Golf in the State of California
As California is the state with the highest population, it's no surprise to find it has the second most golf courses at over 900, trailing only Florida. The many venues on offer ensure any golfer can find golfing experiences that satisfy. The state capital Sacramento with over 40 courses; the nation's film capital, Los Angeles, second most populous city in the nation after New York, having more than 140; and San Diego with over 90, provide plenty of choices for residents of the large metropolitan areas.
Bordered by Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, and Mexico, the large geographical area of the state results in a variety of climatic conditions and natural features, from mountain views near Fresno to coastal beaches near Santa Barbara, desert vistas around Palm Springs and forested areas near the northern town of Redding.
The state boasts many top-ranked courses in the country. At the top of the list are the three jewels of Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach Golf Links (its namesake course), Spyglass Hill Golf Course and The Links at Spanish Bay. Continuing, there are also the beautiful PGA West (TPC Stadium) (in La Quinta), Torrey Pines Golf Course (in La Jolla), and Sandpiper Golf Club (in Santa Barbara).
Pros such as Tiger Woods (from Cypress), Phil Mickelson, Billy Casper and Mickey Wright (all from San Diego), Johnny Miller (from San Francisco), and Nancy Lopez (from Torrance) are all proud to hail from the Golden State.