Rode the Blues (5727/67.9/113) in slightly more than 4H in drizzling, very overcast conditions around 60. $50 prepaid playing with the SLO Co. Golf Group. Chris, Jeff and Manny were a good group to pl... Continue »

Rode the Blues (5727/67.9/113) in slightly more than 4H in drizzling, very overcast conditions around 60. $50 prepaid playing with the SLO Co. Golf Group. Chris, Jeff and Manny were a good group to play with. Short, tight, quirky tree lined layout on the coast. Fun course to play but was so overcast we missed many of the ocean views. Several holes we only had a general idea of where the hole went it was so gray and hazy. Could not see the green from the tee on several straight away par 4's. Tees had decent coverage but needed some divot attention. Fairways and rough both winter thin. Very playable with decent coverage. Traps were not good, but the rain did not assist. Both I was in could have used more sand. Small poa greens were excellent. Medium fast and they held approach shots well. Friendly, quick efficient check-in. Would recommend the double, cheeseburger and Arnold Palmer. Carts were nice but did not have GPS. Layout is not a pushover because of the tightness, the huge trees and the size of the greens. If I lived in the area, this course would warrant a regular play. Recommended.

I hadn’t played Pacific Grove in probably about a year. I must admit I was extremely disappointed all around. From the half hearted COVID-19 measures, to the poor conditions to the horrible busine... Continue »

I hadn’t played Pacific Grove in probably about a year. I must admit I was extremely disappointed all around. From the half hearted COVID-19 measures, to the poor conditions to the horrible business practices. I’ll start off with the check in process. I booked my round last week through a third party booking party. In Monterey County you have to pre-pay for your round before getting to the course. Pacific Grove lists on their website the couple of ways to go about it. I had a mid-day tee time and called about 1.5 hours ahead of time to give them my credit card. It took them 20 minutes to find my reservation then they charged me $2 more than my reserved price. I’m not going to waste another 15 minutes over a couple dollars (that’s my decision so no ding on them for not fixing).

When I called and paid, they finally took my credit card and said I was good to go… Until I got to the course. I arrived about 30 minutes early and was told the third party booking company had over booked the course and I wouldn’t be going off for another 2 hours. They actually thought they had done me a favor by squeezing me in. After a little “discussion” it was decided that I would tee off right away with the next couple on the tee box.

Here was the issue. If two separate groups book for twosomes for the XX time slot, the course separates those two groups putting them out on XX and XY time slot. So you can see how the course gets backed up. I get the COVID-19 precaution but as a course you have to make a decision. Let strangers pair up (single carts and walking) or don’t allow two groups to book for the same time slot. Dragonfly is doing it that way in Fresno, and it’s frustrating because the tee sheet gets filled very quickly but at least you know ahead of time what the process is. And of course for a business practice, the fact that they waited until I got to the course to tell me I had been backed up 2 hours was just plain…$h!++y.
Now on to the course conditions. I rated the greens at about a 5. The first few were somewhere in the 4-5 range and the back nine greens were in the 7 range. The first few greens were slow, bumpy and had some dead/disease areas throughout. The back nine greens were much better and were decent.

The fairways were OK. Some thin and dead areas throughout but generally decent enough overall to get good contact. The skirt areas around the greens were actually in great shape. Easily a 8-9. I had 13 missed GIR and was able to get up and down for par 6-7 times mainly due to great lies from the surrounding areas off the green.

Tee boxes were partly ok and partly horrible. I can’t imagine that much damage has been done in the two weeks since golf has been allowed again. Sand traps. The worst ever. I get the no rakes in the bunker due to coronavirus. But these traps hadn’t been raked since March. Seriously, whereas other courses are sending someone out once or twice a day to rake bunkers, or at least doing them every night. PG has not maintained their traps once since being back open.

The views at Pacific Grove are always great with ocean views throughout and especially the back nine which sits right on the water (across the street). Always plenty of deer to walking around and the lighthouse between the 16th and 10th tee boxes is special in it’s own right.

But even with the great views I can not recommend Pacific Grove right now.

