Black Horse: #1
Black Horse: View from #1
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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
31 Reviews (31)
5 Stars
21
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
93.5%
Recommend this course
29 out of 31 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
67 Reviews (67)
5 Stars
46
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.6
94.0%
Recommend this course
63 out of 67 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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Black Horse Golf Club
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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

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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 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 94
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
California Advisor
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Bunkers Are Hazards Next To Geeens

I forgot to mention how good the greens are. Mind boggling. Sand traps near greens are suspect. Which is why good greens need good bunkers . Hazardous indeed.

Bayonet had better sand for what it’s worth.

Black horse sand near 12 and 14 green are horrendous.

For what it’s worth , that’s why I wrote another review. It deserves at least that. Solid test of golf and the game.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Played On
Reviews 94
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
California Advisor
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Better dirt from gofer holes than rocks in bunkers

Rock hard bunkers with thousands of rocks in them. The gofer dirt is pure compared to the bunkers. Gofer dirt better. Wow.

Wet everywhere also. Dunno why as it should be fast and firm and It’s not. Really the bunkers are that bad? Rio vista has better sand. How is that possible.

So many better options on the peninsula that care for their course better. The greens keeper should be ashamed as should the host course.

Oh, cart died on me too. I guess they didn’t see the battery light flashing . Horrible experience .

Armor all all over my hands as well when they did bring a cart out I had to wet my hands and dry then every shot to get it off.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Too much sand

Too much sand, hard greens to read. The slope should be higher. Very hard course to enjoy. I'm a 15 Handicap.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Walked
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Bayonet

The course was in pretty good shape overall. The greens were nice but the front and back differ quite a bit. Pace of play was fine. The Pro Shop staff was exceptionally nice and accommodating! I would definitely play the course again.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Don't miss the fairways or you may never find your ball

I wasn't ready for a very thick rough, but hey it's part of the game. Beautiful course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
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 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Horrible Upkeep

We've played at many courses in the area being locals. My first time playing bayonet I was very pleased and the course was amazing. Something had happened since the last time I played at this course. The greens were not maintained no difference from the skirts. The rough was so high my golf partner told me this is pro play rough. I could drop a ball in the rough from where I was standing and lose sight of it. I was very disappointed with the quality of the course.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Fun but penal

Enjoy course very much. I’m an 8 handicap and found it playable but challenging. It rewards good shots, but often is unforgiving of poor ones. In terms of difficulty it can run moderate to merciless based on pen placement. Only disappointment was practice green. It was in terrible shape. Other than that a 9+ or a 10.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

This course is challenging for any skill level.

The layout is fantastic. It is set up to require you to use many different clubs. The greens have a lot of undulations and you need to be on the right side of the hole to make your putting easier. It would be nice if they had a system to let you know where the holes were located on the greens.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 47
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 46
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Slow play

Sandwiched as a single among groups of foursomes, terribly slow, rough very difficult to hit out of

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
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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 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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