The Dunes Course at MPCC was a work in progress over the years and a decision was made not to pursue a true Seth Raynor restoration. Instead, a renovation with a new design interpretation and aesthetic was pursued. The result transformed MPCC Dunes into the beauty it is today with memorable backdrops and fulfilling rewards for shrewd shotmaking
Par 72, 7,089 Yards 140 Slope, 74.6 Rating Course Record: Viktor Hovland (62)
Original Architect(s): Seth Raynor & Robert Hunter (1929) Renovation Architect(s): Rees Jones (1998), Tom Fazio & Jackson Kahn (2016)
Notable Championships Played: Crosby Pro Am (1946-1964) 2024 California Senior Amateur 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (Planned)
Golf Digest — America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses: Current Ranking (79th in 2024) Highest Historical Ranking (79th in 2024)
Hole 1: Par 4, 407 Yards
The opener at MPCC Dunes is a gentle introduction. Unlike nearby Spyglass Hill, MPCC Dunes builds a gradual and worthwhile crescendo as the round progresses
The 1st hole tee shot from the back tee — the angle of the tee shot from the tips is more challenging as it is shifted towards the left compared to the tee shot from the middle teeing ground with a more direct view of the fairway
The middle teeing ground provides a more open and straightforward look towards the 1st hole fairway
The 1st hole fairway bunkers (three of them) on the right — while there is more room on the left side of the fairway than a player thinks from the back tee, challenging these fairway bunkers on the right provides the better angle to the green
The 1st hole approach — the better angle for the approach is from the right side of the fairway
The 1st hole approach from 100 yards away
The greens at MPCC Dunes definitely have movement — at times bold and at times more subtle. The 1st hole green has elements of both
The 1st hole green viewed from the right with the right green side bunker in play
A small trench diagonally bisects the 1st hole green creating a shelf area on the left to tuck the green’s more challenging hole locations
The 1st hole green viewed from behind
The 1st hole green viewed from the back left
Hole 2: Par 4, 369 Yards
The 2nd hole at MPCC is modest hole in length that requires careful plotting around well-placed bunkers throughout
The 2nd hole tee shot from the back tee — the fairway landing area is angled from this tee and guarded by massive bunkers along its entire left side
While the left fairways bunkers look like one continuous stretch, they are actually three separate bunkers sculpted out of the sandy areas
The middle fairway bunker of the 2nd hole — playing from here makes the approach shot more dicey
The final left fairway bunker nearest the green — this one is the deepest one of the three cluttered along the left side of the 2nd hole fairway
The 2nd hole approach. The green is angled to the left and canted from front to back. Clever shotmakers can release the ball onto the back section from the front
The 2nd hole green from the front right — the right half of the green is higher than the left half — balls can release down to the left if played with the proper shot shape
The deep front left green side bunker of the 2nd hole
The 2nd hole green viewed from the back right — keeping shots on the higher right half of the green can be tricky if the shot comes in too hot and release towards the back or downward onto the lower left half of the green
The 2nd hole green viewed from the back left — you can see how much the green slopes downward to the back left
Hole 3: Par 4, 427 Yards
The 3rd hole appears inviting but requires a precise tee shot to a pinched area
The 3rd hole tee shot from the back tee is actually behind Colton Road — the tee shot definitely feels more claustrophobic from here. The best tee shot is actually to challenge the two fairway bunkers on the left (244 yards to the first one and 310 yards to the furthest one) for the best angle into the green. Blocking the tee shot out to the right can lead to tree issues with the approach
While deceptively wide, the 3rd hole fairway actually plays more narrower than it appears given that it starts to neck narrowly in the ideal landing area ahead
The first left side fairway bunker of the 3rd hole
The 3rd hole approach — the point of entry into the green is much narrower than it appears given the trouble surrounding the green, especially on the left side where the trouble is not visible
The 3rd hole approach from 100 yards away
The 3rd hole green viewed from the front
The deep right green side bunker of the 3rd hole — many approach shots tend to end up in here
While not visible from the 3rd hole fairway, there is a deep left green side bunker. The canopy from a group of oak trees directly hovering over the bunker can bat down pulled approach shots and into the bunker
The 3rd hole green viewed from behind
The 3rd hole green is also pitched from front to back so shots without enough spin will release into a closely mown collection area behind the green
Hole 4: Par 3, 234 Yards
The 4th hole is probably the most transformed hole at MPCC Dunes from all the various renovations over the years. The renovation did not follow the original Seth Raynor design exactly but still has some original design concepts in play
The 4th hole tee shot from the back tee — the shot is intimidating at 234 yards. Even though the shot is significantly downhill and the green complex is massive, the target looks minuscule from here!
