Northern California houses some of the best golf courses in the world. This is more the case than anything in the Monterey Peninsula, which happens to boast four of the top seven golf courses in the upper part of the state. While some of the courses might be pretty pricey, like Pebble Beach and Spyglass, others are very reasonably priced for the average golfer. All-in-all, the courses placed in the next few paragraphs are places that you need to get out to at some stage in your life.

While making this decision isn’t guaranteed and can vary based upon personal preference, I believe the selection below encompass what every golfer deems “the perfect course.” So, without further ado, here’s my selection of the best golf courses in northern California:

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, CA

The iconic Pebble Beach isn’t just considered to be one of the greatest destinations to golf in all of California, but also as one of the best courses to play in the world. In fact, it had been the first public course chosen as the #1 course in the world by Golf Digest. The majestic course sits directly on the shore and gives breathtaking views of Carmel Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Designed in 1919 by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, Pebble Beach has hosted the U.S. Open 5 different times in 1972, 1982, 1992, 2000 and 2010.

2. Spyglass Hill Golf Course – Pebble Beach, CA

Spyglass, nicknamed “the Glass,” was designed by the widely known Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1966 and has stunning views of the Pacific Ocean on its first five holes. This is the 2nd of 4 courses on this list situated on the Moneterey Peninsual.

The course is so widely recognized for its amazing design and style and beauty, that Golf Digest ranked it Fifth on “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.” Spyglass is also among the courses in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am rotation.

3. Poppy Hills – Pebble Beach, CA

This tree-lined golf course is the third course placed in my choice of the seven finest golf courses in northern California located in the Pebble Beach area. Although it does not have the sea views of some of it’s Monterey Peninsual counterparts, it’s tree-lined fairways set the scene for this remarkably constructed course.

With it’s large number of dog-leg fairways, Poppy Hills was graded among the finest courses in northern California as well as in the top 20 courses in all of California.

4. Coyote Creek Golf Club – San Jose, CA

The Coyote Creek Golf Club is the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course within the bay area and it is the most popular spot to play for all of the area sports celebrities from teams like the 49′ers and Giants. Its immaculate design and superb layout was acknowledged in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” and was presented with a rating of 4.5 stars.

5. TPC Harding – San Francisco, CA

After a extensive stint of not being a major course plus some essential restoration, TPC Harding is once more a PGA Tour Tournament Players Club course. Harding Park is the top golfing location inside the San Francisco city limits and is very reasonable to San Francisco and Bay Area citizens.

The course was opened up in 1925 and was home to the 2009 Presidential Cup and the 2010/2011 Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

6. Winchester Country Club – Meadow Vista, CA

Tucked away in the foothills in the Sierra Nevada’s in Meadow Vista, this exlcusive Championship northern California golf course was the final course created by the renowned father-son duo of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Jr. The course was considered to be The Best Residential Golf Course in America by Golf Weekly.

7. Monterey Pines Golf Course – Monterey, CA

The last choice in my list of the 7 best golf courses in northern California is also the fourth course found in the Monterey area. Monterey Pines was originally developed as a 9-hole course by Robert Muir Graves in 1963. The back 9 was added in 1972 and the course was redesigned during 2009 by Marc Messier.

Nicknamed the “Navy Course,” Monterey Pines is taken care of and managed by the Navy Golf Program. This course is the best golfing destination for beginning golfers and passionate golfers alike. It’s hard enough to work on your game and satisfying enough to relish a whole round of 18.

There are plenty of outstanding golfing opportunities in northern California, and the abovementioned are some of the finest. Whether you’re a keen golfer, or somebody that just enjoys getting out there and hitting the links, these courses offer a very good experience.

If you are an avid golfer, and you want more information and additional reading on Northern California golf, follow the link to continue reading.. This article, Northern California Golf: Seven Premier Courses is available for free reprint.