Spanish Bay recalls the original Scottish concept of the game golf, established over five hundred years ago. This was the intention of the design team, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Watson and Sandy Tatum, in their creation of a true links golf course. Links is an old Scottish word for sandy wasteland, usually near the sea, with bristly grasses and ever prevailing wind. The Links at Spanish Bay are so authentic that even the Monterey coastline mirrors the rugged, natural beauty of Scotland.
Here, the golf course provides you with the choice of using your regular shot or a low, running shot to play the firm turf while keeping the ball under the steady ocean breezes.
The Links at Spanish Bay was also built with a deep respect for environmental preservation. To further continue this mission, we have designated "environmentally sensitive" areas. Drops are allowed outside of these areas, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation to help us preserve the native plants, birds and animals that make this course so special.
Also available are chipping and putting greens. The Links at Spanish Bay is located at The Inn at Spanish Bay, off 17-Mile Drive near the Pacific Grove Gate.
18 Holes
Par:72
Blue Rating: 74.1/Slope 146; Yardage - 6,821
Gold Rating: 72.0/Slope 137; Yardage - 6,422
White Rating: 70.3/Slope 129; Yardage - 6,043
Red Rating: 72.1/Slope 129; Yardage - 5,332
To the Sea
A strong drive to the left center of the fairway makes this par 5 reachable in two. A firm green is guarded left by two large bunkers and right by marsh and dune. A smart lay-up in front will avoid the depression on the right of the green.
Par 5; Blue Tee Yardage 500
Straight and Narrow
This short but narrow par 4 requires an accurate drive or well-placed tee shot left or short of the fairway bunker. The approach can be chipped into the hill or carried onto this multi-tiered green. Stay below the hole.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 307
Pitch and Run
An accurate 200 yard drive over the left side of the farthest bunker leaves the ball in a grassy swale, inviting a short pitch-and-run to the large green.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 407
Shepherd's Haven
A demanding multi-tiered green rewards the strong shot and punishes the weak. Better to be short of this green than long.
Par 3; Blue Tee Yardage 190
Blind Choice
This hole is what Spanish Bay is known for: Risk and Reward. Three pot bunkers in the right center of the fairway will gather any shots hit in their area. Stay left to play safe or right over the dune to a narrow landing area. Second shots to the right side of the fairway will kick left towards the green.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 451
Sandy
A well named hole with nine bunkers protecting the short route to an elevated tiered green. A tee shot away from the bunkers of 200 plus yards will leave a short to mid-iron to the green. From the fairway, aim at the left center of the green.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 400
Left Begone
This fairway funnels to a narrow landing. Risk the shorter approach to the green or lay-up and have 180 plus into this kidney shaped green.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 418
Marsh Corner
Club selection is the key to success in finding this winged narrow green near the windy seashore.
Par 3; Blue Tee Yardage 158
White Dune
The entire right side of this difficult hole is out of bounds. However, a shot to the right side of the fairway opens this green up. Take an extra club on the approach and read your putt carefully.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 394
Half & Half
The tee shot on this double dog-leg par 5 is demanding but rewards a courageous shot over the left edge of the portruding dune. Three pot bunkers divide this fairway in the landing area of the second shot. The left route is the riskiest but most rewarding, leaving a short chip to a uniquely tiered green.
Par 5; Blue Tee Yardage 520
Top Hat
A fader's dream. A tee shot to the right side of the fairway missing the corner trees will leave a short shot into a most difficult green. If the hole is on the upper deck of the "top hat" styled green, hit a high soft shot onto the deck or a running aggressive shot into the hill. Don't leave it on the front edge of this green.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 365
Cathedral
A long very narrow par 4 that demands length and accuracy. The fairway funnels to its narrowest point at 220 yards. A deep gully filled with briars crosses the fairway some 30 yards from the green. A short layup may keep the score down on this hole.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 432
Wee Precipice
This very short par 3 requires a very accurate pitch to this ribbon of a green. The sea breezes here can be the key to a successful shot. Beware of the left green-side bunker.
Par 3; Blue Tee Yardage 126
Wind & Willow
Breathtakingly beautiful from the tee, this long par 5 is spacious but unforgiving in the wind, with out-of-bounds left, marsh and willow to the right. This green slopes towards the sea. Hit to the front edge.
Par 5; Blue Tee Yardage 576
Missing Link
The island landing area demands the tee shot to be placed just left of the bunkers, leaving a short to mid iron over the gorse and dune to a severely undulating green with marsh and reeds to the right. Care should be taken from the tee not to overclub.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 390
Dune Hollow
This tee is sheltered from the offshore breezes that tend to push the ball into the right greenside bunkers. The hole favors a low running shot to the left center of the green.
Par 3; Blue Tee Yardage 200
Whale Watch
The tee shot here sets up the hole. Carry the drive over the dunescape and to this narrow landing area. The green is silhouetted against the sky making the distance difficult to judge, and is severely sloped from rear to front.
Par 4; Blue Tee Yardage 413
Long Home
Favor the right side from the tee and on the second shot. Avoid the temptation to go for the green as the wind and gorse will usually get your ball.
Par 5; Blue Tee Yardage 574