Spring 2024

cross vaulted ceilings above the bar and dining areas, which are decorated with a stone fire- place, marble-topped tables and earthy gray textiles. Select pieces of art honor the proper- ty’s automobile connections: Quail Lodge hosts the annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering in May, and The Quail, A Motorspor ts Gathering each August. The Covey Grill’s open-air patio seats over- look the pond and the surrounding flowers, ferns, native grasses and greens. Those greens are part of a 6,500-yard, par-71 Robert Muir Graves-designed golf course that was refreshed in 2015 by Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design. Fairways wind along the Carmel River, and various tee options let players customize their experience. Greenskeeper.org regularly recognizes the course for its excellent playing conditions. “Most people do not need a cart. It’s a very walkable course,” Lermen says. PGA Director of Golf Instruction Katherine Marren oversees the Quail Lodge Golf Academy, which offers private and semi-pri- vate instruction, a beginners’ lesson series, jun- ior programs, and clinics that cover putting, short-game basics, swing improvements, strate- gy and other topics. The Northern California PGA named Marren its Women’s Player of the Year in 2022. “She came here from the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, and she is very well respected in the community,” Lermen says. Quail Lodge Golf Club hosts social events like glow golf and an annual tournament that raises funds for scholarships benefiting Monterey County students. Players here also find a well- stocked pro shop and an all-grass, nine-hole putting course where LED tee markers sparkle after dark. Fire pit seating accommodates par- ents who want to sample wine while their chil- dren try out the putting course. Beyond the greens, families enjoy checking out electric bicycles and traditional pedal cycles (both reservable at the front desk) to explore C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 181 Quail Lodge is a family-friendly golf resort, perfect both for the serious golf enthusiast—with its 6,500-yard, par-71 course—or for the young novice who just wants to try their hand at putting. Whether guests are golfers interested in convenient course access, families looking for a home base as they explore the Monterey Bay, or Bay Area professionals ready to unwind after a busy work week, Quail Lodge fits the bill.