I’m a relative “latecomer” to golf, having picked up the sport in my early 40s. Many of my golfing buddies started decades ago, so I often find myself playing catch up, not just with our handicaps (they’re single digits; I hover around 28), but with golf culture itself.
Before I started playing, I was like any other non-golfer — whether in my hometown of Los Angeles or traveling, I would blithely walk past nearby fairways and immaculate greens. Now, the greens are all I see. And I’m grateful. Learning the sport has made me feel like a kid again.
And, lucky for me, California is home to numerous top golf courses. Below are nine “stay-and-play” destinations for golf-loving travelers headed to the Golden State — four I’ve played already, and the remaining five are on my golf bucket list. These properties combine world-class accommodations and dining with scenic golf courses that take advantage of the state’s natural beauty. Clients will be reaching not just for their driver, but for their camera, too.
The fairways along Carmel Valley Ranch’s course are nestled in the rolling hills of the destination.
Credit: 2025 Carley Rudd PhotographyCarmel Valley Ranch
My family and I visited Carmel Valley Ranch on a recent summer vacation. While my wife and daughters spent a day at the resort’s recently renovated family pool area, River Ranch, I teed up on the Pete Dye-designed course set in the valley of the Santa Lucia Mountains of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The front nine weaves through vineyards, ponds and lavender fields — a uniquely Californian experience — while the back nine goes into the mountains, providing epic views of the resort. (Pro tip: Make sure clients have their cameras ready on holes 11 and 13.) The clubhouse sits right on the course, giving a panoramic view that is especially sublime at sunset. After my round, I met my family at on-site restaurant Valley Kitchen, where we ordered a fantastic meal cooked with ingredients grown at the resort’s garden. Highlights for me included the braised beef cheek and seasonal roasted vegetables.
Accommodations at this all-suite resort are spread across 500 acres, making it feel like a true retreat into nature that’s great for families.
RELATED: What’s New at Carmel Valley Ranch in California
The Quail Golf Club offers a well-maintained Robert Muir Graves-designed course along the Carmel River, plus a 9-hole putting course even kids can enjoy.
Credit: 2025 The Quail Golf ClubThe Quail
The Quail offers a golf experience for everyone in the family. When I visited with my own crew, I played the 18-hole championship course that winds beside the Carmel River while my wife and kids borrowed putters from the front desk and played the nine-hole putting course situated among the 93-room hotel.
“Tranquil” is the best way to describe this resort, as it’s nestled off the beaten path on the Monterey Peninsula. As clients stroll the property, they’ll feel at one with nature; geese, mallards and the course’s namesake, the California quail, are everywhere. On-site restaurant Covey Grill is a great place for a post-round drink. Its menu is chef-driven, and my daughter was unable to resist the Quail Burger, which featured bacon marmalade and a slice of brie. For those wanting some rejuvenation time, the lodge’s wellness center, Spa Adeline, offers massages, facials and a steam room.
RELATED: Review: The Quail in Carmel Valley, California 
Golfers wind through Aliso Canyon while playing at The Ranch at Laguna Beach.
Credit: 2025 The Ranch at Laguna BeachThe Ranch at Laguna Beach
Golfers shouldn’t discount The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s course because it’s “only” a nine-hole par 32. One look and they’ll realize it’s as unique as they come, designed to fit within the craggy walls of Aliso Canyon.
Golfers tee off at the edge of the resort (often with onlookers enjoying a drink at patio restaurant The Porch) and wind their way deeper into the canyon, allowing them a chance to connect with nature and play alongside the local deer. This is a GEO-certified course; the resort recycles its glass bottles by crushing them and adding them to the bunkers. After the round, players can unwind with a short walk from the resort to Aliso Beach or, for the adventurous, arrange for a kayak and wildlife tour or surf lessons at legendary Laguna Beach.
Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, California, offers a beloved Arnold Palmer-designed course.
Credit: 2025 Hyatt Hotels and ResortsPark Hyatt Aviara
I’d heard about this course long before I played it — and it lived up to the hype. About 35 miles north of San Diego in the coastal city of Carlsbad, Park Hyatt Aviara is home to an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course that is as beautiful as they come and immaculately maintained.
