Can’t Miss Monterey Peninsula
NCGA Golf would like your assistance in producing its next “Can’t Miss” feature on the Monterey Peninsula. What can you tell us about your favorite places?
The section highlights the variety of destinations within Northern California, their golf courses, culture and cuisine. The Monterey Peninsula is the next region. We want this to be comprehensive and enlightening, so what can you tell us about San Francisco? We are looking for “off the beaten path” information that people might not know.
Questions to be answered:
Best place for a post round drink
Compelling view from a tee box
Best driving range
Restaurant recommendations
“Keep an eye on” golf courses
Unique travel experiences
Interesting hike
Or anything else quirky or different about the region
E-mail your opinions, or post below.
Thank you. The feature will run in the Spring edition, to be mailed in April.
The Monterey Peninsula is a great place to golf, site see, eat and even get married. My favorite place for a post round drink is the outdoor terrace at Fort Ord. My most compelling view from a tee box would be either the 3rd at Spyglass or the 14th at Pacific Grove. Best Driving range has to be the one at Poppy Hills. How about the “Sea Witch” just off the seventeen mile drive near Pacific Grove for a nice dinner. Fort Ord has had the most recent renovation and should be a course to keep your eye on as it look forward to hosting some events. Carmel is still my vote for the most unique travel experince as it changes as frequently as the weather but is always charming, and the hike up and down the beach at Carmel bay is straight out of everyones travel magazine. The Monterey Peninsula, whether you go for the day or spend a week, there will be something about every day that you will remember always. But then that’s just my opionion.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:13 pmGosh, what isn’t great about the Monterey Peninsula? There are just so many options, here are a few:
Post round drink: the lounge next to Sticks at Spanish Bay, or the patio outside is a great location
Tee box view: nothing tops 16 at Cypress Point, although 7 at Pebble is right there too. 12 at Pacific Grove shouldn’t be overlooked.
Driving range: interestingly, this is probably the weakest thing about the area. The practice facilities are a bit weak, but Poppy may be the best.
Restaurants: you can’t go wrong here – there are so many great choices — how about Montrio’s in downtown Monterey?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:34 pmThe Monterey Peninsula offers the most spectacular golfing I have ever experienced. I was pinching myself the whole time i was there just to making sure I was not dreaming. Monterey offers the best golf courses in the world! I just got back from a retreat to the Monterey Peninsula and must say this was the best golf vacation i have ever had! See the courses for yourself: Map of Monterey Peninsula Golf Courses
February 26th, 2009 at 5:08 pmAll my picks are beyond the usual spots that make the peninsula famous. Those spots, while beautiful and unforgettable, often overshadow these locations that would stand alone anywhere else.
Best place for a post round drink:
February 26th, 2009 at 9:57 pmCompelling view from a tee box: Subtracting all of the obvious ones, I think the view from Spyglass Hill’s 6th green looking down the hill to the ocean is a great microcosm of the area.
Best driving range: All are nothing to brag about, but Spyglass Hill’s is nice simply because you can hear the sea lions in the background, here the crows, and watch the deer at the same time while practicing…the ambiance gets me.
Restaurant recommendations: Rosine’s in Monterey on Alvarado Street.
“Keep an eye on” golf courses: Bayonet and Black Horse, superb renovation, great views!
Unique travel experiences: Try out a fishing trip to hook some albacore, cod, or halibut.
Interesting hike: A walk or jog alone Ocean Avenue presents some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The path is very user friendly as well.
Or anything else quirky or different about the region: A walk down Pacific Grove’s and Lighthouse Avenue to shop or have a bite to eat is charming and relaxing.
The best resturant is Fandango in Pacific Grove. A great menu that satisfies every appetite, a great wine list, and great desserts. What more could you ask want?
February 28th, 2009 at 11:54 pmWhen it comes to restaurants on the Peninsula a great breakfast (or lunch) place is Toastie’s in PG. Also if you go to MPCC the “Shack” as they used to call them are great for food and view. If you stay in Carmel there is Casanova’s and Il Forniao in the Pine Inn. I also remember a Mexican place in the Valley (on the right going out) that has great food and some awesome music on their outdoor patio, I just can’t remember the name right now. You can’t go wrong at many places when it comes to the Monterey area.
March 1st, 2009 at 8:40 amI’ve played 6 weeks in Scotland, 10 weeks in Ireland (2 weeks a year on golfing vacations)and enjoyed every trip totally! I’ve played the Monterey courses for years and each time feel like I’m coming home. Each course is a little different, but each special and terrific! The perfect weekend is a round at Poppy hills, dinner at the Sardine Factory, and a final round the next day at Fort Ord on the way home.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:55 amA bottle of nice wine and picnic lunch with a few friends at Point Lobos State Park or practically any place along the Big Sur coast south of Carmel. We were there a week ago and some guy was struming a guitar and singing a tune about a white rabbit sitting on his head and a brown rabbit nearby named Obama. Where else can one have such an wonderful, interesting, beautiful experience?
March 1st, 2009 at 9:49 pmCheck out the herd of deer you can see from the road on the Spyglass Hill Golf Course driving range at dusk any day. Look closely on the cart path running along the 9th fairway across the street around that time of day to see Wiley Coyote looking for discarded potato chips.
After viewing the wildlife have a Chinese Chicken Salad at Sticks Restaurant at Spanish Bay (next to the pro shop).
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:44 pmBest place for a post round drink: Jack London’s
March 4th, 2009 at 11:24 amCompelling view from a tee box: 9th at Pebble Beach
Best driving range: Pebble Beach
Restaurant recommendations: little French place next to the shopping mall in Carmel, the one run by two ladies in a little house–since the 1950′s!
