Links at Spanish Bay, The

Carved from a former sand mine along the pristine coastline between the Monterey Peninsula Country Club and Asilomar State Beach, The Links at Spanish Bay delivers an authentic links experience that Tom Watson famously declared "so much like Scotland, you can almost hear the bagpipes playing." This Robert Trent Jones Jr. design weaves through towering sand dunes—many created during construction—to create a layout that captures the essence of seaside golf while showcasing the dramatic beauty of the Monterey Peninsula.

The course's 6,821 yards play significantly longer due to the ever-present coastal winds that sweep across the property, making club selection a constant strategic puzzle. With five par 3s, eight par 4s, and five par 5s, the layout offers exceptional variety, from wind-whipped oceanside holes to more protected inland passages through native vegetation and sculpted dunes. The moderate 3.6 difficulty rating reflects a course that challenges through strategy rather than brute force, rewarding thoughtful course management over pure distance.