Overview
This pair of 18-hole championship courses is riddled with history: The Bayonet and the Blackhorse are built on Fort Ord, a retired U.S. Army training facility. General Robert B. McClure famously built the Bayonet to perfectly fit his chronic fade as a left-handed golfer—the course is known for its “Combat Corner,” a series of sharp doglegs on the back nine. The Blackhorse was added in 1964, 10 years after the Bayonet, and features panoramic views of Monterey Bay.
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Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
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Reviews
Review
“Orginally designed by an Army Major, Robert Mclure. The course was recently redone by Gene Bates. The chages are dramatic. Always a really hard course (Jack Nicklaus said it was the harderst course in Monterey), it has been softened. The fairways are much wider, and the grass was changed from rye to bent. They are now firm and fast. Annoying little pine trees that were right off the faiway have been removed. Many of the mature trees were removed and others limbed up. You now have great views of Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The course has a great blend of short holes and really long difficult holes. #2, #9, #12 and #13 are some of the hardest par 4's on the planet, especially the uphill 9th. If they grew the rough up this course could hold a PGA event. Conditioning was really good. Fairways were firm and greens were at a good speed. There is enough slope in the greens that you have to be careful not to get them too fast. The green complexes were varied and no two looked alike. The changes from when it was Fort Ord and run by the Army and today are dramatic. In my opinion the fourth best course in the Monterey Penisula. Only behind Cypress. Pebble and Spyglass hill."
Read More2025
Review
“Really a nice track. Requires bending the ball both ways. Excellent green complexes. Unfortunately, the owners have gone a bit overboard with inserting housing, which negatively impacts the vistas which were revealed earlier with tree thinning."
Read More2025
Review
“Very challenging course with some beautiful ocean views and difficult greens."
Read More2024
Review
“A difficult test that plays very long due to almost no roll in the fairways and very challenging greens. They have done a lot of tree removal and general clean up which gives the course a nice look and some beautiful ocean views. Essentially a residential golf course now as it is almost completely surrounded by homes."
Read More2024
Review
“The Bayonet course, with its large, mature Cypress trees, gives the feel of a Harding Park GC or Olympic Club."
Read More2024
Review
“This is a tough course that is worth playing, although it is not one of the best courses in the Pebble Beach area."
Read More2022
Review
“Brutally tough but straightforward. Narrow, undulating fairways and tough green complexes will test your game. Conditioning has been poor of late with drought and overplay but the course has great "bones."
Read More2021
Review
“Great layout here; many different shot options from various tees with very fast & firm fairways/greens. Very good practice facilities but an extremely tough walk."
Read More2020
Review
“A really solid municipal course that will challenge good players. Long rough that was cut and left when I was there. Conditioning could be better but the routing and design is very strong. Clearly gets a ton of play. Host of PGA Club Pro National Championship a few years back."
Read More2020
Review
“Maybe the toughest course in the Monterey area and certainly the toughest when the rough is up. This is a very good golf course that should be on most people's itineraries as they pass through the area."
Read More2018
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