About Poppy Hills Golf Course
Poppy Hills doesn't get enough credit, mostly because it sits in the shadow of two of the most famous golf courses in the world. Owned by the Northern California Golf Association and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course opened in 1986 and spent 27 years as an AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am rotation site — which means touring professionals have played and respected it since Reagan was president. For a public golfer, that Tour pedigree translates to a course that has been built and maintained to competition standards, not just tourist standards.
The layout runs through 6,838 yards of Del Monte Forest, entirely within Monterey pine corridors that create tight, tree-framed shots on virtually every hole. There's meaningful elevation change throughout — the back nine in particular climbs and descends in ways that require real thought about club selection on approach shots. RTJ Jr. renovated the greens and bunkers in 2014, sharpening the look and feel of the course while keeping the routing intact. The greens are complex with subtle borrows, and they run faster than most public-access players expect. First-time visitors typically underread almost everything.
The value proposition here is the strongest of any course on the peninsula. At $95–$175 depending on day and time, you're getting Del Monte Forest golf with a Tour history and Robert Trent Jones Jr. design pedigree for roughly one-sixth the price of Pebble Beach down the road. NCGA members get preferential rates and booking windows, but public tee times are consistently available. If you're doing a Pebble Beach area trip on any kind of budget, Poppy Hills deserves a serious look as your second or third round. The clubhouse is modest but the golf is not.
⛳ 18-Hole Course🎯 Par 72🌲 Del Monte Forest🏌️ Driving Range🛒 Pro Shop🍽️ Clubhouse📱 Online Booking✅ Open to Public
🏌️ Local Tips & Insider Advice
🗓️
NCGA members get meaningfully better rates
If you're a California golfer, NCGA membership pays for itself in a single Poppy Hills round. Non-member public rates are still reasonable; member rates are exceptional.
☀️
The greens are faster than they look
Poppy Hills greens consistently confuse first-time visitors who grew up on slower municipal surfaces. Read every putt to the high side — the slopes here are subtle but punishing when misread.
🏌️
Morning tee times offer the best light in the forest
The Del Monte Forest is stunning in morning light filtering through the pines. Afternoon rounds can feel darker and more claustrophobic. If you have a choice, book early.
👕
Bring extra balls for the tree corridors
The forest is dense and the rough is genuine. Accuracy off the tee is rewarded far more than distance here — this is not a bomber's golf course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the green fee at Poppy Hills Golf Course?
Public green fees range from $95 to $175 depending on day and time. NCGA members receive reduced rates with priority booking windows. Weekend morning tee times are at the higher end; weekday twilight rates offer the best value.
Who owns Poppy Hills Golf Course?
Poppy Hills is owned and operated by the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA), making it one of the few courses in California owned by a golfer association rather than a municipality or private company. It was built specifically to benefit NCGA members while also welcoming public play.
Was Poppy Hills Golf Course on the PGA Tour?
Yes — Poppy Hills served as one of three rotation courses for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from its opening in 1986 until 2010, when Monterey Peninsula Country Club replaced it in the rotation. The course was renovated by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 2014.
How does Poppy Hills compare to Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill?
Poppy Hills offers strong golf at a fraction of the price — roughly $95–$175 vs $375–$595 at the resort courses. The setting (pure Del Monte Forest, no ocean views) is different from either Pebble or Spyglass. Serious golfers doing a full peninsula trip often add Poppy Hills as a third round for the value and the distinctly different forest experience.
Location & Directions