The New Monterey Pines Is Renovated,
Ready and Remarkable
by Andrew Hidas


Sure, the U.S. military may have withdrawn from some of the earth’s prime real estate when Fort Ord was decommissioned in 1994 and eventually transformed into Cal State University, Monterey. But that doesn’t mean the military influence doesn’t still linger to great effect in this fabled town by the sea.

Matter of fact, the military’s continuing presence—by way of the renowned U.S. Naval Postgraduate School—has turned out to be a boon for Bay Area golfers, given the complete renovation of Monterey Pines Golf Course. The fact that us civilians get to join in with nearly unfettered access to the course is a gift that wise golfers are not likely to ignore in coming years. (The 6,380 rounds played in the course’s first month after its July 25, 2009 Grand Opening are a good indication there are plenty of wise and avid golfers paying attention.)

Playability and affordability both loom large at the new Monterey Pines. The playability factor stems from both its relatively modest length (5,556 from the back tees) and the fact that virtually no holes are designed to provoke you into imagining your own vengeful military maneuvers against tight twisting fairways and unreachable greens that mock you from afar.

Architect Marc Messier of The Kevin Tucker Design Group has overseen such a major overhaul of the course that “new” is probably closer to the mark than “renovation.” rerouting What he’s come out with is 11 par-4s, five par-3s and just two par-5s, both at about 500 yards. He also expanded two formerly postage stamp lakes about 10-fold on the back nine. The lakes host good portions of holes 10, 12, 13 and 18, ever ready to lap up your errant shots.

T-1bent grass greens and tropically white sand bunkers provide a lovely counterpoint to the rugged vistas that still typify the Monterey coast. This par-69 is a fun and quite walkable course, made all the better by an active starter and marshal who help keep the traffic flowing at an efficient clip. Challenges abound to fire up your shotmaking skills, but none of them are outright diabolical. Drive time gets started immediately on No. 1, the course’s longest hole at 501 yards, most of it long straight fairway.

The 7th, a relatively short par-3 at 166 yards, is among the more difficult holes, presenting a downhill tee shot and a fast two-level green that slopes left to right.

Vying for most scenic honors is No. 9, a 367-yard beauty with the tee box framed by trees as if someone painted it just that way for hanging above the fireplace. Then the bay hovers behind the green once you’ve punched your ball along the fairway.

No. 10 is a challenge, with a dogleg right, a lake to the right, and the green perched at the lake’s pinnacle, from where it’s been rolling balls with regularity into the drink since the course reopened.

No. 12 hugs one of the lakes all the way along the left side of the fairway as you negotiate a sharp dogleg. You’ll need an accurate tee shot here, with a carry needing 150+ yards to a sloping green.

Most of the area’s better known courses capitalize on the Monterey County beauty factor with rates that will dent all but the most engorged pocketbooks. So goes the market, but not so Monterey Pines, where you can find world-class golf at rates that will not require a raid on your child’s education fund.

Thirty-four dollars for weekday civilian golf ($37 weekends) on a completely renovated course on the Monterey Peninsula? With the salt breeze wafting across the fairways, foghorns and sea lions competing for auditory rights on gray early mornings and pine trees soaring overhead? Yep, yep, and yep.Better still if you’re retired or active duty: $18 weekdays and $20 weekends. True, that’s a tad more than the 75 cents enlistees had to come up with to play the course upon its April, 1963 debut (officers got nicked for a buck). But movie tickets were 50 cents back then, too, so Monterey Pines rates still represent a huge bang for your recreational buck.

Monterey Pines used to be military play only, but today most players are civilians. With the least bit of planning, civilians can score a tee time to suit their needs.

Besides which, this renovation was comprehensive, with the year offline allowing an array of improvements beyond course redesign. A brand new irrigation and drainage system greatly enhances playability. Practice facility and driving range improvements make it easier to keep on your game off the course. And when play is done, golfers can relax in the newly renovated bar and dining area of the clubhouse (replete with five new flat-screen televisions) or sit on the patio and enjoy the scenic view of the new Monterey Pines. It’s the crowning touch to an enjoyable round of golf in this hallowed mecca of the golfing world.