Pebble Beach

Rankings

Golf Digest:  #7

Golfweek:  #8 Classic

I've had the pleasure of playing Pebble Beach in high school, and three or four times since.  It is definitely an amazing experience - especially after watching it on TV for years during U.S. Opens and the AT&T Pro-Am.  Seventeen Mile Drive, the incredibly scenic road that winds between Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula CC, Spyglass, and The Links at Spanish Bay, is an amazing experience in its own right.  It is one of my favorite locations in the world, and playing golf there is a bonus.

Pebble has so much history and notoriety that it is hard to play the course and not feel that each hole should be savored.  I can't say I've played well there, but it has always been memorable.  

The first tee is adjacent to the pro shop and retail stores, and as such you are rarely without a gallery for your inaugural tee shot.  It is pressure enough knowing you are beginning your trek over hallowed ground, only to be magnified by the handful to dozens of people that may stop to watch.  The first hole is nothing special, but you'll never forget the tee shot.  

Progressing through the round, holes 2 is a straightforward par 5.  Hole 3 is a sweeping par 4 dogleg left that allows you to cut the corner depending on the tees you play, how far you hit it, and the strength of the wind.  Hole 4 is a treacherous short par 4 straight uphill with a cliff leading to the ocean on the right (see photo).  The 5th is a redesigned par 3 with more cliff/ocean to the right.  The 4th is my favorite hole of this stretch because a miss right is never far from your mind, and you have a lot of options off the tee. 

The next stretch is what makes Pebble Pebble.  The 6th is a par 5 from an elevated tee to a valley, followed by a straight uphill approach that sweeps a little to the right with ocean further right.  It is reachable in two for long hitters, but it requires a couple good pokes.  It's an incredible hole that you won't forget.  Hole 7 is famous, but shorter than you'd think - 105 yards virtually straight downhill.  It can play longer with a stiff breeze that leaves little margin for error, but I'm not a huge fan of the 7th.  Now the 8th hole is the best on the course, and perhaps my favorite hole on the planet.  You hit a tee shot from near sea level up a steep hill to the plateau above.  It's probably 240-250 yards.  Go to far and you roll over massive cliff into a cove below.  Hit it too short and you'll leave 200+ yards to a postage stamp green that sits on the other side of the cove that is virtually all carry.  Not only are the views amazing, the shot required demands perfection unless you bail out left.  But then you're chipping to a green that goes away from you with a cliff behind.  No easy 4s here! (see photo showing the approach shot)

Holes 9 and 10 and are solid par 4s paralleling a cliff that drops off to the beach.  The greens are small and not forgiving.  Holes 6-10 are most of what you pay for at Pebble.  

Hole 11 is a straight uphill par 4 that has a green that can provide some crazy putts due to its narrowness and severe slopes.  An easy birdie is possible, but so is double.  Hole 12 is a good par 3, and 13 is an uphill par 4 with great views and a severely sloped green.  

Hole 14 is a long, uphill, swinging dogleg right that used to have a green that was diabolical. However, it is currently going through a redesign that is meant to tame it given the limited pin position options, and penal slopes.  I'm not sure I agree because I'm a fan of holes that border on difficult/unfair.  However, this green was probably due for a fix.  A monster bunker guards the front of the green.  I've spent some good time begging for mercy in it.    

Hole 15 is a nondescript par 4.  Hole 16 is a par 4 with more character, but is overshadowed by 17 and 18.  

Hole 17 is a straight-into-the-breeze par 3 that can play brutally long in strong winds.  The green is a diagonal hourglass, and it's easy to find yourself on the wrong side with a long putt - sometimes you can't get to the hole with a putt and should chip if you weren't afraid of marring God's greens.  This is the best par 3 on the course.

Hole 18's tee sits right on the ocean and the tee shot is imposing (photo is looking back to the blue tees from the white tees).  Houses right, the Pacific left.  It sets up as if you want to hit a strong draw, but the ocean comes into play closer in that you realize.  If you can find the fairway, getting on in two is no gimme.  A tree right and ocean left, combined with a traditionally strong breeze, makes a lay-up feel like a manly play even for those that typically bomb at anything.  The 18th is such a recognizable hole that looking back from the green after you hole out makes you wish you'd paid more attention to it during your walk up the fairway (or the rough/rocks in my case).  

Pebble Beach is a treat that any golfer should experience once, assuming the $500 green fee is in the budget.  You'll also likely need to stay at the lodge since tee times are only given out the day-of for non-guests.  So it's expensive.  You can also walk the course for free (I think) since I always seem to see stragglers wandering around when I play - although maybe they're renegades.  

Pebble can be a long round with players taking numerous photos, and many infrequent golfers deciding they need to play it while taking 140 shots.  But if you're paying $500 to play Pebble, don't rush it (because you can't).  Would I prefer to play a ultra exclusive, historic club for the first time rather than this commercialized mecca?  Probably, since Pebble allows anyone with a checkbook to play, but there isn't a more beautiful place on earth and I'll never tire of going there.