The 4th hole from the middle teeing grounds — the tee shot plays 180-200 yards downhill from here
The 4th hole at MPCC Dunes definitely has an interesting orientation as the green itself doglegs to the right around a hillside — a pin placed in the far back right section is not visible from the tee!
The original 4th hole green was originally designed to be a Biarritz-style green that Seth Raynor employed on many of his other course designs. In 2016, MPCC made a decision to renovate the hole under the guidance of Tom Fazio and his then associate Jackson Kahn to have some “Biarritz” qualities but with some new design twists. One of the twists was to extend the green towards the back right to create a boomerang-shaped green where it sits behind the sand dune that juts sharply into the green’s right side
An old photo of the 4th hole green — notice the green was more squared off (a Seth Raynor trait) and had a traditional Biarritz design element with the pronounced depression in the middle of the green
There is a small creek that sits 40 yards from the front of the 4th hole green
The creek continues to meander from the front towards the left side of the 4th hole green — more balls than you believe end up here from overzealous pulled tee shots
The 4th hole green viewed from the front. With the expanded green from the 2016 renovation, there are so many more interesting hole locations for daily member play that can radically change the hole’s strategic nature depending on the hole location
The 4th hole green viewed from the front left — the green still has a “Biarritz” depression in the middle of the green although it has been considerably softened. The green’s high point is the back left corner
The 4th hole green viewed from the left, directly looking towards the sharp hillside closely guarding the right side of the green
The 4th hole green complex is one of the most impressive greens you will see. Its shaping is superb and intuitive as properly struck shots can hit the front of the green, bank off the high point on its left side, and then release towards the back right section (if the hole location is placed there). It’s like trying to finesse a bowling ball down the hill from 200+ yards. A fun and challenging shot that makes shotmakers salivate!
A closer look at the sandy area along the hillside on the right of the 4th hole green
Another vantage point from the back left shows the dramatic boomerang-shaped nature of the 4th hole green
A rare vantage point of 4th hole green viewed from back right. This vantage point really highlights the brilliance of the renovated design. This is a great case study example that not strictly adhering to a true restoration and taking some well thought-out design liberties can lead to more interesting (and better) results
Hole 5: Par 4, 312 Yards
The 5th hole is one of the more beautifully framed holes at MPCC Dunes
The 5th hole tee shot from the back tee — modern players will look to drive the green but a more prudent play may be to lay back and favor the left side of the fairway. You’ll see why as you approach the green
The 5th hole fairway in full view — while it appears wide, it is narrower than it first appears. The ongoing and clever deception of MPCC Dunes is also one of its charms
Missing right off the tee on the 5th hole is death — especially for players looking to drive the green. There is no recovery possible along the entire right side as it is a red-staked hazard area
This small central fairway bunker 225 yards from the back tee is what makes the fairway play a lot narrower than it appears. A player either needs to be short of it or try to clear it
Being left or just beyond the central fairway bunker provides the best angle to this “controversial” or rather tricky 5th hole green
The 5th hole green viewed 20 yards from the left — not only does the green have a large false front, it also has a trench running right through the middle of the green. A player needs to be precise with the approach shot to keep the ball on the right section of the green or risk watching his ball roll away from the hole location
Did I mention playing this hole from the right is no good? Angles really matter on the 5th hole and ending up in the right green side bunker is going to make recovery shots impractical
The 5th hole green viewed from the front — you can see the false front on the right of the green and then the trench depression cutting through the green in a rather awkward orientation. Keeping the ball near the hole location can be difficult on this small and devilish hole
Another look at the false front of the 5th hole green viewed from the front right
The 5th hole green’s sculpting and orientation make its uncomfortable and forces a player to be exacting with the approach shot
The 5th hole green viewed from the left — you can see how pronounced the trench is cutting through the middle of the green. The most difficult hole location is the one along the back left shelf as balls tend to repel away from this hole location
The 5th hole green viewed from the back right — approach shots not properly struck will roll off towards the back of the green into a closely mown area. The 5th hole is a slippery one and tends to get the most gripes from players
Hole 6: Par 4, 467 Yards
The 6th hole at MPCC Dunes is one of the meatier par-4 holes on the course
The 6th hole tee shot from the back tee — the fairway landing area is angled and bends sharply towards the right. A tee shot moving left-to-right to fit the landing area is most ideal
The 6th hole tee shot from the middle tee
The three fairway bunkers guarding the beginning of the 6th hole fairway — they are usually more ornamental in nature
The 6th hole tee shot can be tricky because tee shots hit too straight tend to bound into this sandy area closing guarding the left side of the fairway
The 6th hole approach from 150 yards away
The 6th hole green has plenty of movement and has a bit of an infinity edge look along its entire back side. The green falls off sharply along its right and back with some unwanted surprises beyond it
The 6th hole green from the right with a deep bunker guarding its back right side
The 6th hole green from 50 yards away
The 6th hole green has a relatively sharp pitch from back to front
A closer look at the right section of the 6th hole green
Just beyond the 6th hole green is a steep drop off and this back green side bunker not visible from the fairway. If a player misses long, he’ll want to be in this bunker as shots that hit beyond the green will likely ricochet into the hazard area
The 6th hole green viewed from the left
The 6th hole green viewed from behind
Hole 7: Par 3, 190 Yards
MPCC Dunes has a wonderful set of par-3 holes, but one of them — the 7th hole —has to be the weakling. The grading curve is crazy at MPCC Dunes!
