The 10 Best Public Golf Courses in California

How we rank: every public-access course in California with verified scorecard data, scored on USGA course rating, slope, and championship length — objective difficulty and scale, not paid placements. Private clubs excluded; every course below is one you can actually play.

1. Gilroy Golf Course — Gilroy, CA
   Par 35 · rating 70.5 · slope 114 · 6,002 yds · book tee times
2. Dragonfly Golf Club — Madera, CA
   Par 73 · rating 78.6 · slope 144 · 8,073 yds · book tee times
3. Arnold Palmer Golf Course (PGA West) — La Quinta, CA
   Par 72 · rating 76.1 · slope 150 · 7,156 yds · book tee times
4. PGA West - Pete Dye Stadium Course — La Quinta, CA
   Par 72 · rating 76.0 · slope 148 · 7,300 yds · book tee times
5. Redhawk Golf Club — Temecula, CA
   Par 72 · rating 75.7 · slope 149 · 7,071 yds · book tee times
6. Classic Club Golf Course — Palm Desert, CA
   Par 72 · rating 75.9 · slope 144 · 7,322 yds · book tee times
7. Bear Creek Golf Club — Murrieta, CA
   Par 72 · rating 75.8 · slope 145 · 7,188 yds
8. Carlton Oaks Golf — Santee, CA
   Par 72 · rating 75.9 · slope 143 · 7,412 yds
9. Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon — Beaumont, CA
   Par 72 · rating 76.1 · slope 141 · 7,334 yds · book tee times
10. Tahoe Mountain Club - Old Greenwood — Truckee, CA
    Par 72 · rating 75.5 · slope 144 · 7,518 yds · book tee times

All golf courses in California → · Interactive map