Played in the GK outing. First time playing the course and thought it was great. I liked the layout, there is enough trouble to make you think about each shot but not too much trouble where you are ... Continue »

Played in the GK outing. First time playing the course and thought it was great. I liked the layout, there is enough trouble to make you think about each shot but not too much trouble where you are playing trying to not make mistakes.

Course was in good shape, only real complaint was that a few of the greens seem to be a little slower (I think #6 was really hairy and slow). There was some ball mark damage on the greens but not enough to ruin how the ball rolled.

Overall a great experience, just wish the course was closer.

Played in the 10/16/10 GK Casual Outing. Thanks to my playing partners for a great afternoon, also pats on the back to Johnny GK & Monarch Dunes for a great tournament!

First time playing here, lo... Continue »

Played in the 10/16/10 GK Casual Outing. Thanks to my playing partners for a great afternoon, also pats on the back to Johnny GK & Monarch Dunes for a great tournament!

First time playing here, loved the course layout! There were no unfair or tricked up holes, yet depending on your approach angle & pin location, many holes could appear to be a completely different hole in your next round here. Links style that has scenic views, elevation changes, nice, upscale homes surrounding many fairways (which I usually see as a negative, but it was a positive here). There was even an ocean view on a downhill par 3 hole. The elevation changes produced areas of the course where the wind had little effect down in some of the valleys, and others areas where on the top of hills it had a major effect.

Tougher than average course based on the potential penalties if you miss the short grass. Lakes and OB come into play on many holes, plus thousands of mature trees lurk just off most fairways. This is definitely a risk/reward type course where most holes have areas & pin locations to avoid (at) all costs, with double bogeys or worse lurking if you barely miss these areas. However, if you get the ball in the proper positions, scoring is definitely possible since there are numerous short holes that many players could potentially take advantage of.

The course conditions were ++ for mid October, fairways and tee boxes had good grass and the traps were well maintained. The greens were usually firm and rolled well with lots of breaks, from subtle to sweeping and were moderately fast considering the moist conditions.

They have the deal of the century here - 20 bucks for a round, cart - with full gps graphics - and free drink (beer if you want it) from the bar. All this after 5pm (although they start letting you o... Continue »

They have the deal of the century here - 20 bucks for a round, cart - with full gps graphics - and free drink (beer if you want it) from the bar. All this after 5pm (although they start letting you out at that rate much earlier - I paid up and went golfing at 4.10pm.)

A little slow as a result of the obvious popularity of such a great deal, but some creative driving past the slow pokes (and coming back to complete the front nine later netted me a 3 hour round.

Visually just a great looking golf course. It has many of the features of a links (penal dunes, fescue and odd-ball little bunkers here and there as well as mounding on and around some of the greens). This is mixed seamlessly with the lushness and true roll of a parkland course with tree lined fairways that frame each hole beautifully.

Tee boxes/fairways in great condition. Some greens with reseeded patches here and there, some open small aerification holes and a wee but bumpy. Speed medium overall and some tricky reads, but fun to putt on.

Lots of GUR around the fringes especially on the back nine so cosmetically the course could look better.

back nine is tougher than the front in my opinion and hole 10 along with the stretch between 12-15 is as good a stretch of par 3, 4 and 5 holes that you could ask for with lots of variety and options off the tee and on the approach.

But for the price, quality and pace of play this would rank as the top five rounds I've ever played in socal.

