Montesoro leaves a good impression on golfers with its beauty and impeccable condition. The reason is quite simple: It is a private course. Guests of the Borrego Springs Ranch and Spa have access, but only a limited number of golfers are allowed on the course at any one time — when we played, we never had to stop and wait at any hole.
The course is owned by the owners of Borrego Springs Ranch, hence the reciprocity for guests of the hotel. It has an interesting history: Originally built as a 27-hole course, it was redesigned by Tom Fazio and his team into the current 18-hole layout. Both the course and the hotel are located in the 900-square-mile Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is the largest state park in California.
The course is ranked in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” and has wonderful views of the mountains, desert vegetation and flowers and fescue grass — all within 600 feet of elevation change. David Hunter, director of golf, has been named one of America’s Outstanding Golf Instructors by Golf Digest and is a PGA professional and a Callaway Master professional. He offers insights into your game as well as the course history and design.
Hole 2 (543 yards, par 5)
Avoid landing in the traps lining the right side or the high grass on the right and left. An interesting aspect of this hole is the twin trees that grow in the center of the fairway. Make sure your second shot clears them and is either left or right; your approach to the green, which is slightly elevated and turns slightly left, depends on how you position yourself in respect to the trees.
Hole 6 (519 yards, par 5)
Make sure you take a breather to admire the beauty of this hole — wildflowers surround the tee box, and the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains act as a backdrop. The design features a dogleg right with four bunkers at your landing area. I nailed a ball off the tee box; it landed left of the right bunkers but unfortunately rolled in — just a bad break for me. If you can keep a good drive in play on the fairway, you can get to the green in two for a potential birdie or eagle. I am not sure if this is a Fazio signature, but Hole 6, like many at Montesoro, has traps midway to the green, three of them about 100–120 yards out.
Hole 8 (498 yards, par 4)
This is the No. 1 handicap-ranked hole, solely due to distance. There appear to be plenty of landing areas off the tee on this slight dogleg left. A trap to the left is perfectly positioned to catch your errant drive from the box. At the green, more traps guard the left side; if you are approaching from this area, you must make your ball stick or it will roll off.
Hole 10 (213 yards, par 3)
A little oddity in the course design is the inclusion of two back-to-back par-3 holes, Nos. 9 and 10. However, 10 is a pretty hole, with a pond on the left and two bunkers front and back. The hole plays about 20 yards more than it appears from the box. On the day we played, Bill Noonan came up short to the right but chipped on the green from his difficult position, and my shot came up short left. Any shot too far right is dead due to high grass and brush.
Hole 11 (556 yards, par 5)
As you pick your target of attack from the elevated tee box, note the water that runs the entire left side of this long par 5. I slammed a 5-wood that looked great from the box but landed slightly short of the green. On the right side is a large trap which you will need to avoid. Balls will roll off this green — a true Fazio signature design.
Hole 12 (333 yards, par 4)
The course is designed like a true private club and, as first-time players, we missed the tee box on this hole and had to back up the path. The hole really has no surprises; it is ranked No. 18 on the handicapped level. A series of traps lies on the right side of the fairway, with one on the left. Position “A” would be right cen ter. Try to avoid the sloping hill on the left (where I landed and made this hole more difficult to play). Your drive should leave you out about 100 yards for an easy par.
Hole 13 (455 yards, par 4)
This hole is laid out as a dogleg right, with lots of traps on the right side, including two large ones. The green has one bunker in the front, which is high and deep. My chip to the green appeared too hard at first, but climbed to the back and around to stop within two feet of the cup. This made for an easy tap — I would like to say it was for birdie, but it was for par.
Hole 18 (577 yards, par 5)
Hole 18 is a beautiful ending to a beautiful course, with the clubhouse as backdrop. The par 5 has a big lake on the right — obviously something you want to avoid. Again, Fazio wanted to play games with me — my perfectly hit shot from the tee box cleared the lake, but spun back and rolled about 25 yards, back to the lake. Mr. Fazio, that’s not right! From your better position, a little more left, your next shot needs to avoid the traps which lie a little short of the green (about 90 yards off). Chip up for your par and head back to the clubhouse, where you drive your cart through a little stream — a nice finishing touch.
Montesoro Golf Club
1881 Rams Hill Road
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
tel 760 857 4537
www.montesoro.com
Read This Next
Diabetes
2004 / April 2004
Sep 1, 2010All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 18, 2025Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead Completes Renovation
Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead unveils the completion of its multiphased renovation. With help from leading design firm DLR Group and architectural experts at designONE studio, the renovation features thoughtfully curated upgrades such as improved accommodations and new dining, socializing and relaxation spaces.
Sponsored Content
Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive
Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.
April 2025
Apr 18, 2025Wellness Comes Naturally in Greenville, South Carolina
Strolling through downtown Greenville, South Carolina, it’s easy to see why the city ranks high among the best places to live in the United States: Shops, restaurants and coffee bars line the streets; there are also performance venues, hotels and outdoor plazas. But what really sets this upstate city of just more than 78,000 residents apart are the easily accessible parks and walking trails encouraging both residents and visitors to explore the city by foot or cycle (both handcycles and adaptive bikes are available to rent). Even better, as Greenville continues to grow, city planners and major employers work together to expand these opportunities. When Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail, for instance, opened in 2009, the paved, multiuse pathway ran about 9 miles from the heart of Greenville to the town of Traveler’s Rest.
Daily
Apr 18, 2025California’s Pebble Beach Company to Renovate The Links at Spanish Bay
California’s Pebble Beach Company unveiled the timeline for its highly anticipated renovation of The Links at Spanish Bay. The golf course will close March 18, 2026, and reopen in spring 2027, a few months before the U.S. Open will be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the seventh time.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
Daily
Apr 18, 2025Azamara Cruises Announces Shore Excursions for Maiden Voyage to Greenland
Azamara Cruises has unveiled its new shore programming for its Greenland sailings, which start this July. The cruise line is known for its Destination Immersion experiences and Extended Destination Days; all the immersive shore excursions for Greenland sailings have been created in collaboration with local communities to showcase Greenland’s natural beauty. Due to Azamara’s commitment to locally driven experiences, guests will engage with the destination’s unique culture while supporting the local people.
Exclusive St. Barts Hotel Offers for 2025
Daily
Apr 17, 2025eFlyer Reviews
Apr 16, 2025Grand Hotel Des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz Review
Switzerland’s most storied ski town (the one, in fact, credited with pioneering the very concept of Alpine tourism), St. Moritz legendarily attracts the rich, the famous, celebutantes and the wannabes. Yet, there’s something compellingly earthy about the place, a town on a lake rich with natural environs, where winter sports and summer activities draw athletes and mountain lovers aplenty. As at the mountain restaurants (where some arrive by chairlift rather than muscle movement, and all types of diners and imbibers convene), Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz straddles the old and new, the lavish and the understated. The hotel, one of St. Moritz’s oldest, opened as a spa haven in 1864, set atop a healing mineral spring.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Introduces Groundbreaking Safety Video: A Captivating Invitation to Discover Moroccan Heritage
Royal Air Maroc continues to elevate the passenger experience with the launch of its new in-flight safety video — a cinematic journey that seamlessly blends essential safety instructions with a celebration of Moroccan cultural heritage.
eFlyer News
Apr 16, 2025Aranui Announces Expansion with Second Ship
Aranui Cruises, the original cruise company in French Polynesia, just announced a second luxury ship set to sail the South Pacific in 2027. The new ship, Aranoa, expands the cruise line and will journey across the Austral Islands.
ShareThis