Allen Kennedy/Courtesy of The Preserve GC
Allen Kennedy/Courtesy of The Preserve GC
Joann Dost/Courtesy of The Preserve GC
Joann Dost/Courtesy of The Preserve GC
Courtesy of the club
The Preserve Golf Club
Carmel, CA • Private
The Preserve Golf Club
19 Pronghorn Run
Carmel, CA 93923-7711
United States
Overview
Located a few miles inland from the glorious fivesome of 100 Greatest courses on California’s Monterey Peninsula (Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and the two courses at Monterey Peninsula Country Club), The Preserve Golf Club is dramatically different, the only golf course contained within a 20,000-acre parcel of gentle hills and mammoth oaks. Fazio moved almost no earth here, so perfect was the routing established by Poellot and Sandy Tatum. The greens are subtle, the bunkering low-key, the atmosphere one of absolute tranquility.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Since 2021.
Previous ranking: 103rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 115th.
100 Greatest: Ranked for 16 years from 2005-'20.
Highest ranking: No. 68, 2011-'12.
Best in State: Ranked eighth, 2011-'12. Ranked ninth, 2013-'14. Ranked inside the top 10, 2009-'10. Ranked 11th, 2015-'18. Ranked 12th, 2019-'20. Ranked 14th, 2021-'22. Ranked inside the top 15, 2001-'07.
Previous ranking: 14th.
2025-'26 ranking: 15th.
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 very privileged experience to play such an exclusive private course. The caddie was essential to navigate some of the holes and especially reading the greens. It is a great design using a lot of the natural terrain of the hills and valleys. A lot of variety which required you to play every club in your bag. The conditioning was excellent and very consistent throughout. The greens were firm but very fair. Good bunkering positioned throughout the course. Overall a most memorable day."
Read More2026
Review
“Fabulous Tom Fazio design where most of the holes -you only see that hole because of layout and trees. An area that the members refer to as the Party Bowl starts on 6 tee where you can view 6 other holes down in a valley. Really the only place where you might happen to see some other golfers during your round. The aesthetics in this 20,000 acre preserve are one of a kind. The 15th hole is a demanding long par 4 up a hill, that is followed by the only short par 3. 18 is a beautiful finishing hole as a demanding par 4 up a hill."
Read More2025
Review
“Shot Options around greens, greens open at front mostly, options off the tee were more limited. Course would be fun for all levels,with some good elevation changes too. Challenge was highest around the greens which were hard and fast to chip onto, some tee shots you needed to be on the correct side of the fairway not to be blocked out by trees e.g.Hole 1, Hole 10. Challenge was very high around greens, large slopes, fast, false fronts. Less challenging off tee, although Hole 15 Par 4 was very tough as needed to hug bunker on left to get shorter shot to a long hole. Variety was high in terms of layout left to right etc., and elevation changes, although a lot of the greens seemed a little similar in overall design. Aesthetics was very good, in an amazing natural preserve, you felt in the wilderness. Conditioning was excellent, firm fast greens, and fairway grass very manicured. A 2000 Tom Fazio design, the location was very unique, the holes less unique."
Read More2025
Review
“Shot Options around greens, greens open at front mostly, options off the tee were more limited. Course would be fun for all levels,with some good elevation changes too. Challenge was highest around the greens which were hard and fast to chip onto, some tee shots you needed to be on the correct side of the fairway not to be blocked out by trees e.g.Hole 1, Hole 10. Challenge was very high around greens, large slopes, fast, false fronts. Less challenging off tee, although Hole 15 Par 4 was very tough as needed to hug bunker on left to get shorter shot to a long hole. Variety was high in terms of layout left to right etc., and elevation changes, although a lot of the greens seemed a little similar in overall design. Aesthetics was very good, in an amazing natural preserve, you felt in the wilderness. Conditioning was excellent, firm fast greens, and fairway grass very manicured. A 2000 Tom Fazio design, the location was very unique, the holes less unique."
Read More2025
Review
“Santa Lucia preserve is a Tom Fazio golf course built in 2000 in a remote inland section of Carmel Valley"
Read More2024
Review
“Absolutely play here if you can. A unique experience, given its setting in a huge nature preserve. THe Tom Fazio course is as good as the setting itself, presenting a wonderful, varied challenge, while remaining fun for all skill levels."
Read More2024
Review
“quite the hike, but worth it!"
Read More2024
Review
“Tom Fazio design set in the 20,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve. Even though you're not far from the Pacific Ocean, the club sets at an elevation of around 1500 feet. Very peaceful setting with abundant wildlife and small stands of Redwood trees near the course. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Do not turn down any offer to play here."
Read More2023
Review
“If you ever get the chance, you will not be disappointed."
Read More2022
Review
“A good golf course that should have been so much better! Number 1 is a very curious start to a course aiming to be Top 100 in the country. Far too many bland holes left me with a blah feeling post round. It's an amazing area, the facilities and service are world-class, it's just that the actual golf course (again, while good) doesn't live up."
Read More2018
