Up your game and hit the links this fall at Orange County’s top golf courses.
1.Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club
Situated along Trabuco Creek, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club’s 18-hole championship-length course is brimming with stunning lakes and lush greenery. Designed by PGA Tour pro Tom Lehman and local golf course architect Casey O’Callaghan, the 240-acre property includes the par-72 fairway plus O’Neill’s Bar & Grill, the club’s restaurant where a full-service bar awaits. With its tranquil and secluded location, Arroyo Trabuco recognizes the true essence of the game and is a must-see for golf lovers in the area. Mission Viejo, 949.305.5100, arroyotrabuco.com
2.Monarch Beach Golf Links
Seaside competition awaits at the gorgeous Monarch Beach Golf Links. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
The experience at Monarch Beach Golf Links is truly unlike any other as it is one of the few oceanfront courses in California. Tee off at the one-of-a-kind Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed fairway before sipping a cocktail and grabbing a bite at the award-winning Monarch Café. Open to the public and resort guests alike, the links feature competitive tournaments, talented instructors and an all-encompassing getaway at the adjacent Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, all while providing breathtaking ocean views from just about every hole. Dana Point, 949.248.3002, monarchbeachgolf.com
3.Newport Beach Country Club
This private invite-only club boasts pristinely manicured fairways beloved by both members and professional golfers. Members can expect resortstyle amenities and complimentary badges for the annual Hoag Classic golf tournament, a stop on the PGA Tour Champions, where more than 80,000 spectators gather to watch pros like Ernie Els and Fred Couples. Amenities also include dining in the clubhouse and access to premium fitness programming and lavish private event spaces. You’ll never want to tee off anywhere else—trust us. Newport Beach, 949.644.9550, newportbeachcc.com
4.Pelican Hill Golf Club
Watch the sun set over the Pacific from Pelican Hill Golf Club. COURTESY OF BRANDS
Pelican Hill brings Italian architecture and landscaping to the California coast. Two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses with 36 holes maneuver through its natural hills and valleys, where both its Ocean North and Ocean South fairways feature spectacular Pacific views. Members score access to The Resort at Pelican Hill’s spa and golf academy, while tee times for the public should be booked a week in advance as availability is limited. Newport Coast, 855.315.8214, pelicanhill.com/golf
5.Shady Canyon Golf Club
A private equity golf club, where membership is gained by invitation only, Shady Canyon is a Tom Fazio-designed course that includes five different sets of tees spanning 7,012 yards—an ideal place to tee off for golfers of all skill levels. Its elite members gain access to its sophisticated Santa Barbara-style clubhouse, where fine dining is on offer, and the 6,700-square-foot Wellness Center, where luxurious treatments and fitness classes are sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated. Irvine, 949.856.7000, shadycanyongolfclub.com
6.Strawberry Farms Golf Club
Nestled between the Irvine canyons and wetlands, this sweeping 6,700-yard golf course is surrounded by wildlife and gorgeous scenery, making this Jim Lipe-designed fairway the ideal place to improve your game while enjoying the great outdoors. Stop by the Farmhouse Grill for lunch, as its fresh comfort food is a local favorite. Luckily, these benefits can be enjoyed by all sans membership. Irvine, 949.551.1811, sf-golf.com
7.Tijeras Creek Golf Club
What could be better than an early morning game of golf with an audience of wild deer watching between the trees? Whether you’re more of a casual player or interested in a little competition, this Ted Robinson-designed course has an option for you. The club is public but Creek Card members receive preferred rates and access to tournament club events, like the OB Team Championship. Hole 16 is ranked as one of Orange County’s best by members of the Southern California Professional Golfers Association. With its serene atmosphere and awards to match, you won’t want to miss watching the sunrise roll across this heavenly landscape. Rancho Santa Margarita, 949.589.9793, tijerascreek.com
8.Tustin Ranch Golf Club
Tustin Ranch Golf Club’s picturesque 18th hole. COURTESY OF BRANDS
Named the best Orange County golf course and driving range by Orange County Register readers multiple times, Tustin Ranch Golf Club trains the next generation of pros thanks to its expert instructors who take pride in improving players’ scores. Designed by Ted Robinson, the signature 18-hole course is marked by water features, gently rolling hills and soaring palm trees, while the Restaurant at Tustin Ranch, Players’ Lounge and Pine Tree Patio entice guests to stay awhile. Further, while the course is accessible to both the public and its members, its motto guarantees a luxurious experience for every competitor—“public play, private feel.” Tustin, 714.730.1611, tustinranchgolf.com
Pros like Bernhard Langer head to Newport Beach Country Club each year for its annual Hoag Classic. TUSTIN RANCH GOLF CLUB PHOTO BY BRAD HINES
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