The 7th hole tee shot from the back tee — the green is a relatively small target with most of the trouble looming right and behind the green. The bailout area is to the left of the green
A view of the 7th hole tee shot from the middle teeing ground
The 7th hole green is perched up on a small hillside and also provides the first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean on the course
The 7th hole is another hole that benefited greatly from the 2016 renovation. This old photo of the 7th hole show how much transformation was done — it is amazing what tree clearing and thoughtful shaping can do!
The 7th hole green viewed from the front — being below the hole would be wise on this small but tricky green
The large right green side bunker of the 7th hole
The 7th hole green viewed from the back right looking towards the back left
The back green side bunker of the 7th hole — recovery shots from this bunker tend to be pretty tough
The 7th hole green viewed from behind
A look back to the 7th hole green from the 8th hole teeing ground
Hole 8: Par 4, 416 Yards
One of the great design characteristics of MPCC Dunes is the shot variety and the holes not being repetitive. The 8th hole provides a welcomed and different challenge and makes good strategic use of a creek to create higher shot values with meaningful consequences
The 8th hole tee shot from the back tee — the downhill landing area is one of the more generous fairways at MPCC Dunes so players can let it rip from here
The 8th hole fairway slopes majestically downhill and the Pacific Ocean view can be empowering
Looking down the hill towards the 8th hole fairway — this hole also benefitted greatly from the 2016 renovation
While the 8th hole fairway is generous, missing right off the tee is problematic
The 8th hole approach is to a narrow kidney-shaped green perched on a hill and closely guarded by a creek along its entire left side
Greedy players shooting for the pin have to be weary of the magnetic creek that collects a lot of shots. For the less bold, the bailout area to the right is generous and leaves a fairly straightforward pitch shot to the green
A closer look at the creek strategically guarding the 8th hole green
The 8th hole approach from 75 yards away — the green has high points on the front and the back and its general slope is from right to left. Careless approach shots can hit the green and still see the ball roll mercilessly down into the creek
The 8th hole green viewed from the front. When the hole location is placed in the back left, the margin for error is rather slim and the effective landing area is tiny
The problematic right green side bunker of the 8th hole
A view of the front section of the 8th hole green from behind
A vantage point of the 8th hole green from the left with the creek bed in full view
The 8th hole green viewed from behind
Hole 9: Par 5, 543 Yards
The front nine at MPCC Dunes closes strongly with this beastly par-5 hole into a prevailing wind that tends to always play longer than its listed yardage
The 9th hole tee shot from the back tee plays tough as it is usually into the teeth of a fierce wind. The direct march towards the Pacific Ocean feels like a never-ending slog at times
One of the primary dangers of the 9th hole is a narrow creek running along its entire left side. Playing away from the creek will make the next shot longer so playing towards the danger shortens the hole but with risks
A closer look at the creek guarding the entire left side of the 9th hole
The second shot approach of the 9th hole — still a long way to get home
The creek never goes away on the 9th hole and looms with every shot
While modern players will try to reach this green in two, there is a lot of danger near the 9th hole green and especially to the left of the green as the creek hugs the green’s edge closely. While the green pad is fairly generous in size, the entry point is squeezed off by the creek on the left and an unpredictable sandy area to the right
The 9th hole approach from 100 yards away
The 9th hole green from 20 yards away — you can see how close the creek guards the left side of the green
The left green side bunker of the 9th hole
The 9th hole green viewed from the front — it has a reverse L-shape that creates and interesting left nook to tuck a hole location and a narrow area towards the back of the green
The 9th hole green viewed from the front right. The green wraps around the left green side bunker
The 9th hole green viewed from the back right
Another look of the left green side bunker that guards the left front nook of the 9th hole green from both its left and back side
The 9th hole presents some interesting decisions that a player needs to make from the fairway — go for the green in two or lay up to play it safe?
The 9th hole green viewed from the front left — the ever-ominous creek is ready to swallow up approach shots
The 9th hole green provides one of the more scenic backdrops at MPCC Dunes as it ends nearby Pebble Beach’s famed 17-Mile Drive. Holes from Pebble Beach’s owned Spanish Bay can be seen in the distance
After playing the 9th hole, these steps up a sand dune lead to one of the most spectacular holes you’ll ever see
