Courses, Travel & Tee Times

CordeValle: Low-key luxury in the heart of Wine Country

With just 45 rooms terraced up the foothills hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and a scenic Robert Trent Jones Jr. course, CordeValle appeals to golfers as well as couples looking for romantic getaways.

Ocean golf, fire pits and fine food at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Resort

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay opened in 2001, but the six-story castle-like resort feels like an escape to another time -- with all the modern conveniences. The two golf courses are spectacular, and the resort is luxurious and about as good as it gets, Mike Bailey writes from northern California.

Plan the perfect Monterey golf vacation for you

The Monterey Peninsula offers some of the best golf, weather, things to do, dining and scenery that you'll ever experience. If budget isn't a concern, there's no limit to the delights. But you might be surprised to find out that even on limited funds, this California golf vacation can be affordable, and you'll create memories that will last a lifetime, Mike Bailey writes.

San Francisco Bay area golf has championship pedigree

When it comes to championship venues, the San Francisco Bay area has it over southern California with more tournaments on more golf courses, more history, more memories and even more opportunities for avid golfers to sample.

Monterey for the masses: Affordable golf can be found near Pebble Beach

Many associate golf on the popular Monterey Peninsula with luxury. But courses such as Pacific Grove, Rancho Canada and Laguna Seca Golf Ranch can be played at affordable prices. Here's a way to enjoy the benefits of the region without having to spend a great deal of money in the three communities.

Northern California coastal golf Drama and salt spray

When you think of golf along coastlines, such exotic venues as Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand and Turnberry in Scotland come to mind. Yet California has them beat in one key element -- proximity. Many of northern California's coastal gems sit atop bluffs. There are days at Pebble Beach where you can find yourself putting on the seventh green while a salty mist gently descends, courtesy of the waves crashing on the rocks. With that perspective, here's a rundown on northern California's top coastal golf opportunities.

Enjoy drama and the salt spray on northern California's coastal courses

When you think of golf along coastlines, such exotic venues as Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand and Turnberry in Scotland come to mind. Yet California has them beat in one key element -- proximity. Many of northern California's coastal gems sit atop bluffs. There are days at Pebble Beach where you can find yourself putting on the seventh green while a salty mist gently descends, courtesy of the waves crashing on the rocks. With that perspective, here's a rundown on northern California's top coastal golf opportunities.

Alister MacKenzie's Pasatiempo a NoCal gem

Pasatiempo Golf Club, which opened in 1929, is the work of world-renowned course architect Alister MacKenzie. The regulars boast MacKenzie wrote in his memoirs that Pasatiempo's back nine is "the best I have ever built or seen." Even in the era of oversized drivers, MacKenzie's setup still offers a stern challenge, Wes Gilbertson writes.

Santa Lucia Mountain splendor: Carmel Valley Ranch

At Carmel Valley Ranch near the Monterey Peninsula, resort guests can immerse themselves in their surroundings with a wealth of activities. The Pete Dye-designed golf course is just the beginning.

Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley is a not so hidden Bay Area gem

It doesn't take long to realize why Tilden Park Golf Course has a deep, devoted pool of regulars. This public course in the hills less than two miles east of Berkeley offers a back-to-nature setting few other facilities can match. With hundreds of Monterey pine, redwood, oak and eucalyptus trees, the course makes you feel like you're seeing the land as it was. The more you play Tilden, the more it can grow on you.