Photo: USGA

Tucked away on California’s famed 17-Mile Drive, Cypress Point has been called the “Sistine Chapel of Golf.” Unlike the Sistine Chapel, however, its doors remain closed to nearly everyone. What makes this course so secretive, and why does its legend loom so large in the sport’s history?

The Lost Prequel

The story of Cypress Point begins in the 1920s with a trailblazing developer named Marion Hollins, a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion with an unshakable vision for the property. She first hired Seth Raynor, one of the leading architects of his time, to route the course. Raynor walked the land and began work on an original design. But in 1926, before construction began, Raynor died suddenly. His routing was lost, becoming one of golf’s enduring “what-ifs.”

Hollins then turned to Dr. Alister MacKenzie. A former war surgeon known for his ability to blend manmade features seamlessly into natural landscapes, MacKenzie created a masterpiece in three acts. The front nine plays through rolling dunes, the middle holes wind through the quiet Del Monte forest, and the closing stretch bursts dramatically onto the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean.

The Holy Trinity of Holes

The climax of MacKenzie’s design comes at holes 15 through 17, often called golf’s “Holy Trinity.” The 15th is a delicate par-three among dunes. The 17th features its famous lone Cypress tree, a sentinel over the green. And between them lies the legendary 16th: a 230-yard carry over the crashing Pacific inlet. The hole has become one of the most photographed and admired in the world, a symbol of golf’s marriage with raw natural beauty.

The Breakup with the Tour

For decades, the world had a chance to see Cypress Point in action. The club was a beloved stop on the PGA Tour as part of the Bing Crosby Pro-Am, attracting professionals, celebrities, and fans alike. But in 1991, Cypress disappeared from the circuit.

The official reason was a new PGA Tour policy requiring clubs to demonstrate non-discriminatory membership practices. At the time, Cypress had no African-American members and declined to make a symbolic admission to satisfy the requirement. The club chose to withdraw.

Yet whispers around the Monterey Peninsula suggested another explanation. Members had already grown weary of the slow rounds, the damage from massive crowds, and the creeping commercialism of the event. The Tour’s policy offered a convenient exit. Rather than a crisis, it was a release. The decision allowed Cypress to preserve what mattered most: its privacy and sanctuary-like identity.

A World Apart

In the decades since, the aura around Cypress has only deepened. Membership is capped around 250 and the list is kept secret. Famous names such as Clint Eastwood are rumored to belong, but no one joins through money or celebrity. Invitations cannot be solicited; in fact, the unofficial rule states that if you ask about membership, you have ensured you’ll never receive it.

The club is understated by design. The clubhouse is modest, there are no tee times, and the emphasis is on the purity of the game and shared camaraderie. In a world where nearly everything can be bought, Cypress Point stands apart. Its value comes from its refusal to be commodified.

The Walker Cup Returns Golf to Cypress

Which brings us to September 2025. The Walker Cup is not about prize money, TV contracts, or corporate skyboxes. It is about amateur golf in its purest form, the honor of representing country and tradition. That makes it a perfect fit for Cypress Point.

For one weekend, the veil will be lifted. Teams from the USA and Great Britain & Ireland will battle across the dunes, forests, and cliffs that have inspired generations. The world will get a rare view of a masterpiece that has long been hidden away.

And then, just as quickly, the fog will return. Cypress Point will slip back into its silence, its exclusivity intact, its legend deepened. The greatest secret in golf will once again belong only to those few who walk its fairways.

Play Your Own Pebble Beach Story

While Cypress Point remains beyond reach, AmateurGolf.com invites you to create your own memories at another legendary venue just down the coast. From March 26–29, 2026, the AmateurGolf.com Two Man Links and Father & Son Championship at Pebble Beach, presented by Callaway, will welcome players to compete across Poppy Hills, Spyglass Hill, and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The event features divisions for Open teams and Father & Son pairings, with both gross and net prizes. Packages include three nights at The Lodge, welcome gifts, tee prizes, and awards. More than a tournament, it is a chance to live the dream of competing at Pebble Beach in the company of family, friends, and fellow golf enthusiasts.

Space is extremely limited. To learn more and register, visit AmateurGolf.com/tour.