The Oldest West Coast Gem
Del Monte Golf Course holds the unique honor of being the oldest course west of the Mississippi to remain on its original site. Generations of players have teed off knowing they're part of living golf history.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Del Monte Golf Course
Monterey, California
Established
1897
Architect
Charles Maud (original), Tom Bendelow (1911), Herbert Fowler (1920)
Access
Resort
Par
Par 72
Length
5,580 – 6,356 yds
Green Fees
$$
More at Pebble Beach Resorts
The verdict
Classic West Coast Golf Heritage
Del Monte is golf history you can walk. It rewards precision, celebrates tradition, and delivers an old-school Monterey playing experience in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Course DNA
Difficulty
70
Scenery74
Conditioning78
Shot Variety71
Walkability88
Green Complexity77
Wow Factor75
Design Quality74
Don't miss
Walk the original first tee in the morning and imagine the legends who’ve started rounds here since 1897—it's where California golf truly began.
At a glance
Quick facts
Oldest course west of the Mississippi
Continuous operation on original site since 1897
Part of Pebble Beach Resorts
Sister course to Pebble Beach Golf Links
Hosted state and national championships
Historic site for Western Amateur and California State Amateur
Renovation 2024–2026
All bunkers, many tees, and conditioning upgraded
Walkable by design
Gentle routing makes for an easy stroll
Tree-lined parkland layout
Known for classic, narrow fairways
Rated 4.5/5 by GolfPass users
Highly regarded by travelers and reviewers
The design
The architecture
Del Monte is the quintessential old-school parkland layout: tree-lined fairways, subtle doglegs, and compact, well-guarded greens that have challenged golfers for more than 125 years. Its architectural DNA is rooted in strategy and placement, rewarding control and course management over sheer length—qualities that echo through Maud’s original blueprint, Bendelow’s refinements, and Fowler’s cohesive 1920 overhaul. Recent updates have revitalized bunkers and restored green-fee conditioning, but the bones of this vintage layout remain: a rewarding course for thinkers, patient attackers, and golf history buffs alike.
Charles Maud’s routing, with enhancements by Tom Bendelow and a holistic 1920 renovation by Herbert Fowler, underpins the course’s enduring character and timeless challenge.
Defining features
- Small, protected greens that demand precision approaches
- Narrow, tree-lined fairways and subtle doglegs
- Strategic, old-school bunkering now restored to sharp definition
- Gentle elevation changes for true walkability
- Classic sequence of risk/reward par 5s and stout longer par 3s
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 6
Mid-Iron Gauntlet
PAR
3
YARDAGE
194 yds
This long par 3 asks for a controlled mid-to-long iron over trouble to a narrow, well-protected green. It’s a shotmaker’s test: miss short or long, and par slips away fast.
Play it smart
Play to the center of the green and take your two-putt—chasing a tucked pin brings every missed club into play.
Where it bites
Go long and find deep trouble, go short and face a tricky recovery that threatens double bogey.
Course management
Shots to think about
Tee shots on short par 4s
Club down for accuracy—missing the fairway is more penal than a loss of distance.
Approach to small greens
Favor the fat side; chasing tough pin positions often leads to trouble.
Long par 3s (6 and 14)
Commit to your club choice and swing: timid swings get punished by bunkers and rough.
Trying to reach par 5s in two
Only go if you have a perfect lie and angle; otherwise, lay up smart and wedge close.
Finishing holes under pressure
Stay in the present—precision, not aggression, closes out a good round at Del Monte.
Navigating fairway bunkers
Check your yardage and pick a line you know you can execute rather than gambling with the sand.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Resort-caliber greens and bunkers, improved fairway turf from recent renovations.
Pace
Steady, conventional resort pace, around 4.5 hours depending on season.
Vibe
Welcoming, historic, and unpretentious—enjoy the classic charm.
Dress code
Standard golf attire; collared shirts recommended per Pebble Beach Resort tradition.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Work on Accuracy Off the Tee
The narrow, tree-lined fairways reward position over power—arrive sharp with your favorite control club.
02
Sharpen Your Mid- and Long-Irons
You’ll need confidence for approaches and the stout par 3s throughout the round.
03
Be Ready to Walk
The routing is easy on the legs, so grab comfortable shoes and enjoy the stroll.
04
Plan for Classic Monterey Weather
Bring a light layer—the coast brings morning chill and mid-day sun in equal measure.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1897
Course opens, designed by Charles Maud
- 1901
Hosts Pacific Coast Open
- 1911
Tom Bendelow renovates and updates the layout
- 1912
Hosts inaugural California State Amateur
- 1916
First Western Amateur west of the Continental Divide
- 1920
Full renovation by Herbert Fowler
Stories & legends
What makes it special
A California Championship Cradle
Del Monte hosted the very first California State Amateur in 1912, setting the stage for more than a century of tournaments that have shaped golf across the region and beyond.
Resurgence Through Renovation
A 2024–2026 revitalization project is restoring Del Monte’s classic feel, bringing back sharp-edged bunkers, faster greens, and improved turf that channel its golden-age roots with modern conditioning.
The First Westward Major
The 1916 Western Amateur at Del Monte marked the tournament’s first journey west of the Continental Divide—a symbolic shift in American golf’s geography.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Del Monte has operated continuously on its original site since 1897.
2
The course has hosted California’s oldest state and amateur tournaments.
3
Herbert Fowler’s 1920 renovation still shapes the course’s backbone.
4
Del Monte was part of the rotation for the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach (Champions Tour) from 2005–2014.
5
Tree-lined fairways provide a uniquely historic walk through Monterey pines and cypress.
Build the trip
Build a Monterey Golf Getaway Around Del Monte
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Resort
Play the most iconic public course in America just minutes away.
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Public
A top-value, highly rated course with strong local reputation.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Resort
One of the strongest all-around tests in Northern California.
The Links at Spanish Bay
Resort
Seaside vistas and true resort character make it a must for scenic seekers.
Stay in Monterey for best access, value, and proximity to all the major courses.
Course DNA
If You Like Pebble Beach Resorts
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match7.3
Stafford Country Club
Stafford, New YorkWalkability
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Stafford Country Club has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot, making it a compelling counterpart to Del Monte Golf Course.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Madison Country Club
Madison, ConnecticutWalkability
Why it matches: Madison Country Club is a natural next stop after Del Monte Golf Course: it has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot.
Strong DNA Match7.1
Glen Acres Golf & Country Club
Seattle, WashingtonWhy it matches: If Del Monte Golf Course is your kind of course, Glen Acres Golf & Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Community Sentiment
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