Monarch Beach Golf Links. Where birdies meet ocean breezes.
If you’ve ever dreamed of teeing off with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop and the salty breeze gently reminding you you’re not stuck in an office, Monarch Beach Golf Links is calling your name—and it’s not whispering.
Playing Monarch Beach was probably my favorite golfing experience in Orange County. Sure, there are better courses (Pelican Hill & privates), but considering the whole experience, I would vote for Monarch.
The course is absolutely beautiful, and the greens are impeccably maintained. Some fairways were under repair, but no course has perfect conditions. I played it previously a few years ago, and the course has changed quite a bit since then. They are investing in adding native areas throughout the course, which, as I understand it, will save water and, when fully complete, will look amazing. It has already fully grown in on some holes, and I like how it looks and plays.
Hole 3 was my favorite — I made a nice par there, and we enjoyed taking a group selfie with the Pacific Ocean in the background. I played on a weekday afternoon and found the pace of play to be good, not great, but good considering the course was pretty packed — no waiting between shots and no groups pushing from behind.
While Monarch Beach isn’t an overly difficult course, it offers just the right amount of challenge to keep the round exciting and enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels. Playing the white tees at around 6,200 yards was more than hard enough for me and my friends. We played a little money game and kept it exciting.
What really set the experience apart, though, was the outstanding service. From the moment we arrived at the valet stand, where our clubs were quickly loaded onto our cart, to the end of the round when they drove us out to our cars, it was very nice. They were professional, friendly, and genuinely focused on making our day “private club-special.”
Monarch Beach delivers a first-class golf experience in every sense — a must-play for anyone visiting or living in Southern California.
📍 Location & Setting
Located in sun-soaked Dana Point, California—aka where the rich coast meets richer views—Monarch Beach Golf Links is nestled alongside the very fancy Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach. It’s just a pitching wedge away from Laguna Beach and about a one-hour drive (or three hours, depending on L.A. traffic) from both San Diego and Los Angeles.
🏆 Awards & Recognition
This isn’t just a pretty face. Monarch Beach has earned its stripes:
- Golf Digest: Named it one of the “Best Places to Play” (and they’ve played a lot of places).
- California Golf & Travel: Ranked it among the top 10 courses in SoCal.
- World Golf Awards: Even nominated it for “Best Golf Course in California.”
So basically, it’s kind of a big deal.
⛳ Signature Holes & Course Vibes
Designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Jr. (who had a habit of designing courses with a little bite), this par-70 layout winds through oceanfront bluffs, coastal canyons, and more photogenic moments than your last vacation.
Some memorable holes:
- Hole 3 (Par 4): A short dogleg with the ocean dead ahead—beautiful enough to make you forget you just sliced it right into the
roughocean. Number 3 at Monarch is one of the best short par-4s in all of So Cal, and walking away with a par is always a great score. - Hole 5 (Par 3): The showstopper. The ocean views are stunning when looking back at the tee from the green on this challenging par 3. Just make sure to focus when hitting your tee shot, because those sitting at the Monarch Beach Cafe left of the green, or in Adirondack chairs just above the green, sipping mimosas and Bloody Marys, are staring down at you–and the surf–as your group tees off.
- Hole 18 (Par 4): A strong closer with bunkers left and right off the tee to go along with the pressure of hitting over a small, picturesque pond that just loves to gobble up final hole approach shots. Many a bachelor party has ended on 18 with the groom-to-be running out of balls.
💸 Pricing & Tee Time Details
Luxury doesn’t come cheap, but it sure looks good on a scorecard. Rates as of spring 2025:
- Weekdays: $190–$235–Worth every penny, especially if you are taking the afternoon off work
- Weekends: $210–$360–The course is alway ready for prime time play
- Twilight/Sunset: Starting around $140—Same views, shorter shadows, better Instagram lighting
- Replay Rounds: Discounted second rounds, if you didn’t lose all your golf balls the first time around.
Pro tip: Book online to snag ideal times and rates before the locals beat you to it.
🌟 Why MBGL is Special
- Oceanfront Golf: One of the few public-access courses in California that puts the ocean in play. Not literally, unless you really miss it.
- “Surf the Turf” Golfboards: Walking is just so yesterday—surfing while golfing makes for great stories and even better selfies.
- Immaculate Conditions: The fairways are tighter than your last group text thread, and the greens are smooth enough to make a pro weep.
- Resort Vibes: Valet service, on-course food and drink delivery, and a full-service spa up at the Resort. It’s like golf and a vacation had a beautiful baby.
🏨 Stay & Play Packages
Make it a golfcation. Stay at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach and play 18 or more at Monarch Beach Golf Links. Monarch knows how to dial up Surf & Turf inside the restaurant and out on the links:
- Ocean-view rooms
- Preferred tee times
- Access to the beach club
- And enough pampering to make you forget about any bad scores you add to the card
☎️ Need-to-Know Info
- Address: 50 Monarch Beach Resort N, Dana Point, CA 92629
- Phone: (949) 248-3002
- Website: www.monarchbeachgolf.com
📝 Final Thoughts
Monarch Beach Golf Links is the kind of course that makes you want to golf more and work less. With jaw-dropping ocean views, an approachable-yet-sneaky-tough layout, and amenities that whisper “you deserve this,” it’s not just a round of golf—it’s a mini escape.
Just bring your A-game… or at least a few extra balls. The Pacific has claimed plenty.