Golf Awards

2017- 2022 America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, Golf Digest

2014 Best New Courses, Golf Magazine

  • Best U.S. Semi-Private Renovation

2014 Best New Courses, Golf Digest

  • Best Renovation

2014 Best of Golf Awards, Links Magazine

  • Best Public Renovation

2014 Best in Golf Courses, Golfweek

  • Best Renovation/Restoration

2014 Best Public Courses in California, Golf Magazine

  • No. 6 in Northern California
  • No. 13 in California

2015-16 Best in State: California, Golf Digest

  • No. 6 Public Course in Northern California
  • No. 9 Public Course in California

2015 Best Courses You Can Play, Golfweek

  • No. 5 Public Course in Northern California
  • No. 8 Public Course in California

2016 Best Courses You Can Play, Golfweek

  • No. 10 Public Course in California

Testimonials

“It reminds me a little bit of Pinehurst and a little bit of Pine Valley in many ways. This is an excellent course. I loved it. We’d love a three-round event at Poppy Hills, if the NCGA is interested in sponsoring it. I think it’s a great track.”

–Colin Montgomerie, World Golf Hall of Famer

“The look of the golf course is very pleasing to the eye with the waste bunkers. I like that a lot.”

–Tom Watson, Eight-Time Major Champion

“I think it’s amazing. Nothing beats being on the Monterey Peninsula. And this golf course now is really beautiful, really nice.”

–Mark O’Meara, Five-Time AT&T Winner

“There was a lot of work done out here. I think it’s a good, strong golf course. It’s beautiful. Bobby (Jones Jr.) did a very good job.”

–Ben Crenshaw, Two-Time Masters Champion and Course Designer

“It’s a bit like what Crenshaw does. You’ve got the fairway and then waste areas and trees. At times, you’re like, ‘Wow, it looks like Augusta.’ The 16th to me has an Augusta look with its big amphitheater and the no rough.”

–Davis Love III, Two-Time AT&T Winner

“It’s a huge improvement on the old course. It looks beautiful. They deserve a pat on the back for the terrific job they did, and the superintendent has done a great job.”

–Nick Price, Three-Time Major Champion

“I like the course a lot. It’s a huge improvement. It’s fun to play, and I never thought that before. There’s a way more natural feel to it.”

–Tom Lehman, 1996 British Open Champion

“I think the changes are terrific. It’s a world of difference. The course is very pleasing to the eye.”

–Jeff Sluman, Three-Time First Tee Open Winner

“I loved it. I never thought I’d say that about Poppy Hills.”

–Olin Browne, 2011 U.S. Senior Open Champion

“The changes warrant bringing it back to the AT&T.”

–Skip Kendall, tied for third at 2014 First Tee Open

Reviews

Ron Whitten, Golf Digest

“I like what was done at Poppy Hills better than Pinehurst No. 2.”

Ron Kaspriske, Golf Digest

“It might just be the coolest golf hang on 17-Mile Drive.”

Matt Ginella, The Golf Channel

“I can’t tell you how excited I am that this is back. It brought Poppy Hills back to relevance.

…this is definitely a part of anybody’s itinerary going to the Monterey Peninsula.”

Mike Bailey, GolfChannel.com

“…all-in-all, this course was pretty close to perfect.”

Josh Sens, Golf.com

“Poppy’s eye-popping.”

Joe Passov, Golf.com‘s Travelin’ Joe

“The transformation is startling, the results spectacular. Another bite of the apple, and the taste is especially sweet.

Pinehurst-like touch, with just a hint of near-neighbor Cypress Point.”

Bradley S. Klein, Golfweek

“The ultimate Mulligan in design. Poppy Hills is now firm, fast, fun, and feels like it belongs to the native, scrubby pine forest in which it sits.”

Gary McCormick, Examiner.com

“The remodeled layout combines risk, reward, and playability in a pristine Del Monte Forest setting. … In short, the new Poppy Hills is a dramatic re-imagining and reconfiguring of the NCGA’s flagship course, elevating the layout to an equal footing with its world-renowned neighbors in “Golf’s Greatest Zip Code”.”

Pete Wlodkowski, AmateurGolf.com

“Like Bandon Dunes? You’ll love Poppy.”

Al Petersen, Southland Golf Magazine

“…the revamped canvas looks like a Monet work of art.”

Vic Johnson, Golf Getaways

“At certain points it feels like Pinehurst, other times like Augusta, with dashes of Pine Valley…”