Best Public Golf Course
Pacific Grove Golf Links
77 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove
(831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com
They call Pacific Grove Golf Links the “poor person’s Pebble Beach Golf Links.” But that’s like comparing Cirque du Soleil to Cirque Medrano. Both are bucket lists when it comes to coastal scenery, it’s just that it becomes quite a bit easier on the credit line to play Pacific Grove on a regular basis rather than Pebble Beach. And with dunes and beach grasses, Pacific Grove is much more comparable to a true Scottish links – particularly on the back nine. The par 72 layout can be more punishing on the front nine, with clusters of cypress trees coming into play. So it’s not a favorite because the course goes easy on golfers. This is simply a challenging and beautiful place for a round – or two, three, whatever – of golf.