Monterey Peninsula Country Club – Shore Course

Having now played both the Shore and Dunes courses at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, I can confidently say the club offers the best 36 holes I’ve ever experienced. Each course is exceptional in its own way, and comparing them only deepens the appreciation for how thoughtfully they occupy their respective landscapes.

The opening stretch on the Shore Course (holes 1–4) takes you from the forest down toward the coastline, where the terrain flattens and the true character of the course emerges. By contrast, the Dunes Course remains in the forest for much longer, not breaking out to the shoreline until the ninth. You can sense that the Dunes Course was built first—its routing often benefits from the more naturally dramatic landforms, especially the sand dunes and the superb location used for its 18th hole compared to what the Shore was handed.

The Shore Course, though, earns its name: twelve holes play down on the low, flatter coastal ground. That flatter type of terrain demands far more from an architect, but Mike Strantz delivers memorability in spades. The way he shaped and routed these holes is almost painterly—so much so that many of the best holes are found exactly where the land appears least promising.

While the par-3 11th garners most of the photography and attention, my personal favourite was the par-3 9th. It features that unmistakable Strantz shaping—bold, distinctive, and unlike anything you see elsewhere. The par-5 6th and 10th holes also stood out, each with exceptional green sites and routing that reward strategic thinking.

What struck me most about the Shore Course was the contouring. Everything feels tied together by long, flowing lines that mimic brushstrokes from an artist—which Strantz truly was. The greens have movement without being overly bold, and unless you short-side yourself, it’s great fun to hit long, swinging putts or use the contours to feed approaches toward tucked pins. Compared with the Dunes Course, which at times demands pinpoint accuracy and can verge on overly difficult, the Shore Course feels more playful and expressive.

The only real disappointment was the 18th hole. The approach, in particular, doesn’t quite feel like a true finishing moment, especially when held up against the Dunes’ spectacular and perfectly situated final hole. As brilliant as the first 17 holes on the Shore are, the last knocks a touch of shine off an otherwise world-class experience.

Tobacco Road remains my favourite Strantz design for sheer fun, but the Shore Course feels perfectly suited to a club of such stature and to the extraordinary natural setting it occupies. As a final work from the late Mike Strantz, it stands as a beautiful testament to his ability—not just to create bold, wild designs, but to adapt his style to the land and deliver something timeless.