Monterey Peninsula Country Club: Dunes
Pebble Beach, CA • Private

Jon Cavalier

Jon Cavalier

Jon Cavalier

Jon Cavalier

Jon Cavalier

Jon Cavalier

Jon Cavalier
Overview
The Dunes Course, long in the shadow of its big brother Shore Course (ranked 62nd), was originally routed by Seth Raynor, who died before construction. It was completed by Robert Hunter, a partner to Alister MacKenzie (who did not participate in the work), and Raynor's ideas for the greens were altered before they were even built. In the 1990s, Rees Jones remodeled the course and reshaped holes to mimic the Raynor look, to mixed reviews. In 2016, Tom Fazio was brought in to make the Dunes as appealing to members as the gorgeous Shore Course, though it was former associates Tim Jackson and David Kahn who conceived of and carried out the details of the plan to give the Dunes a MacKenzie look. Sandscapes now frame most holes, fairways now zigzag around jagged bunkers and nearly all the greens are oriented diagonal to lines of play. The Dunes Course now lives up to its name.
About
Awards


Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
2023-'24 ranking: 79th (highest, and 2019-'20).
Previous ranking: 80th.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked 189th, 2013-'14. Ranked 194th, 2015-'16.
Best in State: Ranked 10th, 2019-'22. Ranked 29th, 2013-'16. Ranked 30th, 2011-'12.
2023-'24 ranking: 11th.
Previous ranking: 10th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Horseshoe green at #4 which would be out of view from the right tee box is an incredible test of shot shaping, accuracy and creativity, almost a new age Redan. That, followed by the 'elephant under blanket' green on a great risk-reward short par 4 is exquisite. The environmental surroundings with dolphins, seals, wild turkeys amidst purple flower majesty is only outdone by the design excellence at the par-five 9th hole with a Frodo Baggins climb to the 10th tee box ocean reprieve."
Read More2024
Review
“Beautiful Tom Fazio redesign on the Monterey Peninsula. Views of the Pacific Ocean grace half the holes on this immaculately manicured course. Part of the highest ranked 36-hole private complex in the USA. You'll use every club in your bag on this beauty, but your putter better be working on the undulating greens. This one is not to be missed if you're offered the chance to play."
Read More2023
Review
“world class - the 14th is amazing"
Read More2023
Review
“Getting a tee time here is worth any chits you might have to pull to get it done. Find a way. Among the great courses of the Monterey Peninsula, MPCC Dunes stands shoulder to shoulder with them all. One could argue the sum of 18 its holes is greater than its more famous neighbors, Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, and Spyglass Hill. What it lacks is one standout signature hole like #16 at Cypress or #8 at Pebble Beach. However, #14 on the ocean side of the 17-mile drive is right there with #7 at Pebble for ocean drama and raw exposure and playing near 200 yards from the back tees, in a southerly gale would require a mighty blow with a play club to cover the stony approach. The back nine is out in the open, playing out to the Pacific. Your ball pitches and rolls along beautifully contoured land, interrupted by gashes of natural dunes and bunkering. It has that rare quality of looking like the land has been this way for eons and humans just stuck holes in the ground, discovered not built."
Read More2023
Review
“Monterey Peninsula CC-Dunes Seth Raynor, 1925 Fazio 2017 This beautiful course is one of two at Monterey Peninsula CC. It was the first to be built and is more of a shot makers course compared to the more forgiving Shore Course. The par 3 , 14th hole over the Pacific is spectacular"
Read More2023
Review
“Great testament to Stranz's final endeavor. Challenge abound only outdone by views that rival anything the peninsula has to offer."
Read More2022
Review
“Fantastic remodel destined to be considered among the great seaside courses. While the holes with ocean views loom large, the Par 3 4th hole with a unique saddle back green designed to shuttle a left-to-right ball flight to the hidden back pin is probably the best hole on the course. The uncovering of natural areas lining the fairways makes this remodel a must play when in Monterey."
Read More2022
Review
“Holes 3 thru 10, 17, and 18 provide a lot of memories, incredible design variety, and aesthetics tough to match anywhere in the world. Greens are much smaller in person than one would expect having seen Pebble Beach on TV so much. 14 Green didn't seem too severe although they have softened it the undulation recently. Plays longer than the yardages. Yardage book is a necessity for any first timer here. Much better condition than I would have expected w/ the amount of play the course receives."
Read More2022
Review
“The views of the Pacific are better than they are on the Shore, as it has the finest looking Par-3 (14th) I have played coming directly over the Pacific Ocean. The first eight holes are framed by massive cypress trees, as you eagerly wait your first look at the Pacific. Then you enter into a carved out oasis through dunes as you wind your way along the 9th-16th before returning back inland."
Read More2022
Review
“Not as pure as the Shore course but still terrific since recent Fazio re-design. Great variety of holes. My main quibble is that many of the greens are a bit too tricked-up - the course presents a fair but tough challenge tee-to-green but then it can get a bit unnecessarily goofy. The Pt. Joe driving range (not the one near the clubhouse) is hands-down the most spectacular driving range in the world - do not skip!"
Read More2022
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