California, USA

The Links at Spanish Bay

This Scottish-style links course on the Monterey Peninsula has consistently ranked among Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Public Courses, peaking at 44th, and is certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Since 2015, it has co-hosted the TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational, bringing together players from the PGA, LPGA, and Champions tours. Stretching along the Pacific coastline, the signature 5th hole 'Blind Choice' presents the course's quintessential challenge—a 451-yard par-4 with three pot bunkers guarding the fairway's center, forcing players to choose between a wider left route with a longer approach or a tighter right line with the stunning Pacific Ocean as backdrop. The par-3 3rd plays directly over the ocean, while the par-5 18th is celebrated as 'one of golf's most challenging finishing holes,' where wetlands and environmental areas demand aerial precision. Undulating multi-tiered greens and howling northwest winds ensure every shot tests strategic decision-making. In 2026, the course will close for 13 months for a comprehensive renovation led by Gil Hanse's team.