Play it if you're in the area.

played Monday 8/2, went out as a single, riding, finished in three hours, no kidding. Passed a foursome on the third hole and then didn't catch another twosome til 11th hole. played behind them the re... Continue »

played Monday 8/2, went out as a single, riding, finished in three hours, no kidding. Passed a foursome on the third hole and then didn't catch another twosome til 11th hole. played behind them the rest of the way in. They were pretty quick. This course is fantastic. Service is great from the start through the finish. The clubhouse is elevated from the course and the first hole looks like a par five, as it looked like nobody reached the green in two shots. In fact it is a par four, but with the large lake along the whole hole, and a long second shot to the green it is a challenge. I came up short myself.
The greens are a real pleasure, or torture if you don't have the right speed, they are fast but very true rolling. Trouble spots all over the place with what seems to be natural terrain, but the way the whole planned community around this course is layed out, it is a landscape masterpiece. you'll see. The layout is very fun and keeps you wondering what the next hole will bring, there are lakes, doglegs, uphills, downhills, short par three's, medium par three's and yes, long par three's. from the tee it looks more narrow than it is, but you do have to navigate away from some really tall trees.
Bunkers are well placed, and best to stay out of trouble everywhere on the course. I could see high scores, but rewarding scores for good play. The tee boxes are spread out pretty good so all level of play should have fun. I highly recommend this course. A couple days before I played their 'challenge' course. A par three 12 hole awesome fun to play course, and a must play when you're out here.

Just came back from our Central Coast Trip. We went Friday, July 30th and played Monarch Dunes, Cypress Ridge (Friday), Hunter Ranch, Morro Bay (SAT) and La Purisima (Sun)

This was our first cour... Continue »

Just came back from our Central Coast Trip. We went Friday, July 30th and played Monarch Dunes, Cypress Ridge (Friday), Hunter Ranch, Morro Bay (SAT) and La Purisima (Sun)

This was our first course of our weekend. Arrived on Friday (at) 9:30. Our tee time was 11:00 am. This course was packed for a Friday! The first thing you notice is the gigantic trees that line the fairways. Was greeted warmly by the staff to grab our bags in the parking lot. They just installed GPS on the machines. I think they are still working out the kinks. Ours did not work the entire round. Not a big deal because we were not expecting it nor had to pay extra for it. Clubhouse is very nice with a great bar/food area. They also have another restuarant and spa onsite on this planned community. The have a 12 hole challenge course here that is worth playing. We played the Old Course. Teed off on time, marshall provided excellent service. Despite how crowded the course was, we finished in 4.5 hours. The conditions were excellent. The greens were fast and firm! Rough and fairways were in great shape. Tee box and sand was in great shape also. Saw the cart girl 3 times. The layout of this course is super unique especailly with those massive trees. Hard to find any other course that compares in Los Angeles. I cannot wait to go back. I left my putter cover there and called them and they offered to mail it back to me with no hassle. Definitely a must play for Central Coast golfing!

I live at another course in the area and have chosen Monarch Dunes as my "home course" because it is, without doubt, the best course between Paso Robles and Santa Barbara (an area that has multiple ex... Continue »

I live at another course in the area and have chosen Monarch Dunes as my "home course" because it is, without doubt, the best course between Paso Robles and Santa Barbara (an area that has multiple excellent courses). The staff at the course is excellent - and that extends, especially, to the maintenance crew. The course is always kept in immaculate condition. Don't let the yardage fool you. It is relatively shorter than many other courses, but if defended beautifully by deceiving, treacherous greens. The greens roll absolutely true, but are undulating. It's not a links course; rather a links "style" course that affords the opportunity to play a ground game to all greens except the par-3 8th.

Played Monarch Dunes on Saturday. The conditions are just excellent right now. Before I talk about the course, they have a 12 hole challenge course and I highly recommend this course before you play... Continue »

Played Monarch Dunes on Saturday. The conditions are just excellent right now. Before I talk about the course, they have a 12 hole challenge course and I highly recommend this course before you play the big course. It plays from 66 yds to 205 yds and most of is carry over water or dunes. Every green is two tierd so you get a chance to practice different angles and lies you might see on the big course. But the best thing about it is it only 10.00! if you're playing the big course. In my opinion, it's a no brainer. The big course is in a quiet housing developement with a lot of holes that go right to left and left to right. Lots of tall trees that don't come into play. It is almost like you are in playing in a forest. Read some the reviews and you see what I'm talking about. An absolute must play if in the area, and I can't wait to go back

