Black Horse: #1
Black Horse: View from #1
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
1346 Reviews (1346)
5 Stars
782
4 Stars
415
3 Stars
100
2 Stars
34
1 Stars
15
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
93.2%
Recommend this course
1241 out of 1346 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
22
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.8%
Recommend this course
30 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
69 Reviews (69)
5 Stars
47
4 Stars
17
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.6
94.2%
Recommend this course
65 out of 69 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Black Horse delivers a highly rated layout with immaculate conditions and panoramic Monterey Bay views that consistently impress. Exceptional value for the Monterey Peninsula, combined with friendly staff and a smooth pace of play, makes every round rewarding.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7025 yards
Slope 136
Rating 73.9

Following a $13 million renovation at this 36-hole former military facility, Black Horse Golf Course was not only dramatically improved, but now comparable to its more revered sister course, Bayonet. Black Horse has long been considered the easier of the two, but that's not exactly a given now with the improvements and lengthening by golf course architect Gene Bates. Its serrated bunkers may be a little easier to get out of than the cavernous craters on Bayonet, and the fairways are little more generous, but Black Horse makes up for it with more undulating and difficult greens. The renovation also opened up the views to Monterey Bay for both courses. Trees were trimmed, and both courses now have an overall cleaner look, especially with the latest bentgrass turf from tee to green.

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Course Details

Year Built 1964
Fairways Rye Grass
Greens Jacklin T1 Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Gene Bates (2008) Chris Gray (1998)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $20 - $25
GPS Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Bayonet Black Horse Golf Academy & Performance Center"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.5
1346 Reviews (1346)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 71
19th Hole Scenic Views 44
Patio Dining 38
Course Challenges Include:
Undulating Greens 106
Bunkers 100
Elevation Changes 78
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 97
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 72
A Weekend Splurge 60
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 84
Convenient to the City 57
Near Local Attractions 54

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Brothers at Black Horse

Black Horse is a good challenging coarse that has lots of rolling hill fairways and NO flat greens. The greens are well maintained and will add strokes to any golfer. Pace of play was under 4 hours and the beauty overlooking the Monterey Bay is spectacular.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 58
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Merced resident

Had a good day the clouds and sun made it cooler but it's still early spring and the coastal winds got bad in late afternoon but I was pleased overall and looking forward to playing again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 58
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Merced player

First time playing the black horse side greens and overall course ok just coming back from dormant condition but no complaints it's very nice play

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Construction

With all the nearby construction and fairway aeration, I would avoid this course for now. Bayonet seems better now.I won’t go back for two years.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Reputation exceeds its qualities

When run by the military, this used to be a great golf location with two fine golf courses. After the sale and renovation, Black horse the shorter and easier of the two courses has been spoiled by undulating greens that are more like miniature golf than real golf. If you want to raise your handicap, come and play here. I have played here many times over the years. I have a 10 handicap index but on this course I struggle to break 90.The course itself is not particularly difficult but the greens are ridiculous. Putts from 3 or 4 feet above the hole end up 20 feet past if not perfectly struck. Pin placements are usually in the worst, most difficult spots on the green. Unless you’re a professional or competition golfer approaches to the green also make it extremely difficult to make par. Most ordinary golfers play golf to have an enjoyable time. Part of that enjoyment is being rewarded for good shots. A good approach shot here so often ends up in a collection area with a drain 50 feet from the pin.

Apart from all that, this course used to be situated in an unspoiled park like setting with beautiful ocean views on many holes. Now they have built and continue to build hundreds of ugly houses all over the course. I guess it’s all about the money not the golf. I would no longer recommend this place to anyone.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Course unplayable

I booked my round with GolfNow and it was a pre-paid deal at Black Horse. Our tee time was set for 0810. I called the course at 0630 to inquire if the golf course was open for business since we had a lot of rain the night before and the forcast had more rain. The staff told me that the course was open. We teed off in the rain and the green was a lake, the water was puddling so bad it looked like a river. We only played two holes due to the wet conditions of the course. When I called the front desk they told me to call Golfnow and did not offer to make it right. I play golf once a week and in my opinion if you are going to claim you course is open for business then make it so people can actually golf and enjoy themselves. They had no one out on the course making the green any better at all.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Construction

Construction material & associated effects around greens was not helpful

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart

Home Course

The course staff is very professional from pro shops to car cleanup. Need to deep rack green side bunkers, some holes, like hard pan.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Great round

The morning breeze made for a hard front nine. The greens area a bit slower that what I'm used to. The pin placement was extremely hard and challenging.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 156
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 100 Contributor
Verified Purchaser
San Francisco Advisor
Previously Played

Tough challenging track

Greens are firm and fast with severe insulations. Very challenging

Fairways present tight lies but very playable

Most of the numerous ocean views will soon be gone as construction for the houses is underway.

Once the ocean views are blocked by all the new houses, it will be interesting to see what type of golfer the course attracts given the challenging conditions

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Great round

The course is playing really good. Greens are still fast.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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Golf Packages

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

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MONTEREY, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Poppy Hills Golf Course, Bayonet Course, Black Horse Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

The Inn At Spanish Bay Stay & Play Package

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PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at Spanish Bay and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

La Quinta Resort & Club Stay & Play Package

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LA QUINTA, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at La Quinta Resort & Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of PGA WEST - Nicklaus Tournament Course, PGA WEST - Pete Dye Mountain Course, PGA WEST - Greg Norman Course, PGA WEST - Pete Dye Dunes Course, and PGA WEST - The Pete Dye Stadium Course.

The Casa Palmero – Pebble Beach Stay & Play Package

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PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

The Lodge At Pebble Beach Stay & Play Package

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PEBBLE BEACH, CA | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.
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