▦ hero—The Ritz-Carlton on the bluff, the Old Course finishing along the Pacific below.

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Destinations / Half Moon Bay · California

Half Moon Bay

Two clifftop coast courses, half an hour south of San Francisco.

Courses

Old Course: Arnold Palmer & Francis Duane's 1973 design; par 72, about 6,989 yards, with a clifftop par-4 18th along the Pacific.

Ocean Course: Arthur Hills' 1997 links; par 72, about 6,787 yards of open bluff-top ground where wind shapes nearly every shot.

Best season

May, September and October bring the steadiest skies and lighter wind; November through April is the wet, gustier stretch, and June-July mornings often start under fog.

Getting there

Fly SFO, then I-280 south to CA-92 west over the coastal hills—about 40 minutes to the resort. The concierge can arrange a car; there's no scheduled shuttle.

Highway 1 down the coast is the scenic, slower alternative.

From the airport

San Francisco International (SFO) · ~38 min drive

Price

$$$$

Build this trip

The Ritz-Carlton sits on the bluffs at Miramontes Point, on the San Mateo County coast roughly 30 miles south of San Francisco—not the Monterey Peninsula, which lies another 70-odd miles down Highway 1. Two eighteens share the setting: the Old Course, Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane's 1973 routing that works inland before turning back to the water for a clifftop finish; and the Ocean Course, Arthur Hills' 1997 links laid across exposed bluff land where the wind sets the terms.

Both play year-round and draw travelers who want genuine Northern California coastal golf close to the Bay Area—Pebble Beach and the Monterey courses make an easy day trip about 90 minutes south if you want to pair them.

The courses

Ocean Course

Arthur Hills · par 72 · Arthur Hills' 1997 bluff-top links, open to the wind with wide ocean views throughout.

Reserve →

Old Course

Arnold Palmer & Francis Duane · par 72 · Palmer and Duane's 1973 layout—inland early, then a famous clifftop par-4 18th along the Pacific.

Reserve →

Course conditions

When each course at Half Moon Bay is aerating, closed, or clear — the 12 months ahead.

Best stretches for all courses: 1 Aug – 2 Nov, and 18 Nov – 1 Aug.

Derived from 1 window across 1 course · 0 confirmed directly, 1 from published sources, 1 unknown.

Status

ClearAeratedRecoveringSeason closedDeadlineNo data

Source

Confirmed with the coursePublished source / estimatedNot on file yet

Where to stay

On-property lodging sells out well in advance—book early.

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Bluff-top luxury resort · from $425/nt

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All lodging options at Half Moon Bay →

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Where to eat

Navio

$95 pp

Californian · dinner

On resortVisit website ↗

Mullins Steakhouse

$70 pp

Steakhouse · dinner (golf clubhouse)

On resortVisit website ↗

Ocean Terrace

$50 pp

Seafood · lunch

On resortVisit website ↗

The Conservatory

$45 pp

Californian · breakfast

On resortVisit website ↗

Off the course

Half Moon Bay is farm country—pumpkin patches, roadside stands and a Saturday farmers market, plus farm-to-table experiences arranged through the resort.

Santa Cruz Mountains wine country sits within about 30 miles, with tasting trips bookable via the concierge.

Main Street's shops and restaurants, and the coastal bluff trail that runs past the resort along the ocean.

Best time to go

JanAprJulOctDec

Morning fog is common June-July and usually burns off by late morning; winter gusts can top 25 mph on the bluffs. Pack layers regardless of season.

Sample itineraries

Two-Round Coastal Loop

Day 1: check in, late nine or a full round on the Old Course. Day 2: full round on the Ocean Course. Day 3: replay, spa, or a farm-to-table experience before departure.

Bay Area & Monterey Pairing

Base at the Ritz for the two coast courses, then drive about 90 minutes south for a round at Pebble Beach or Spyglass Hill; use the concierge for San Francisco dining or wine side trips.

Open in the builder →

Or let our concierge handle it

Complex trip, big group, or a portal-only resort? We'll secure every tee time, stay and detail for you.

Flat-fee pricing, credited back when you book →

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Nearby — chain a road trip

Other destinations within driving distance of Half Moon Bay. Drive times estimated from distance.