“Budget-conscious groupswill find this course most rewarding.”
Pacific Grove Golf Links opened on May 9, 1932, with H. Chandler Egan designing the front nine. The back nine was laid out by Jack Neville — the same architect who designed the famous clifftop links right next door — and plays along the Pacific coast with crashing waves, tide pools, and views of Point Pinos Lighthouse.
Widely known as the 'Poor Man's Pebble Beach' — same ocean, same coastline, fraction of the cost. The front nine winds through forested Pacific Grove, giving the round two completely different personalities: wooded and sheltered on the front, fully exposed to the Pacific on the back.
City-owned and managed by CourseCo, Inc. (General Manager: Neil Sauer), with municipal pricing that makes it one of the best value rounds on the peninsula. The course is adjacent to Asilomar State Beach at 77 Asilomar Avenue.
Pacific Grove is a regular addition to Monterey golf trip itineraries where groups want a morning ocean round at a price that balances out the higher-fee days at Pebble Beach or Spyglass. Monterey Golf Tours uses it as a value-play round in 4- and 5-day packages, often scheduled on an arrival or departure day when a full-day round isn’t practical.
Photos
Point Pinos Lighthouse overlooks holes 12 through 16 — built in 1855, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast.
The same Monterey coastline as Pebble Beach — at a fraction of the green fee. The locals' open secret.
Windswept dunes remind you that Jack Neville understood links golf. The ocean spray is part of the experience.
Pacific Grove Golf Links — the 'Poor Man's Pebble Beach' looking toward Point Pinos Lighthouse and the Pacific.
The front nine at Pacific Grove — wooded, sheltered Pacific Grove corridors before the layout opens to the coast.
Course highlights
Worth knowing
The back nine was laid out by the same architect who designed the famous clifftop links next door — same Pacific Ocean, same crashing waves, a fraction of the price.
The front nine plays through forested Pacific Grove, giving the round two completely different characters.
Address: 77 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove — adjacent to Asilomar State Beach.
- · Budget-conscious groups
- · Mixed-handicap groups wanting a relaxed pace
- · Anyone wanting ocean views without the premium price tag
- · You want a long, championship-length test
- Green fee
- Daily-fee — enquire for rates (verify current rates)
- Address
- 77 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
- Phone
- (831) 648-5775
- Website
- playpacificgrove.com
Nearby courses
Pacific Grove Golf Links
Closest hotels
Drive times approximate. Verify with Google Maps before booking transport.
Common questions
Is Pacific Grove Golf Links on the ocean?+−
Yes, the course includes ocean-adjacent holes, offering coastal views at municipal course pricing.
What's the green fee at Pacific Grove?+−
Rates vary — contact us or the club directly for current green fees.
How long is Pacific Grove Golf Links?+−
5,727 yards at par 70 — shorter than most peninsula courses, suited to a relaxed, walkable round.
Is Pacific Grove Golf Links good for beginners?+−
Yes — its shorter yardage and municipal pace make it one of the more approachable rounds on the peninsula for mixed-ability groups.
Is Pacific Grove Golf Links owned by a resort?+−
No — it's a city-owned municipal course, which is why its rates run well below the peninsula's resort and private options.
Can I book Pacific Grove Golf Links as part of a Monterey golf trip?+−
Yes. Pacific Grove is a regular inclusion in Monterey golf packages where groups want a morning ocean round at municipal pricing. Monterey Golf Tours often schedules it on an arrival or departure day — a genuine coastal round at a price that makes sense alongside higher-fee days at Pebble Beach or Spyglass.