A Quick Nine: Best golf courses in Northern California

This week, some of the PGA.com staff -- including yours truly -- are in breathtaking Monterey, Calif., for the 45th PGA Professional National Championship being held over at Bayonet Blackhorse in Seaside.

While we love our jobs dearly, it's basically killing us to be watching and covering golf when there are so many incredible golf courses here in Northern California that we could be playing! (So maybe we snuck over to play a little place called the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay before things got busy, but don't say anything, OK? Also, based on that experience, you may want to add that course to your bucket list).

So, with Northern California and its abundance of great golf courses in mind -- it may be the most golf-rich area in the country and world -- we decided to reach out to you, our NoCal friends in PGA.com Facebook Nation, to ask: Where would you recommend visitors play?

Below is the list of the top answers we received. If you ask me, there were some great places left off the list and some might not agree with the order. That's fine though. Feel free to debate!

Editor's note: If you have played any of the courses listed below, please click its name and leave a review on its course page.

9. Pacific Grove Golf Links in Pacific Grove, Calif. It's been regonized by one publication as one of the, "Best Deals in Golf," and by Golf Channel as one of Monterey Peninsula's, "Top 5 Hidden Gems."

Facebook fan quotes:

"Pacific Grove, 'Poor Man's Pebble Beach!'" -- Joe Conigliaro

8. Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif. Poppy was a fixture for many years as one of the courses in the rotation for the Pebble Beach Pro-am.

Facebook fan quote:

"Poppy Hills is nice." -- Rich Newland

7. Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee, Calif. Description from its website: "Coyote Moon Golf Course is one of the finest mountain golf experiences in the country. The course sits on 250 acres of secluded rolling hills amidst towering pines, enormous granite outcroppings, wildflowers and the beautiful Trout Creek. The vistas plus fresh mountain air equals near perfection. Without a single home to spoil the view, playing Coyote Moon offers an experience seldom found in golf today."

Facebook fan quotes:

"Coyote Moon, Truckee Calif." -- Scott Farrell

"Second for Coyote Moon!" -- Rich Newman

6. TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. This spectacular course has played host to the PGA Tour and the Presidents Cup.

Facebook fan quote:

"Harding Park is an amazing walk." -- Kevin Stimberis

5. Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz. Alister MacKenzie -- the same man who designed Cypress Point and Augusta National -- called Pasatiempo his favorite layout. He also made his American home there, which still sits off the sixth fairway. Need we say more?

Facebook fan quotes:

"Try Pasatiempo, you will be amazed." -- Jerry Greiner

"I think the greens at Pasatiempo are a good test. I'd go with that." -- Rob King

4. Half Moon Bay Ocean Course in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The whole course is special, but the last three holes will blow you away.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Half Moon Bay Ocean Course." -- Eric Chapman

"Half Moon Bay Ocean Course." -- Rick Ramirez Jr.

3. Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. It's 15th, 16th and 17th holes are routinely rated as three of the best in the world. If anyone reading this can get on this course, please invite us and we'll be your friends forever.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Cypress Point, you can't beat it." -- Frank Abel

"Cypress Point Club. Played it about 3 years ago, parred No. 15 and No. 16, the most beautifu par-3s in the world!" -- Dave Esqueda

2. Spyglass Hill Golf Course. With dramatic views on the Monterey Peninsula, this is another one that's tough to beat in terms of pure beauty.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Spyglass is pretty awesome." -- Brandon Medeiros

"Spyglass. What a test and rewards good shots." -- Chuck Wills

"Spyglass is amazing." -- Ryan Knop

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif. Arguably the most well-known golf course on the planet, surely one round at this beauty is high on any avid golfer's wish-list.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Pebble by far." -- Justin Miller

"I have played Pebble. Not very well I might add, though. Fun and beautiful." -- David Wayne Baugus

"Pebble, all the history." -- Blake Nix

"Pebble's on the bucket list." -- Eric Anderson