Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Monterey Peninsula Country Club: Dunes
Pebble Beach, CA • Private
Monterey Peninsula Country Club: Dunes
3000 Club Rd
Pebble Beach, CA 93953-2542
United States
Overview
The Dunes Course, long in the shadow of its big brother Shore Course (ranked 55th), 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 diagonally to lines of play. The Dunes Course now lives up to its name—and its current ranking is the highest in the history of our list.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
Previous ranking: 79th.
2025-'26 ranking: 77th (highest).
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.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 11th.
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
“The Dunes Course is one of two super golf courses at the outstanding Monterey Peninsula CC. In an area surrounded by numerous incredible courses like Cypress Point, Pebble, and Spyglass the Dunes Course holds its own in every way. Great layout variety with wonderful ocean views throughout the course. The entire course was in great condition, especially the green complexes that were firm and fast providing great hole location options."
Read More2026
Review
“The Dunes Course is one of two super golf courses at the outstanding Monterey Peninsula CC. In an area surrounded by numerous incredible courses like Cypress Point, Pebble, and Spyglass the Dunes Course holds its own in every way. Great layout variety with wonderful ocean views throughout the course. The entire course was in great condition, especially the green complexes that were firm and fast providing great hole location options."
Read More2026
Review
“One of two excellent courses at Monterey Peninsula CC, The Dunes Course has an interesting architectural history, with an original routing from Seth Raynor, construction from Mackenzie's right hand man Robert Hunter, and a recent renovation by Fazio's group. Raynor's routing is one of the greatest strengths of the course, playing inland initially amongst the serene pines before shooting out onto the dunes and Pacific Ocean by the 9th hole. There's strong variety here amongst uphill, downhill, short and long holes and the collection of par threes has to be one of the best in golf, highlighted by the incredible 14th playing on the opposite side of 17-Mile Drive with waves crashing onto the green. Aesthetically, this is one of the truly most impressive courses in America, with a gorgeous backdrop on many holes but also plenty of internal beauty created by Mackenzie-esque bunkering and meticulous conditioning. I wasn't fortunate to see the Shore Course on my trip, but everything about MPCC is incredible and I hope to return soon. If anything, this Club is probably underrated being next to Pebble and Cypress."
Read More2026
Review
“Very good course and exceeded my expectations. Well worth playing and you're in store for a great day on the golf course."
Read More2025
Review
“If you can play here, do it -- this is a special place. Set against the backdrop (and wind and weather) of the Pacific Ocean, Monterey Peninsula Dunes has character and challenge and holes that you will remember for a long, long time. You'll be hard pressed to find a more memorable, beautiful course."
Read More2025
Review
“* Slightly favors uphill tendency on approach shots. Par 3's and 5's cover 3 directions. Not many true dogleg holes, rather there are 3 of each right/left that angle the drives over bunkering to play like doglegs with risk reward. Favors left fairway bunkering. * This is the course I'd play more at MPCC that has a bit more strategic options on drives and fun greens with slope but not overly done. It's a nice representation of it's era despite not having true template holes as Raynor would do."
Read More2025
Review
“Really great golf course, originally from Seth Raynor with most recent work from Tom Fazio and Jackson Kahn. A course you stand on most tees and say wow. Shot options around greens very good, options to run up on most and options off several tees e.g. Hole 13 Par 5 from tee can challenge bunker in middle of fairway to get shorter 2nd shot, Hole 16 Par 4 can challenge left for shorter shot to green. Fun factor is high, dunes are spectacular, plenty of tees for all levels. Challenge was not too high from tee as pretty open but greens and surrounds were harder. Layout had very good variety, good mix of dog-legs left and right and straight, greens varied. Aesthetics was very high, each tee view had a wow factor, dunes were great to frame holes and Hole 14 Par 3 is one of the most spectacular ocean front holes I've ever played. Conditioning was excellent both greens and fairways, greens firm and very fast. Character was high, very unique for a 1926 original course."
Read More2025
Review
“Really great golf course, originally from Seth Raynor with most recent work from Tom Fazio and Jackson Kahn. A course you stand on most tees and say wow. Shot options around greens very good, options to run up on most and options off several tees e.g. Hole 13 Par 5 from tee can challenge bunker in middle of fairway to get shorter 2nd shot, Hole 16 Par 4 can challenge left for shorter shot to green. Fun factor is high, dunes are spectacular, plenty of tees for all levels. Challenge was not too high from tee as pretty open but greens and surrounds were harder. Layout had very good variety, good mix of dog-legs left and right and straight, greens varied. Aesthetics was very high, each tee view had a wow factor, dunes were great to frame holes and Hole 14 Par 3 is one of the most spectacular ocean front holes I've ever played. Conditioning was excellent both greens and fairways, greens firm and very fast. Character was high, very unique for a 1926 original course."
Read More2025
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
