California possesses a bounty of golf courses in a variety of unique environments. Its geography is diverse stretching along the 840 mile Pacific coastline from the massive redwoods in the northwest to the Mexican border. It extends from the Mojave Desert of the southeast to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada's to the central valley where the nation's fruits and vegetables are grown, not to mention the multitude of wine regions.

This guide and map identifies the best public golf courses and golf resorts in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Francisco as well as in the resorts of Palm Desert, Lake Tahoe and the Sierras, and the multiple wine regions.