Black Horse: #1
Black Horse: View from #1
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4.6
1350 Reviews (1350)
5 Stars
786
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
93.4%
Recommend this course
1245 out of 1350 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
35 Reviews (35)
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.3%
Recommend this course
33 out of 35 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
67 Reviews (67)
5 Stars
47
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.4
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

4.6
1350 Reviews (1350)

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 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

More enjoyable than Bayonet

Better variety of holes than Bayonet. Course in great condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun but

was a very nice day and course very very challenging hard to judge distance but we all did better than we thought will do again and try other side next

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Amenities over the top

Staff meets you in parking lot with cart and helps you unload your gear and set up cart. Outanding for all departments

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Black Horse Golf Course

Great course and in outstanding condition. Challenging and interesting layout. Tough greens to read but thoroughly enjoyable. We'll be back soon

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Challenging greens, beautiful setting

Weather was cool (50's/60's) and a bit foggy. Starter summed up the course perfectly: forgiving off the tees, challenging to get to the greens, challenging putting. Fortunately for my handicap, the greens were NOT super hard and fast, but very rolling and slopey. I had several fails on reading the break. Many putts with 2 breaks, some with 3. Approach shots are crucial, getting your ball to the correct zone on the green and sticking it there. Played blues, slope 135. I found it more challenging than that. Looking forward to Bayonet soon. Finished 4.5 hrs.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course... tough and fair

Great value. Fantastic course. Love every time I play here.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Don't miss this one!

Overall a very enjoyable course. We've played there before and unfortunately they had a watering problem after punching tee boxes and some fairways and lost the grass. Tee boxes are coming back - but some are still pretty rough, but improving. Some fairways are not fully recovered, but are certainly playable. Given a little more time all areas should be back up to their normal excellent condition. Don't be afraid to put it on your schedule when In the Monterey area.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Scenic, challenging, best in the west

Could not say enough about this course. Views all around are fabulous , greens are smooth and fast, club house staff are friendly and very professional. This is a must play course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Blackhorse Memorial Day Weekend

Blackhorse and Bayonet are two great local courses. They are planning to plug the courses this week we heard. The fairways had gotten some kind of a treatment and were covered in a lot of grit that seemed to carry over onto the greens. They might be trying to eliminate some sort of weed or fungus in the fairway and on some tee blocks as many areas had very little turf. Golf is in trouble in our area. When we left at 1pm the parking lot was half full on a holiday weekend.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very nice

Great course. Strategic places bunkers and trees with quick but fair greens. Lots of fun

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Communication

We were not told that the greens were sanded the morning of our round. Neither on golf now or at the front desk.

We should have been told so we could have played second course or they should have reduced the green fee..

I play this course at least twice a month and only real issue I have and have from people I bring there is the unfriendly front desk.

Best course for value in Monterey.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

One of the Best in Monterey

Love this golf course. Great facility the cart attendant welcomes you upon pulling up. The clubhouse personnel are very welcoming and the starter is also. The courses are both great tracks and fun to play. I gave the conditions two stars only because they had just recently aerated the entire course (Blackhorse). But they had an aeration special and gave us a voucher for a free round next visit how can you beat that. The previous rounds I have played here the course was immaculately maintained. Do yourself a favor and play one or both courses.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

even though the course is being aerated it was still fun and challenging.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Really underrated

First time in 45 years. Still magnificent. A classic Monterey course, full of pine trees with Ocean views. Course is getting into shape. Will return for the PGA Championship.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

BlackHorse runs its own race

I just completed playing a tournament at Del Monte over the weekend and got a good deal at Blackhorse. This course is fantastic for the golf course layout. This is the way golf needs to be designed around the country. So many cookie cutter Nicklaus, Miller, and Robert Trent Jones courses have designed perfect layouts for their own model of fabrication. The course uses the terrain amazing. The tee boxes do provide you a solid view of the course if you do not know the layout. The fairways are pure and the first tier of rough is in good condition. I never had a bad lie all day long. The greens are massive so, you need to fire at the pin because they have two and three tier greens and on the wrong side automatic three putt. So, know where the flag is and give yourself some extra distance. The greens give you a target to aim at along with bunkers that are difficult and steep along with grass around them is tough and you will want to be in the sand more than the grass around it. The greens provide you safe places to bail out and this is the gem of a great course architect. The course will reward you for a good shot off the tee and you do not have to be perfect. The key to the course is your iron game. You must have your distances dialed in and the yardage and outcomes are fantastic. I did not have to back away from to many shots and only due to the wind. The greens are beautiful and the shapes of the tiers are genius but you must be on the correct side. The course has a reputation for being long and I played from the blues with a little wind and I hit 4-6 Irons on some par 4's and reached the 5th short Par 4 with a driver pin high. I also hit a 6 iron and had 52 yards in. There are four par 4's that are not long at all but the second shot is critical. I felt the distance that people talked about did not apply to my round and I'm not a bomber. The pace of play for me was great 3:30 hours and I played 2-3 balls testing out distances and iron but they just aerated the fairways and greens so, kept many at home. The staff was great and the players on the course knew how to play. I had two groups allow me to go through with a smile and that is refreshing. I give this course a 9.5/10 on course layout. The fairways and rough even being aerated are solid and in three weeks this will be a 9/10. The greens are tough but honest 7.5/10. I will play this course again for sure and would take this layout over Silverado and many other top tier course. The views are fantastic and the strategy of playing the course gives you multiple options so, if you score high you made poor choices. Perfection not necessary and good shots will give you good outcomes. Stay on the high side on the greens because those greens are not going to be an automatic up and down. A great course and one of the best in the Nation.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course

Not the easiest place to play. Many hills and uneven greens. It was interesting and fun with great pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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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.

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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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