| Public golf
The best courses you can play in California
When looking at the best courses you can play in California, the top course—Pebble Beach—will hardly surprise, but with such a golf-rich state, all 35 courses in this guide are worth getting out to. The depth of great golf, both private and public, makes California one of the best golf states in the country.
When figuring out which courses you should play on your next trip to California, location is an obvious limiting factor, considering the size of The Golden State. Not to worry, though, as there are great options on this list spread across the state. Be sure to use our map feature in this guide to find the best courses near wherever you are headed.
Scroll on for the complete ranking of the best courses you can play in California, and be sure to click through to each individual course page for bonus photography and reviews from our course panelists. We also encourage you to leave your own ratings on the courses you’ve played … so you can make your case for why a course should be higher or lower on our rankings.
The best courses you can play in California

Stephen Szurlej

Sherman Chu


Evan Schiller


Getty Images


Photo by Joann Dost

Keyur Khamar

Stephen Szurlej

Evan Schiller

Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company

Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company

Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company

Evan Schiller

Evan Schiller

From the tee at the par-3, third hole
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

The view from behind the third green
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

The approach to the famous par-4, 11th hole
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier

The closing par 3 at Pasatiempo.
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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Jon Cavalier
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Joey Terrill

Courtesy of Rosewood Cordevalle

Courtesy of the club


Sherman Chu

Jeff Marsh

Channing Benjamin

JFHenebry/Courtesy of the club

JFHenebry/Courtesy of the club

JPHenebry

JFHenebry/Courtesy of the club

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Joann Dost

Ben Peters
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Brian Oar/Courtesy of the club

Brian Oar/Courtesy of the club
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Brian Oar/Courtesy of the club

Brian Oar

JD Cuban

JD Cuban

JD Cuban

JD Cuban

JD Cuban


Mark Degnan

Courtesy of the Course




J.D. Cuban

J.D. Cuban

Courtesy of the club







Dom Furore

Dom Furore

Dom Furore

Dom Furore

Gary Kellner

Gary Kellner


Courtesy of the club

Courtesy of the club



Brian Oar - Fairways+Greens

Brian Oar - Fairways+Greens





Brian Oar - Fairways+Greens



Rob Perry Photography

John Henebry






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Courtesy of the resort


Courtesy of Silverado Resort
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Courtesy of Silverado Resort

Courtesy of Silverado Resort

Courtesy of Silverado Resort


RobertKaufman

JFHenebry/Courtesy of the club

JFHenebry/Courtesy of the club


Chris Miller

Courtesy of the club
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John Palmer/Courtesy of the club

Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg

Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
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Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
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