Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach: Enjoying the magical golf, beach and sunsets of the 'OC'
Monarch Beach's luxurious hotel and golf course deliver the Orange County lifestyle that's so appealing for tourists visiting southern California.
DANA POINT, Calif. - It's a come-one, come-all attitude at the Monarch Beach Golf Links.
Although the oceanfront Robert Trent Jones Jr. course is affiliated with the lux Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, there's nothing stuffy about one of Orange County's nicest golf resorts. T shirts are more than welcome on the course or out to dinner. This is SoCal, after all, where surfers might come straight to the course after riding a few morning swells.
This is what I love about life in the 'OC'. Everything's chill (unless you're one of those over-privileged housewives on reality TV). There's no reason to stress when you're visiting paradise. Just about any golfer in America would love to trade spikes with you. California set a record for tourism spending in 2023, a whopping 150+ billion dollars last year. It's fab places like Monarch Beach that keep people coming.
I last visited Monarch Beach when it was a St. Regis more than a decade ago. There were butlers and the sabering of champagne bottles every night at sunset. While it felt right at the time, the truth is that Waldorf Astoria is a better brand fit for this chic enclave. It's fancy without the pretentiousness.
GolfPass offers a golf package for this sun-splashed SoCal golf getaway (members get $100 off certain packages). Playing Monarch Beach isn't as pricey as the famed 36-hole Resort at Pelican Hill nearby but still delivers those golf course ocean views and dynamite sunsets over the Pacific that California visitors crave. Here's what it's like to stay and play at Monarch Beach:
Playing golf at Monarch Beach Golf Links
With nearly 100 bunkers and nine holes splashed with water, Monarch Beach isn't your typical resort course. Golfers need to bring their best ball-striking to shoot their handicaps. The 6,645-yard Robert Trent Jones Jr. design dates to 1983 and reflects that style of architecture with lots of mounding and target golf. Both nines provide some nice elevation changes for panoramic views of the ocean. There's no range, just a couple hitting nets, so do your best to stretch and warm up.
As a par 70 with 5 par 3s and 3 par 5s, there's few true scoring opportunities. In fact, the 612-yard 7th hole is one of the longest par 5s in the entire state. Its sheer length and wetland carries off the tee and on the approach make it a demanding No. 1 handicap.
The best birdie chance happens to be the course's signature moment early in the round. The tunnel under the famous Pacific Coast Highway after no. 2 might as well be a rabbit hole. Players emerge in a Shangri-La of beachfront mansions and ocean views on the other side. The 315-yard third hole plays as a tricky short par 4. It's not recommended trying to drive the blind green, which is tucked behind a severe dogleg left. There's just not much room, plus there's probably golfers on the next tee box. A simple layup to the narrow, bending fairway along the beach sets up a short wedge to a multi-tiered green. I almost holed out for a 2, proving that birdies are readily available for ANYONE who plays it smart.
Take one last look at the coast before teeing off on the fourth hole, a rare par 3 not protected by a pond. Back through the tunnel comes Monarch Beach's toughest stretch of holes 5-9 due to the wetlands that blanket this portion of the property.
GolfPass reviewer 'Softwareguy' gave Monarch Beach five stars in January. "I’m a 18 handicap and this course was fun, challenging, and well maintained." he wrote in a review. "Pace of play was great (as) we went out at 7:40 and finished in 3:45 👍 super friendly staff with great food at the turn. Maybe a tad overpriced but (the) speed of play and the quality grounds made up for the higher price."
Staying at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach
Perched on 175 acres atop a 150-foot seaside bluff, the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club earns its AAA Five-Diamond status on views alone. As good as they are, though, the strength of the resort lies in its dining experiences.
Guests have access to the private Monarch Bay Beach Club. Trams shuttle people down to the course or the beach club at all hours of the day and night for lunch, dinner or dipping their toes in the sand. An all-day menu serves up appetizers (tuna nachos, fresh ceviche), sandwiches (a lobster and crab melt), beach house tacos and entrees like New York strip, braised beef short rib or a poke bowl in a magical setting. Nothing you order will beat the setting.
Back up at the hotel, the main attract is Bourbon Steak, a restaurant by celebrity chef Michael Mina where ordering an Old Fashioned feels like a commercial for the Food Network. There's fire, smoke and branded ice cubes involved, so get your iPhone ready.
Impressive cuts of meat, seafood and sides of all flavors and prices (a 50-ounce Tomahawk costs nearly $300) will impress even the most jaded foodie.
Between the pool, beach or the spa, it's impossible not to leave feeling relaxed. Spa treatments feature upgrades like a wild lime scalp treatment, salt stone applications or a CBD treatment. A massage sets golfers right after a day of good or bad swings.
Go ahead and treat yourself. You're on vacation.
