The Cypress Point Golf Club (ranked #2 in the world) is located on the Monterey Peninsula between Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill on the 17-Mile Drive. This private course has less than 300 members.
Every true golfer would love to play Cypress Point, but the reality of the matter is that unless you are in the know only a lucky few will ever get the chance to tee it up on the 1st. Folklore has it that J.F. Kennedy was once refused entry to the restaurant and, with only 250 members, mere mortals find it hard to get a game
Cypress Point Golf Club is set at the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the very tip of the Monterey Peninsula and the cliff top terrain is varied and thrilling. Almost as many superlatives have been used about the beauty of the location as have been used to describe the course itself. Seth Reynor was originally drafted in to design Cypress Point but sadly he died before its completion so Dr Alister MacKenzie, perhaps the world’s greatest ever architect, stepped in to complete the job during the “Roaring Twenties”.
Whether playing on the rocky seashore, or in the sand dunes and marine forest that lie behind, Cypress Point retains all the naturalness and unique character of its revered coastal location. From the opening par-4, which demands a tee-shot over 17-Mile Drive, you head into an open expanse of coastal duneland, where the first 14 holes reside. The tree-lined par-4 4th and par-5 5th briefly play through a forest of Monterey pines, but quickly bring you back out to the duneland, with its mix of gently rolling and flatter holes. Here you’ll find a dazzling and intimidating collection of fairway and greenside bunkers. Mackenzie inspired bunkering at its best.
The climax to the round comes as you again cross 17-Mile Drive and head onto the rocky promontory (Cypress Point). The layout’s unforgettable closing four-hole stretch contains three exquisite oceanside holes. The par-3 15th is played across a small inlet from the ocean to one of the most heavily bunker defended greens you’ll ever encounter. The long par-3 16th demands an even bigger ocean-crossing. Only the bunker surrounded green (and 17th tee) sit out on the small and stunningly scenic headland at which you take aim.
Signature Hole: 16th Hole – 222 Yard Par 3 – This is one of the most famous and best holes on the known earth. Featuring the most exhilarating tee shot in golf, over 200 yards is required to carry the Pacific Ocean to a peninsula green framed by bunkers, rocks, and ice plant. A fairway left of the green is afforded as on option off the tee in the event the incoming winds are blowing too strong or if you just aren’t feeling confident enough with your hybrid/fairway wood to fire straight at the green. The pinnacle of your golfing existance is reached on this tee box the first time you step on it.
The Cypress Point golf in California has no website, no Facebook page…. the only way to contact them is by phone but don’t waste your time, this Golf course is one of the most exclusive in the world.
