the inn at spanish bay

Not only haven’t I been blogging often enough; I haven’t been golfing enough either. To celebrate Stuart’s upcoming nuptials, the guys decided to help me change that. Golf at San Juan Oaks on the way down (a great layout but the back 9 is brutal when the wind is up) and Poppy Hills the next day (phenomenal course, and with green fees under $100, a great value). In between we stayed at the Inn at Spanish Bay.

Spanish Bay was built by the Pebble Beach Company in 1987. They acquired land at the tip on the Monterey Peninsula that had used for a sand mining operation and they meticulously restored the habitat. They also hired Robert Trent Jones, Jr. to design a world-class links course at home with its siblings Spyglass and Pebble, and they opened a 269 room hotel.

For the past 20 years, the Inn at Spanish Bay has been a premier escape. It is not inexpensive, but the consensus opinion is that it is worth it. The rooms are very large and quiet, the service is friendly and efficient, and there is no better place to enjoy an evening beverage than by their outdoor fire pits.

A tip for your visit: book a forest view room. You’ll save some money and will find that most spectacular scenery is available when walking the grounds. If you book directly you may get a better rate and be able to secure a one night stay instead of the usual two on weekends. Oh, and if you dine at Roy’s as we did, order the Kobe beef and crab roll. It is delicious.