“Keep an eye on” golf courses: Bayonet–watch it being remodeled (ruined).
Unique travel experiences: Big Sur
Interesting hike: Any in Pebble.
Or anything else quirky or different about the region: Th fact that Carmel looks the same as when I first went there in the 1960′s
Best Place for a post round drink: Sticks at Spanish Bay
March 4th, 2009 at 12:40 pmCompelling View from a tee box: #7 at Pebble hands down.
Best Driving range: Pebble
Restaurant: Fishwife, Pacific Grove and Fish hopper in Monterey’s Cannery Row. Breakfast: Toasties in Pacific Grove
Keep an eye on: Pacific Grove Golf Links(poor man’s Pebble Beach)
Unique travel: 17 mile drive
Interesting hike: the beach along Pebble Beach accessed from Carmel.
Quirky: Asilomar Conference Grounds cabins: No tv, no telephones and claw foot bathtubs (for two!!)
Best place for a post round drink: Sticks at Spanish Bay
March 4th, 2009 at 4:20 pmCompelling view from a tee box: 18th Pebble
Best driving range: Bayonet/Black Horse
Restaurant recommendations: Mission Ranch, Tarpy’s, Roy’s
“Keep an eye on” golf courses: Playing the back nine at PG for $25
Unique travel experiences: Take a drive to Big Sur
Interesting hike: Walk along Carmel Beach
Or anything else quirky or different about the region: Walking the street of Carmel.
When I was younger I used to love to just hang out on the putting green at Pebble, then hit balls at Spyglass, and then stop by the deli at Pebble, get a sandwich and a beer, and then drive out to the coast just past Cypress. Sit, eat lunch, and just watch the waves roll in while sitting on the rocks. Who says you can’t have a full days golfing experience in Pebble Beach for under $25?
My favorite moment and one everyone should experience, is when I played golf with my Dad celebrating his retirement by playing at Pebble the first day and then Spanish Bay the second day. As we walked to the 18th tee, my Dad put his arm around me and said “this has been the greatest time I have ever spent playing golf in my life” and just at that moment the bagpiper came walking down the path from the Inn and we watched him and the setting sun as we teed off. I will never forget that and will cherish the memory forever.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:08 amPost round drink: Mission River Inn on the patio. Sticks patio is also awesome as several have mentioned.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:58 amRestaurants: Grasings, Le Bicyclette and Little Napoli, all Carmel. For breakfast, hands down it’s Toasties in PG. For lunch, I like the fish tacos and fried artichoke hearts at Archie’s American Diner right across the street from the Aquarium in Monterey.
Compelling view, my vote goes to #12 at Pacific Grove, because it’s something everyone can experience, even folks who don’t have $350 and up for Pebble, Spyglass and Spanish Bay and who will never stand on the tee at #16 at Cypress Point. Unique experience would be sea kayaking in the kelp beds off Monterey. Hike would be along the cliffs and down into the many coves at Point Lobos State Reserve. For quirky, get a group together and try the Rancho Reposo House at the Andril Fireplace cottages. Second sort of quirky deal is being in the first group to tee off the back nine at Pacific Grove at the crack of dawn. Best range is Spyglass, but haven’t been to the one at Pebble. Up and coming, I agree, are Blackhorse and Bayonet. And you can’t go wrong at the Aquarium, one of the best in the world.
Hey one more worth mentioning. Not many people think about wine-tasting when it comes to the Monterey Peninsula, but Carmel Valley, which I think is fair to include, has some terrific wineries, not the least of which is Bernardus, maker of a first class Pinot Noir and an excellent Chardonnay, among other standout varietals. So while certainly not unique to the Peninsula, nevertheless a fun activity while in the area.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:09 pmFt Ord patio for a wee dram post rd. Breakfast at The Old Monterey Cafe or First Awakenings in Monterey, Katy’s in Carmel and The Breakfast Club in Seaside. For bugers it’s Duffy’s on High St Mtry. Dine at the Wharf at Domenico’s or Rappa’s. Pizza and pasta at Gianni’s Lighthouse in New Mtry. The Fish House on Del Monte Blvd is a must. Poppy and Ft Ord for driving convenience. I like the views at PG on the Back. Hike Pt Lobos with a picnic lunch. The lighthouse at PG golf course is a great visit. Pt Pinos lighthouse offer great views for whale watching but call ahead as it limits visitors.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:01 pmI lived in Monterey for 25 years and the favorite place my wife and I found for drinks, food and atmosphere was Forge In The Forest in Carmel. At night you sit outside in the patio around brick fireplaces and there are miniature lights thruought the vine covered fence and walls. The place is decorated with old ranch style pieces such as saddles and iron. The restroom has a blackboard where you can leave messages. There is nothing like it in Sacramento.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:12 amOk, the area is terrible, Bad golf, bad dining, sunsets are non-existant, and the people just plain rude. Stay away. Go elsewhere for your enjoyments. Ok, I live here. Are you kidding!!! This is the mecca of enterainment for all things golf, drink, dining, friends. Check out Quail Lodge for a great driving range and super course. Best post round drinks…spanish bay outside by the fire pits with the bagpiper busting a scotish tune. Best restaurant: Chistophers in Carmel. Check out the Cafe Rustica out in Carmel Village. For an unreal lunch, go down to Post Ranch just before Big Sur. What a view.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:58 pmOkay, now just stay away for us locals!!!!!