Golf in Style: Orange County's Most Stunning Golf Courses and Country Clubs

From the hills and valleys of the Santa Ana mountains to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the Orange County area has no shortage of golf courses and country clubs with dramatic fairways, beautiful views and luxurious spaces to relax, socialize and celebrate. While some clubs in the area are private and membership is required, all of the destinations listed below are open to the public. 

Here are a few of the OC’s best golf courses and country clubs, and what you can expect to enjoy when you reserve a tee time or a social visit:

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Golf Links

Located in Dana Point, Monarch Beach is one of the very few courses in the area with holes that run along the ocean. Open to the public, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course has earned a spot onGolf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” list. After your round is done, nothing says luxury like a stay at the Waldorf Astoria resort, which offers a “Swing & Stay” package that rolls together an evening’s accommodations for two, 18 holes on the course, complimentary valet parking and even premium rental clubs so you don’t have to carry yours on the plane with you.

Strawberry Farms

While it’s not on the ocean, Strawberry Farms’ par-71 golf course does ring the 35-acre Sand Canyon Reservoir giving golfers some water views (and some hazards along with it) while the hills of Turtle Ridge and Shady Canyon loom nearby. If your skills need some freshening up, the onsite Golf Academy has instructors on hand to assist with your swing on the driving range, the chipping area or the putting green - and if the weather isn’t cooperating, they have two indoor golf simulators so you can hit the digital links no matter what’s going on outside.

Pelican Hill Golf Club

Playing a round on one of Pelican Hill’s two oceanside golf courses - both designed by Tom Fazio - is just part of the appeal of a visit to this Newport Beach club. Whether you play 18 holes or all 36, both courses have earned multiple entries to Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” lists. After your round, unwind at the iconic Coliseum Pool or ease some post-golf tension with a treatment at the similarly sprawling Roman-inspired spa.

Black Gold Golf Club

From its perch in the foothills of Chino Hills State Park, Black Gold Golf Club boasts 18 holes of par-72 golf over nearly 6800 yards of play. Golf Daily says that the elevation on the 12th hole (the highest spot in Orange County) allows for incredible views that stretch all the way to the ocean and out to Catalina Island, which you can enjoy while cruising the course in your GPS-enabled cart through to the final hole that boasts a waterfall at the end of your round. Built on a former oil field, you’ll play alongside a handful of active oil derricks which helped give the Black Gold course its name.

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club

Conveniently located just minutes off the I-5, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club glides through the hills of Mission Viejo with just over 7,000 yards of par-72 golf across 18 holes. Designed in part by PGA Tour professional Tom Lehrman, this course has a secluded feel to it, as it runs through a canyon and alongside on-course lakes. Guests can enjoy their 19th-hole experience at O’Neill’s Bar and Grill, which serves “Californian Ranch”cuisine like brick chicken, porkchops and ribeyes alongside specialty-brewed beers made just for the club.

San Clemente Municipal Golf Club

This locals-favorite San Clemente golf course is also just off the I-5 (making for a great one-two punch of back-to-back rounds with friends) and has been greeting golfers since 1930. Ocean views, elevation changes and consistently pleasant weather ensures a satisfying day of play at “the Muni.” After your group holes out, you can head right over the expressway to San Clemente State Beach for a refreshing post-round dip in the Pacific.

Anaheim Hills Golf Course

True to its name, the Anaheim Hills come right up to the scenic Mission-style clubhouse at this decades-old course that’s just minutes from Disneyland® Resort. Golfers start their round teeing off next to old growth Sycamore on the first hole and proceed across 6100 yards of par-71 golf where having fun is the main goal - so much so that the course provides complimentary Bluetooth speakers to help give your round a soundtrack.

Tustin Ranch Golf Club

Driving up the palm-tree-lined main driveway of Tustin Ranch Golf Club and pulling up in front of the dramatic clubhouse is an experience that embodies the feel of California - which is probably why the club has been named “Course of the Year” by the California Golf Course Owner’s Association. And that’s even before you hit the links, managed by Troon Golf and designed by Ted Robinson. Golfers can warm up on the driving range or book a lesson with one of their PGA teaching professionals.

Dad Miller Golf Course

It can be tough to get a tee time at legendary places like Pebble Beach and Augusta, but when you tee off at Dad Miller Golf Course, you’re playing the home course of the legendary Tiger Woods from the days when he was a freshman at the nearby high school. In addition to the 18 holes of par-70 golf, there’s also a driving range, private instruction and a golf simulator where you can actually “play” places like Pebble Beach - while enjoying food and drinks from Fore Thirty, the club’s bar and grill.

Coyote Hills

Before you tee off at one of the five sets of tees on the first hole at Coyote Hills, be sure to tip your cap to the statue of PGA legend Payne Stewart, who consulted on the design of this accessible par-70 public course. From the mature trees alongside the holes to the limited-view corridors of some holes, you may encounter more wildlife than fellow golfers during your play - especially given that Coyote Hills is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

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