Poppy Hills Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA • Public
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Joann Dost
Ben Peters
Overview
When originally built, Poppy Hills had unpopular perched greens framed by massive containment mounds. Following a 2013 remodeling by original designer Robert Trent Jones II and partner Bruce Charlton, it's now a graceful, low-profile layout. "We popped the hills at Poppy Hills," says Trent Jr. A new feature are sandy naturalized areas and pine straw off the fairways instead of manicured rough, part of a concerted effort to significantly reduce water consumption. The renovated course was on display at the 2018 U.S. Girls' Junior, won by current LPGA player Yealimi Noh.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2017.
Highest ranking: 62nd, 2017-'18.
Previous ranking: 92nd.
2023-'24 ranking: 87th.
Best in State: Highest ranking: 35th, 2015-'16.
2023-'24 ranking: 44th.
Previous ranking: 41st.
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
“A Robert Trent Jones II design that I first played over 30 years ago. The course has been dedone by RTJ II and Bruce Charlton in the last five years. What a dramatic improvement from the early ninties. Hundreds of trees have been removed. You now have great views of Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. By removing the trees the fairways have become much more firm (they were always wet). The green complexes have been softened. While still have a lot of slope they are move playable. The 15th green is brillant Redan design. Some holes are still brutal hard. #3, #16 and # 15 play very hard. Condtioning was very good. Greens were fast but not too fast which can be easy to do with all the movement in the greens. A really good blend of holes. The routing flows well. The only complaint is that there are a lot of waste bunkers right of the tee boxes which makes no sense. They are maintained and are only there for aestics. They should be removed. All in all a good test of golf which has improved dramatically."
Read More2025
Review
“According to the club Pro Jesse Plaza, the redesign in 2013 softened the course to make it more playable for resort guests by reducing the elevated greens making them more accessible and smoothing out the fairways for more even lies. The course was in excellent condition amongst a beautiful setting of Monterey Pines. The course reminded me of the parkland holes at Spyglass. Hole #9 is a short par five that rewards a long tee shot with a speed slot that shoots the ball to a lower landing area making it reachable in two with a mid to short iron. The hole is well designed, even ingenious with a ravine guarding the elongated green to the front and left encouraging misses to the right. To the right of the front part of the green is a bank that propels an errant shot to the back of the green, which can result in a putt over 40 YARDS to a front pin placement. High marks for this hole design."
Read More2025
Review
“According to the club Pro Jesse Plaza, the redesign in 2013 softened the course to make it more playable for resort guests by reducing the elevated greens to make them more accessible and smoothing out the fairways for more even lies. The course was in excellent condition amongst a beautiful setting of Monterey Pines. The course reminded me of the parkland holes at Spyglass. Hole #9 is a short par five that rewards a long tee shot with a speed slot that shoots the ball to a lower landing area making it reachable in two with a mid-iron to short iron. The hole is well designed, even ingenious with a ravine guarding the elongated green in the front and left encouraging misses to the right. To the right of the front part of the green is a bank that propels an errant shot to the back of the green, which can result in a putt over 40 YARDS to a front pin placement. High marks for this hole design."
Read More2025
Review
“Poppy Hills, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, is the home of the Northern California golf Association. It was once part of the AT&T tournament rotation"
Read More2024
Review
“Good value, given its neighborhood. Course is always in good condition."
Read More2024
Review
“Located near Pebble Beach Golf Links, this course, owned by the NCGA is a high end public course that features rolling elevation changes , doglegs and strategic bunker placement. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened in 1986. The course is lined by Monterey Pines , but still has generous fairways."
Read More2024
Review
“Solid, reasonably priced choice on the Monterey Peninsula. No one should be disappointed about playing Poppy."
Read More2023
Review
“Good par 5s but was really expecting more from this course. No real views of the ocean, the overall maintenance was not great and the bunkers, while a few nicely grass faced lacked quality. Bail-out banks around greens ease pain and make this course very scorable."
Read More2022
Review
“Good par 5s but was really expecting more from this course. No real views of the ocean, the overall maintenance was not great and the bunkers, while a few nicely grass faced lacked quality. Bail-out banks around greens ease pain and make this course very score-able."
Read More2022
Review
“The course is very well built for the experienced golfer and well as the average golfer. If it were not in the Pebble Beach area, it probably would get more attention. Great course layout for any golfer level."
Read More2022
