Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club: A California dream you won’t want to wake up from

The weather…perfect.  The resort grounds…stunning.  The golf and the views…fantastic.  There’s a whole lot to love about everything that the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club has to offer. 

This flawless Dana Point, California resort may sound like a new resort to you, but this California treasure first opened in 2001 under the St. Regis flagship and stayed under that brand through several ownership changes until 2016.  In 2020, the resort was brought under the Waldorf Astoria banner in the Hilton portfolio, and as you can imagine the level of quality and service that is synonymous with this iconic brand can be felt in every nook and cranny of this property.

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club

The Golf 

When it comes to coastal golf in Southern California, there’s a reason why you don’t get to see a ton of it.  The real estate value in this unicorn-like destination in terms of temperature and beauty is incredibly high, so finding the land necessary to create a championship golf course is a big task to take on. 

Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and his team were tasked with making the most out of a smaller plot of land than usual at Monarch Beach, and it’s clear to see that they did an incredible job of using every inch of land to create a wonderful golf experience with ocean views throughout. 

This par-70 layout is laid out as a California style links design that features narrow fairways, firm greens, and several holes with tight hazards and out of bounds stakes to put a premium on working your way around this course.

The Setting 

The resort sits in the beautiful beachfront community of Dana Point, California, and it sits looking down on the Pacific Ocean giving you an epic view as you walk through the main welcoming area to the backside of the property.  You’ll also look down onto two main pools, one more family friendly than the other. 

The rooms are coastal chic with every amenity thoughtfully designed to maximize the luxury and comfort of your stay.  As hard as it will be to be pried out of there, you’ll likely want to make your way over to the Beach Club to enjoy the comforts of the Pacific Ocean views at least once during your stay. 

Recommendation 

When it comes to golf in Dana Point, this is the place to be.  The golf is incredibly fun, and the resort itself is everything you’d expect in this luxurious corner of the world.  Kudos to the team here who did a phenomenal job redesigning the property.  

This is great for a high-end getaway experience and will cater extremely well to a couples getaway.