RELATED: Review: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort for Families
I stood in awe of the greenery as the fairways wind around trees, shrubs and native California wildflowers. The ponds and lagoons are serenity-inducing — until I remembered I had to avoid them. When I was done with my round, I understood why it’s consistently ranked as one of the country’s top resort courses. And for those looking to improve their game, the Aviara Golf Club features a TaylorMade Performance Center that offers club fittings with data-driven feedback. The hotel also has the Aviara Racquet Club, with five tennis courts and four pickleball courts, and is ranked among the top 25 tennis resorts by Tennis Resorts Online.
The on-site dining options are fantastic, too. While our daughters ordered from the kid-friendly room service menu, my wife and I dined at Ponto Lago, a restaurant that highlights California seafood cuisine. The seafood paella was outstanding, and the seemingly simple arepas were so delicious we ordered seconds. The resort also has a steakhouse, Ember & Rye, which overlooks the 18th green and features a world-class steak menu and wine list.
Serene fairways are lined with old-growth trees at Rancho Bernardo Inn.
Credit: 2025 Rancho Bernardo InnRancho Bernardo Inn
Old-growth trees and rolling fairways are the natural highlights of this resort’s course — so long as you’re an accurate golfer. Designed by William Francis Bell, it’s a championship course that has hosted both PGA and LPGA tournaments and has been revitalized with a $4.5 million dollar renovation. Rancho Bernardo Inn’s premier restaurant, Avant, serves contemporary California cuisine and has been recognized as one of the finest dining experiences in the San Diego area. Those wanting to venture off-site have a wide range of activities nearby, like Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and the Bernardo Winery.
RELATED: Review: San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo Inn 
Clients will enjoy ocean views from the fairways of Monarch Beach Golf Links.
Credit: 2025 Monarch Astoria Monarch BeachMonarch Beach Golf Links
Monarch Beach Golf Links has the distinction of being the first course I ever played that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. But the oceanside holes are only a part of what make this Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course so special. It offers a visual feast that you can only find in California, starting in the hills of Orange County and making its way toward the Pacific Ocean, coming across two stunning holes located on the bluffs along Monarch Beach.
Don’t be fooled by the relatively short yardage of the course — tight fairways, strategically placed bunkers and rolling greens keep it challenging for even low-handicap players. Book the “Swing & Stay” package in partnership with the nearby Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, where the resort’s shopping is a destination in itself. The various boutiques sell luxury clothing brands and skincare products, while also featuring local designers and creators.
JW Marriott Desert Springs and its golf course are set against the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Credit: 2025 JW Marriott Desert SpringsJW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
In the low desert just outside Palm Springs, the club at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa features two championship courses designed by Ted Robinson: the Palm and the Valley. While both are set against the dramatic view of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the Palm is notable for its water features, while the Valley embraces the natural beauty of the desert with challenging bunkers. There’s also an 18-hole mini-championship putting course designed for golfers of all ages. For those looking to enjoy luxury at its finest, the resort offers a 600-square-foot VIP suite complete with its own butler and hydrotherapy tub in a private courtyard.
The Nakoma’s Dragon Course is in the Sierra Nevada range.
Credit: 2025 The Nakoma ResortNakoma Resort
Every golfer’s bucket list should include teeing off into the mountains, and The Dragon at Nakoma Resort offers that indelible experience in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada range. Just 45 minutes north of Tahoe, its seclusion is a virtue. The course, designed by Robin Nelson, fits into the natural contours of the mountain range, creating a sense of harmony with nature as golfers play among the pines. For outdoor enthusiasts, the resort also offers horseback riding, cycling and hiking. Clients might also take a fishing excursion and try their luck at catching a rainbow trout right out of the majestic Feather River.
Tee off above the sea at Half Moon Bay Golf Course.
Credit: 2025 The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon BayHalf Moon Bay Golf Links and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
While the Half Moon Bay Golf Links is adjacent The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, the two technically operate independently, they work together to offer an incredible luxury golf experience. Just 30 minutes south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay Golf features two distinct courses that span more than a mile of beautiful beach. The Old Course was designed by Arnold Palmer and its 18th hole overlooks the Pacific, while The Ocean Course is designed with coastal views and natural hazards like dunes, tall grasses and undulating fairways. But the views are stunning from nearly every hole.
The plush suites and rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay exemplify the brand with expansive views of the golf course, mountains or ocean. And there may be better way to toast to a day of fantastic golf than with local wines, which are well-stocked at the property’s four on-site restaurants.
