Bayonet and Black Horse

Black Horse and Bayonet Point are in Seaside, just off US 1, north of Monterey about 5 minutes set up on a hill overlooking Monterey Bay. Both were part of Fort Ord when it was open here, but now both courses have been renovated and redesigned and are open to the public. Bayonet opened in 1954, and was originally designed by Gen Robert McClure in honor of the 7th Infantry Light Fighter Division. It's a classic tradition course with tight tree lined fairways, doglegs uphill and downhill with great views of the Monterey Bay. The course was recently redesigned and renovated by Gene Bates, was lengthened slightly to 7,204 yards from the black tees, 141 slope and 74.8 course rating. They've added and expanded the bunker complexes, changes the order of a few holes, and added a new 9th hol, an uphill 476 yard par 4, and removed the Kikuyu and poa annua grasses in the fairways and greens. Fairways are fairly tight with cypress trees throughout, greens are big and roll true with an average pace just a long and tough course. The Black Horse course was also designed by Gen. McClure, named after the 11th Calvary Regiment, and opened in 1964. Gene Bates also redesigned the course recently. The course has the same topography as Bayonet, and was "softened" up a bit with the renovation by removing a lot of the trees and opening up the fairways. They also redesigned several of the hole routings, taking out my old favorite "Cardiac Hill" with less of an uphill climb. The also removed the Kikuyu and poa annua, and expanded the bunkers and greens. The greens on both courses are multi-tiered, undulating, and fast, especially with the slope. Well conditioned, and they manage the pace of play here so a four hour round is the norm. Nice 36 for a day, rates are less costly than the Pebble Beach rota.