Played Monarch Dunes Golf Club for the first time Monday, 6-7. Have to say, I was extremely impressed. It lived up to hype I’ve been hearing all these years, that includes a “Most Worth The Green Fee”... Continue »

Played Monarch Dunes Golf Club for the first time Monday, 6-7. Have to say, I was extremely impressed. It lived up to hype I’ve been hearing all these years, that includes a “Most Worth The Green Fee” award, 2009, Greenskeeper.org. Remember, Greenskeeper.org awards are decided by golfer’s votes over a 12 month period.

I loved this course. In fact, it’s been two days and I can’t stop thinking about it. Something about the place is so peaceful yet at the same time you’re immersed in an incredibly interesting, unique, and challenging golf experience. My playing partner Longball23 described the playing conditions exceptionally well so rather then repeat his take, please refer to his account of the course regarding that.

Overall, the playing conditions were great, layout amazing, pace-of-play quick, ambiance peaceful/beautiful, service excellent, practice facilities excellent, clubhouse – small but well equipped and local players/staff very friendly. We let numerous groups play through and on all accounts, they were cheerful and appreciative. They really looked like they were enjoying their round. On the 11th tee box, I realized I had run out of water, longball23 and I were walking the course, as we were letting a local player pass I asked him if he knew were I could refill on water, without hesitation this person offered me a drink from his bag...

Monarch Dunes Golf Club is a must play course for anyone that wants an authentic golf experience. I highly recommend it to all skill levels. If you like walking courses (and are in good shape), don’t hesitate to do so. Walking the course allowed me to really take it all in.

Played this course for the first time on Monday afternoon 6/7 with JohnnyGK. I really loved this golf course. The course winds its way through a beautiful housing community. When you think of a housin... Continue »

Played this course for the first time on Monday afternoon 6/7 with JohnnyGK. I really loved this golf course. The course winds its way through a beautiful housing community. When you think of a housing community you think of traffic, cars, construction sometimes and loud noises. I can honestly say that Monarch Dunes was one of the most peaceful rounds I have ever played and contained none of that above. I mentioned to my playing partners that I felt like I was on a vacation and had the course all to myself. The course reminded me of some of the courses I see oversees and had a "Scottish" feel to it. One word would best describe it "Peaceful". Some of the native grasses and bunkers reminded me of what it would feel like to be playing in the British Open. This course had such an interesting layout and I have to say that is usually the best part of a golf course in my mind. The course conditions to start were very good. The front nine fairways were lush with a fescue grass and I had good lies in the fairways. The back nine fairways had less fescue and were in great shape and also lush. The greens were like no other that I have played. Our group did not fix a ball mark even with say a 6 iron into the greens? They were firm greens putting around a 10 on the stimp and showed some signs of bent and very little poa. The greens were in great shape. Many of the greens had sideboards, backboards and some had 3 tiers to them. Some of the greens if you missed on the wrong side you were dead meat. The fairway bunkers had a firm clay sand and were great to hit long iron's out of. I was in one greenside bunker on #17 and it had softer sand and was in great shape. The tee boxes were level for the most part and had some nice lush grass to them. You were able to hit out of the rough but you did not want to mess with some of the dunes that lined some of the fairways. The pace of play was great and we let numerous groups with carts play through us as we were walking and enjoying the experience.
As far as the layout and holes were concerned the 1st hole in my mind was one of the tougher if not the toughest hole on the course. There were several holes on the front nine with elevated tees were you could grip and rip. I loved the trees that lined several fairways, they reminded me of the trees at the La Open. There were several holes that I would love to play again. It is a thinking man's course. The putting green is large and is right next to the 1st tee. The driving range is huge and fun. The staff inside as well as the golfers on the course were very nice and had a really welcoming kick-back style. I can see why this course has won several awards. Looking at the rate sheet if I lived up here this would be the course I would be playing at least once a week....loved it.