Evan Schiller
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA • Public
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Spyglass Hill and Stevenson Dr.
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
United States
Telephone
Overview
Given the task of designing a course just up the 17 Mile Drive from Pebble Beach and Cypress Point, Robert Trent Jones responded with a combination of Pine Valley and Augusta National. The five opening holes, in Pine Valley-like sand dunes, are an all-too-brief encounter with the Pacific seacoast. The remaining holes are a stern hike through hills covered with majestic Monterey pines (which, sad to say, may someday disappear to pitch canker, but are being replaced in some areas with cypress trees). Add several water hazards that hearken back to the 16th at Augusta (a hole which Trent Jones designed, by the way), and you have what some panelists consider to be Trent’s finest work. Others say it’s the best course never to have hosted a major event (though it was conceived to do so). After all, even Pine Valley and Cypress Point have hosted Walker Cups.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1969.
Highest ranking: 26th, 1993-'94.
Previous ranking: 67th.
2025-'26 ranking: 76th.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since inaugural edition in 2003.
Highest ranking: 5th, 2003-'04.
Previous ranking: 12th.
2035-'26 ranking: 13th.
Best in State: Ranked 7th, 2011-'22.
Previous ranking: 8th.
2025-'26 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
“We played Spyglass on a perfect April day this year. The course starts out strong and with quite a bit of character, especially holes 2-4, but hole #1 is also a great opener. Starting at hole #6, the course becomes extremely challenging, with many uphill approach shots surrounded by difficult bunkering. The greens were fast and in great condition. Some hole locations made for a challenging par. Hole #4 is one of the coolest holes in golf, with the slim green that goes 50-60 yards. I laid up off the tee, but wish I had taken a crack at going for it. I loved the test, but found our group to be struggling for most of the round, especially those that were missing fairways. I wish the course had more flexibility off the tee, rather than having to pound the ball straight on every tee shot. Despite being a public resort course, the conditions were world-class. Loved the experience, but once again, hard for even a high single digit golfer to break 90."
Read More2026
Review
“First 5 holes towards and along Ocean create a strong challenge with Ocean Winds and up and down holes which make it a challenge for club selection. Also creates beautiful Aesthetics to start your round. Remainder of holes have excellent layout variety through tree lined fairways with a variety of shot options. Good variety of Par 3 holes throughout the course. Definitely, a course I suggest all golfers should play and enjoy. The Spanish Bay lodge where I stayed was first class and I look forward to going to rate The Links at Spanish Bay once the remodel is completed in spring/summer of 2027."
Read More2026
Review
“Starting with wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean before heading into the tree lined golf for the final 13 holes of play. You can score at Spyglass with a variety of shorter par 3's and 4's you can attack. While the greens are accessible, be cautious as there are several with areas for tucked pins making where to attack important. You will love the views at Spyglass Hill."
Read More2026
Review
“* Shorter 4's and 3's here where one could score well. * The ponds feel unnatural in a way as they appeared to be dyed and perfectly oval-shaped. Bunkering is traditional Jones with fingery round edges which detracts just a bit. * The course routes itself through the first 6 holes well but begins to feel that a hole goes out and then the next hole comes back playing opposite in slope and dogleg. This happens at 7&8, 9&10, 13&14, 11&17. Almost thinking Jones did this intentionally to perhaps raise the status of the course to offer good variety because the holes play opposite to one another. However, I believe this flow to detract from the enjoyment of the round almost feeling like pedaling a bike with one pedal. * 3/4 par 3's run in same direction and play downhill while the par 5's are nicely routed in all directions, slope & dogleg. Approach shots are equally distributed between raised versus greens below. Heavier presence of short left greenside bunkering. Greens are evenly angled right or left throughout the round."
Read More2025
Review
“Trent Jones Sr created an interesting golf course here at Spyglass Hill. A stunning first few holes overlooking the ocean before turning inward to forest lined, Augusta -like finish, with tight fairways, well protected greens, and pretty severe undulation changes. Approach shots will demand precision and creativity. It is a thinking man's course, have your mental game ready. Still a verry playable course for all skill levels. Some memorable par 3's of varying distances, and a very challenging, breathtaking par 5, 14th, make the back nine through the forest, one to remember. Conditioning was good in relation to the number of rounds played. Used every club in the bag"
Read More2025
Review
“A great course to play. Some good shot options e.g. Hole 2 narrows at driver length, so player has to make a chioce off tee, Hole 10 dog-leg left risk reward in cutting corner from tee if avoid tree at top of the hill. High fun factor, a good mix of holes with water views and dunes and a forest course, good variety of holes. Layout variety was high, with good mix of left and right doglegs and excellent downhill Par 3's e.g. Hole 3 and 15. Aesthetically high with the mix of ocean views and some great forest holes on the back-nine. Conditioning was excellent, great fairways and greens rolling well. Character was good, although the uniqueness of the forest holes was a little lower than the front-nine."
Read More2025
Review
“Some good shot options e.g. Hole 2 narrows at driver length, so player has to make a chioce off tee, Hole 10 dog-leg left risk reward in cutting corner from tee if avoid tree at top of the hill. High fun factor, a good mix of holes with water views and dunes and a forest course, good variety of holes. Layout variety was high, with good mix of left and right doglegs and excellent downhill Par 3's e.g. Hole 3 and 15. Aesthetically high with the mix of ocean views and some great forest holes on the back-nine. Conditioning was excellent, great fairways and greens rolling well. Character was good, although the uniqueness of the forest holes was a little lower than the front-nine."
Read More2025
Review
“An overall great golfing experience from start to finish. Holes are designed in a variety of ways to keep your interest peaked from hole to hole and demanding a variety of different types of shots."
Read More2025
Review
“A beauty in Monterey. RTJ presents the challenge well with a focus on golf and a transition from coastal beauty to wooded challenge. Players must focus given the difficulty presented throughout the layout with the pins of the day dictating strategy. A great test."
Read More2025
Review
“Spyglass was something that showed out in a couple of different ways. The start heading down towards 17 mile drive into heavy fog and around the cliffs for the first 5 holes is an extremely difficult start. However, all of the holes are birdie holes if you are willing to play a bit more on the risky side. As you begin to climb inland the course shows a ton of undulation changes and the routing through the pines was something that was kept challenging first and the conditioning was on par with its sister courses near by. The par 3's were beautiful on the back side, but both provided a similar yardage and slope change with a water hazard short and short left of both. This was one of the few things that added to its beauty but took away in layout variety. Overall the course is extremely fun and the risk reward options were some of the best I have played on the west coast."
Read More2024
