The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, played earlier this year and once again drew our attention to the wealth of great golf courses in the Monterey Peninsula area. The Carmel Valley area is home to several great courses which are all available to the public. If you are looking for a larger room with some privacy, Carmel Valley Ranch could be just the place. The Carmel Valley Ranch is a 1,700-acre estate set against the Santa Lucia Mountains. The resort includes a Pete Dye-designed, 18-hole championship golf course that runs along the banks of the Carmel River. The back nine travels quickly to the upper expanses of the property which afford a spectacular view of the Carmel Valley. The clubhouse is well appointed and looks out over the course. I found the course to be in excellent shape and more forgiving than most of Pete Dye’s work. The championship tee-off locations are around 6,500 yards from the hole and the white tees closer to 6,000 yards. The 11th tee is perched almost at the top of the mountains and shoots down to a meadow fairway with an abundance of deer, fox and wild turkey. The 11th green is just below the lodge and you will pass right by your room on the way to the 12th tee. There is a fair amount of water on the course, but it’s not overly taxing. As you play, you will see an abundance of wildlife, including many deer and wild turkeys. There are 144 spacious suites set against the hillside ranging from 650 to 1,200 square feet with all the comforts of home. They have the feel of a small condo with a separate living room, including a fireplace. After a round of golf, I found the room very relaxing. Each room has a large balcony and there are whirlpools near all rooms. Tennis players will enjoy the twelve clay and hard-surface courts as well as the 1890s clubhouse. The main lodge offers an elegant restaurant and there are many facilities to choose from for meeting planners. Prices are much more competitive now as opposed to the late ’90s when the Silicon Valley money was pouring in. Also worth looking into is the recently remodeled Quail Lodge. The resort at Quail Lodge features an excellent 18-hole championship course that is relatively level and can easily be walked. There is a fair amount of water on the course and the Carmel River comes into play on several holes. The rooms and the golf clubhouse have been updated and are quite nice. The resort is owned by the same people who own the Peninsula Hotels. The Rancho Canada Golf Course is also available to the public and is very close to Carmel. Carmel Valley offers a milder climate just minutes from Pebble Beach. It is regularly 10 to 15 degrees warmer with much less fog and is only 15 minutes from the scenic-coastline 17-Mile Drive. If you want to get away from golf, visit Point Lobos Wildlife State Reserve just south of Carmel on Highway 1. Deriving its name from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, a Spanish phrase meaning “Point of the Sea Wolves,” the reserve has often been called “the crown jewel of the State Park System,” according to us-parks.com. Point Lobos State Reserve has outstanding passive recreation values, such as sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, scuba diving and jogging. The natural beauty is easily reached just steps from your car. For a restaurant, I suggest Il Fornaio in the village of Carmel at The Pine Inn. The food was great and the atmosphere very warm. It’s a nice break from the must-do shopping in Carmel. Weather in Monterey is usually colder than the Valley, so bring some sweaters for your coastal excursions. If you have the flexibility, check the weather channel and shoot up there when it looks best. For more information on Carmel Valley Ranch, call 866-282-4745 or visit www.carmelvalleyranch.com.