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#3 in the United States

Cypress Point Club

Pebble Beach, California · designed by Alister MacKenzie · opened 1928
Course card
Cypress Point Club
Pebble Beach, California
Par
72
Yardage
6,536yds
Holes
18
Opened
1928
Access
Private
Design
Classic
Plan of Cypress Point Club showing its fairways, greens and bunkers, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
Course plan of Cypress Point Club, drawn from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL). It shows what volunteer mappers have recorded, not an official plan, and the level of detail varies from course to course.

History

Cypress Point Club, designed by Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1928 on the Monterey Peninsula, is frequently called the most beautiful golf course in the world. Weaving through dense Monterey cypress forests, across coastal dunes, and along rugged Pacific Ocean cliffs, its routing alternates between serene inland holes and breathtaking oceanside drama. The legendary 15th, 16th, and 17th holes hugging the cliffs represent the game's most visually spectacular sequence. Sam Snead called it the greatest course he ever played. The club resigned from the PGA Tour in 1991 over caddie disputes and hosts no professional events, preserving its mystique.

Signature Hole

16th hole, par 3, 231 yards — across a rocky Pacific Ocean chasm to a clifftop green; the most photographed hole in golf

Notable Tournaments

  • 1981 Walker Cup
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In the context of the top 100

Where this course sits against every ranked course on the list.

Opened 1928 — older than 40 of the 100 ranked courses.Opened 1928 — older than 40 of the 100 ranked courses.Opened1928189119572023
6,536 yards — longer than 5% of the ranked top 100.6,536 yards — longer than 5% of the ranked top 100.Yardage6,536 yds3,4187,876

Frequently asked questions

Is Cypress Point Club public or private?

Cypress Point Club is a private club. Play is generally limited to members and their accompanied guests.

Who designed Cypress Point Club?

Cypress Point Club was designed by Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1928.

Where does Cypress Point Club rank among the top golf courses in America?

Cypress Point Club ranks #3 on our consensus ranking of America's 100 greatest golf courses, synthesized from Golf Digest, Golfweek, and GOLF Magazine.

What is the signature hole at Cypress Point Club?

The signature hole at Cypress Point Club is the 16th hole, par 3, 231 yards — across a rocky Pacific Ocean chasm to a clifftop green; the most photographed hole in golf.

Pebble Beach, California · 36.58, -121.974 · nearby top-100 courses shown in outline · open in Google Maps →

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