Black Horse Golf Club

The newer of the two layouts at this former military golf facility, the Black Horse Course, which rates well above four stars on Golf Pass, is as challenging as it is beautiful. It opened in 1964, a little more than a decade after the original Bayonet Course Bayonet/Black Horse Golf Club. Located on the former Fort Ord Army base, both courses received extensive renovations in 2008 by architect Gene Bates. The result was dramatically improved course conditions and better views of the Pacific Ocean. While Bayonet is a little longer and possibly more demanding, Black Horse, which has more generous fairways and more shallow bunkers, but perhaps more difficult bentgrass greens, is 7,024 yards from back tees and has a slope of 141 and a rating of 73. Black Horse gets testy early in the round with the 247-yard par-3 second and has a 605-yard par 5 finishing hole, where par is an excellent score. In between, there's a great variety of holes, including a short-par that's drivable. One of the best improvements after the renovation is the practice facilities, which include a driving range, large practice green next to the clubhouse and extensive short game area where you can hit bunker shots, 30-yard pitches or various chips from different lies around the green. The clubhouse is also has a terrific golf shop and restaurant with great views of the course.