top 25 that value, and off-the-beaten-path courses will be rewarded But some $200-plus dollar courses still delivered on high expectations to make this ranking. (For those of you looking for Pebble Beach in this ranking, it did not qualify due to not enough reviews being filed, but it is currently the no. 1 course on the Monterey Peninsula based on ratings).
In certain areas of California, a $100-125 green fee can actually be considered value. Just look at Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course in Monterey, which is known as one of golf's great values relative to its neighbors. Yocha Dehe, near Sacramento, is another $100 round that, according to raters, over-delivers again and again.
You can view the full top 25 in California in 2015 below. Click on each course guide page to see detailed information, ratings and reviews.
Top 25 courses in California
Palm Springs
Architect: Casey O'Callahan
Fairfield
Architect: Roger Thomas Baird
Moorpark
Architect: Peter Jacobsen & Jim Hardy
Clio
Architect: Robin Nelson
Riverside
Architect: Schmidt-Curley
Sacramento
La Quinta
Architect: Pete Dye
Seaside
Architect: Gene Bates
Livermore
Architect: Greg Norman
Ione
Architect: Brad Benz
Hollister
Architects: Fred Couples, Gene Bates
San Jose
Archiect: John Harbottle III
Palm Desert
Architect: Nick Faldo
12. Classic Club
Palm Desert
Architect: Arnold Palmer
Indian Wells
Architect: John Fought
Indio
Architect: Arthur Hills
Salinas
Architect: Jack Fleming
Patterson
Architect: Denis Griffiths, Gene Sarazen
Indian Wells
Architect: Clive Clark
Seaside
Architect: Gene Bates
Carlsbad
Architect: Arnold Palmer
Ojai
Architects: George C. Thomas, William P. Bell
Poway
Architect: Johnny Miller, Robert Muir Graves
Borrego Springs
Architect: Tom Fazio
Brooks
Architect: Brad Bell
Where is Pebble beach, not enough reviews? And passatiemppo