The Links at Spanish Bay
The closest thing to a true Scottish links on the California coast, Spanish Bay was shaped by Robert Trent Jones Jr. alongside Tom Watson and Sandy Tatum in 1987. A par 72 of about 6,820 yards through restored dunes on Monterey Bay, it completes the Pebble Beach Resorts trio with Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, a bagpiper sending the evening off at dusk.
Photo: Keegan Elder via Google.
The verdict
When Pebble Beach Resorts wanted a links to sit alongside Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, they handed the dunes at the north end of the property to Robert Trent Jones Jr., the two time Open champion Tom Watson and the former USGA president Sandy Tatum, all devoted students of Scottish golf. The result, opened in 1987, is firm, rumpled and windswept, the most authentically links round in California.
It plays its best on the ground, into the wind off Monterey Bay, the dunes and ice plant punishing the wayward and the firm turf rewarding the runner. It will never carry the fame of Pebble next door, but as the third leg of a Monterey Peninsula trip, with the piper playing the sun down over the closing holes, it is a round travelling golfers come back for.
Spanish Bay at a glance
- Opened
- 1987
- Designer
- Jones, Watson and Tatum
- Type
- Resort links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,820 yds
- Green fee
- Around $465
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Pebble Beach Resorts and leading course databases. Spanish Bay was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. with Tom Watson and Sandy Tatum and opened in 1987, a par 72 of about 6,820 yards. The green fee is indicative, around 465 US dollars in 2025 plus cart for non resort guests, with priority and preferred terms for guests of the Pebble Beach Resorts. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Spanish Bay opens inland before swinging out into the dunes, where the wind off Monterey Bay sets the test. The links turf runs fast and firm, and the smart play is often a low ball chased onto the green rather than a high approach the breeze can swallow.
The middle stretch through the restored sand dunes is the heart of the round, tight, rumpled and exposed, with the Pacific never far away. Position off the tee matters far more than length, and the bump and run becomes the most valuable shot in the bag.
The closing holes turn back toward the Inn at Spanish Bay, and at dusk a lone bagpiper walks the dunes playing the day to a close, one of the more memorable traditions in American resort golf and a fitting end to a round that rewards patience and a feel for the ground.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course; guests of Pebble Beach Resorts get priority and the best access to tee times |
| Green fee | Around 465 US dollars plus cart for non resort guests (indicative, 2025) |
| Booking | Resort guests book well ahead as part of a stay; limited public tee times released closer to the day |
| On the day | Carts or caddies, caddies recommended on the links; smart golf dress |
| Getting there | On the Monterey Peninsula, about 1.5 hours south of San Jose and 2 hours from San Francisco |
| Best months | April to October for the driest, calmest conditions, though it plays year round |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Inn at Spanish Bay, steps from the first tee, or one of the other Pebble Beach Resorts properties, The Lodge at Pebble Beach and Casa Palmero, all of which unlock the best tee times across the three courses. A stay turns the trip from a single round into a Monterey Peninsula golf week.
Beyond the resort, Carmel by the Sea, the drama of 17 Mile Drive and the cluster of celebrated courses, from Pebble Beach to Spyglass Hill, all sit within a few minutes. It is a destination that fills several days of golf and scenery without a long drive between them.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Spanish Bay.
Build a Monterey Peninsula golf trip
We pair Spanish Bay with Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, secure the tee times in the right order and book the resort lodge and transfers around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Spanish Bay questions
Who designed The Links at Spanish Bay and when did it open?
Spanish Bay was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. with the two time Open champion Tom Watson and former USGA president Sandy Tatum, and opened in 1987. The three set out to build the most authentically Scottish links on the California coast.
What is the par and length of Spanish Bay?
Spanish Bay is a par 72 of about 6,820 yards, a firm, windswept links running through restored coastal dunes along Monterey Bay, designed to be played on the ground.
How much does it cost to play Spanish Bay?
Indicative green fees are around 465 US dollars in 2025 plus cart for non resort guests, with priority access and preferred terms for guests of the Pebble Beach Resorts. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play Spanish Bay?
Yes. Spanish Bay is open to visitors, but the most reliable way to secure a tee time, especially in advance, is to stay at one of the Pebble Beach Resorts. Limited public tee times are released closer to the day.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.