Del Monte Golf Course
Del Monte opened in 1897 and is the oldest golf course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River, a compact par 72 of about 6,356 yards a few minutes inland from the Pebble Beach coast. Part of Pebble Beach Resorts, it trades ocean drama for vintage charm and the most approachable green fee on the peninsula.
Photo via Google, contributed by Del Monte Golf Course.
The verdict
Del Monte is living history. Laid out in 1897 and never out of play since, it predates Pebble Beach by more than two decades and remains the oldest course in continuous operation in the western United States. The land is gentle and the trees mature, and the routing carries the unhurried, walkable rhythm of golf's early American era. Length is not the defense here; the small, firm, sloping greens are.
Our verdict: this is the connoisseur's round on the Monterey Peninsula, a quiet counterpoint to the famous cliffs that asks for position and a sharp short game rather than power. It is also the value play in a region of premium fees, and a lovely warm up or wind down to the marquee rounds. Slot it into a wider peninsula trip and it earns its place. For the regional shortlist, see our best courses on the Monterey Peninsula.
Del Monte Golf Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1897
- Designer
- Charles Maud
- Type
- Classic parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,356 yds
- Green fee
- From about $125 (indicative)
History, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Pebble Beach Resorts and leading course databases: opened 1897 as a nine hole course laid out by Charles Maud and expanded to eighteen in the early 1900s, par 72, about 6,356 yards. The 2026 published green fee was around $125, the most affordable of the resort's courses, with resort guests receiving priority. Treat the figure as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Del Monte's pleasures are subtle and accumulate over the round. Tree lined corridors funnel the tee shot, but the real examination begins on approach, where the greens are small, raised and tilted in ways that turn a routine pitch into a genuine question. Miss on the wrong side and par becomes a scramble.
The par 4s reward an honest, well placed drive followed by a precise iron, while the short holes ask for confident, committed contact to targets that shrug off anything loose. There is no water theatrics and no clifftop drama, just a steady drip of demands on accuracy and touch that flatters the thinking golfer and quietly exposes the careless one.
What lingers is the atmosphere: a true period course, walkable and warm, where you sense the game's American beginnings underfoot. Played early in a trip it sets the tone; played late it is a gentle, satisfying farewell. Pair it with the peninsula's heavyweights such as Spyglass Hill for the full spread of Monterey golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course within Pebble Beach Resorts; open to public play, with resort guests receiving priority tee times |
| Green fee | Around $125 in the 2026 season, the most affordable of the resort's courses, indicative and subject to change (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Reserve online or through the resort; tee times are easier to secure here than at the resort's marquee courses |
| On the day | Walkable and welcoming; carts available, with a relaxed pace suited to a classic, shorter layout |
| Getting there | In Monterey just inland from the coast, a few minutes from downtown and roughly 10 minutes from Pebble Beach |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the driest, calmest weather; coastal fog is common through summer mornings |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Pebble Beach Resorts. Del Monte is public and relatively easy to book, but rates shift by season, so confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Staying within Pebble Beach Resorts, at The Lodge at Pebble Beach or The Inn at Spanish Bay, unlocks priority tee times across the resort's courses and keeps Del Monte a short drive away. Monterey and Carmel by the Sea offer a wider spread of hotels and dining within minutes, and put the whole peninsula at your fingertips.
This is the densest concentration of great golf in the United States, ideal for a multi course trip. Use Del Monte as the value anchor and build outward to the headline rounds, pairing it with Pasatiempo up the coast in Santa Cruz for a varied, classic itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Del Monte Golf Course.
Build a Monterey Peninsula golf trip
We secure tee times across Pebble Beach Resorts, pair Del Monte with the peninsula's marquee rounds, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Del Monte Golf Course questions
How old is Del Monte Golf Course?
Del Monte opened in 1897 and is the oldest golf course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River, originally a nine hole layout that was expanded to eighteen in the early 1900s.
What is the par and length of Del Monte Golf Course?
Del Monte is a par 72 measuring about 6,356 yards, a compact classic course defined by small, sloping greens rather than length.
Can the public play Del Monte Golf Course?
Yes. Del Monte is part of Pebble Beach Resorts and is open to public play, with resort guests receiving priority tee times.
How much does it cost to play Del Monte Golf Course?
The 2026 published green fee was around $125, the most affordable of the Pebble Beach Resorts courses. Treat this as indicative and confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. History, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.