I played Friday afternoon alone and called them a few weeks ago to ask if I could book a tee time as a single. They said no and that it shouldn’t be a problem to show up. They told me that they had a ... Continue »

I played Friday afternoon alone and called them a few weeks ago to ask if I could book a tee time as a single. They said no and that it shouldn’t be a problem to show up. They told me that they had a tournament between 10 - 11 AM that day and to come before or after.

I showed up and the guys at the shop joked around that I was bold to show up without booking. Not sure what the official policy is, but they said that one could call a few days before and get added as a single? I guess it doesn’t hurt to try. It worked out though as I was able to join another pair of singles within a few minutes.

The front 9 isn’t anything really special and reminds me of the typical munis in So Cal that I frequent. The fairways weren’t that bad and were in pretty decent condition for a course that I assume gets a lot of traffic. The greens were in decent condition. People seem to take care of the course and fill their strips and fix their marks on the green. The tee boxes were in decent condition. The views of the back 9 make it seem like a different course. The winds on the back 9 are a little stronger. The views from hole 12 until the end were nice. One of our group dropped off after 9, so we were playing at a good pace as a double. We caught the group in front of us and waited from 12, so the views made it enjoyable. Even with the wait, we still finished ~4 hours. I think we could have finished in ~3:40 without the wait, but I cannot complain at all coming from So. Cal and being used to 5-6 hours.

The price was reasonable for the quality of the course. I can see why it’s the Poor Man’s Pebble Beach, although I can imagine Pebble being a little better as far as conditions and the experience. Unfortunately I cannot afford Pebble or any of the other high end courses in the area for this vacation, so I was definitely not disappointed with Pacific Grove Golf Links. I would definitely recommend this to my friends who want to play in the area but cannot afford the $$$$ courses.

PG is always a fun and scenic course. Add in perfect wind free weather with huge waves crashing on the rocks across the road and you can't help but have a huge smile all day long. Course is in grea... Continue »

PG is always a fun and scenic course. Add in perfect wind free weather with huge waves crashing on the rocks across the road and you can't help but have a huge smile all day long. Course is in great shape right now. Greens are small but roll true and were divot free. Greens were soft, easily holding well struck approach shots.

Fairways were lush for the most part but did have some thin/damp areas here and there throughout the course. Rough was cut down to about 1" so no issues there. The one trap I was in (2 if you count the sand dune) was fine.

The track plays short with a quirky but fun opening few holes. You start with 2 par 3's then a non driver par 4. The fourth hole is your first opportunity to use driver and it's a driveable par 4. The front nine is a few blocks from the ocean but offers plenty of views of the water. Of course the back nine is right on the water (across the street from it anyway) and is what the track is known for.

It was weekend prime time so POP was a bit slow but overall not too bad. The one drawback of PG is that it's a very tight layout so people talking (or hootin & hollerin) on a nearby hole will certainly sound like they are standing right next to you.

Easily walkable, this a great course to get out and stretch the legs after a long drive/flight into the peninsula.

Played the 'poor-man's-Pebble'. I would revise that to say it's more like the 'poor-man's-Spanish-Bay' and only half of it at that. Don't get me wrong - it's a fine little course and good value for m... Continue »

Played the 'poor-man's-Pebble'. I would revise that to say it's more like the 'poor-man's-Spanish-Bay' and only half of it at that. Don't get me wrong - it's a fine little course and good value for money. But holes 1-10 are completely forgetable, muni-style that play through the neighborhood up and away from the ocean. The holes here are also very short (3 par 3's) and not very challenging either. 11-17 is different story but it's not like Pebble in the sense that you are playing right by the ocean on sand dunes, just like at Spanish Bay. Here the course shines as there is a nice variety and great views on every hole as the course plays through a little peninsula right at the bottom edge of Half-Moon Bay. Conditions were above average muni with kikuya fairways and poa greens. Sand was fine as were tee-boxes. Solid 7-7.5 rating throughout (although the greens were slow as could be and again lightly sanded). I paid 39 and would definitely play it again for that - but I would skip the front 9 entirely and play the back twice, preferably. Short course - easy and enjoyable walk.

Everyone warns you that the front nine at PG is what you must suffer through before you get to the sublime back nine, but I even kinda liked the front.

I played early in the morning on 9/13/18 and ... Continue »

Everyone warns you that the front nine at PG is what you must suffer through before you get to the sublime back nine, but I even kinda liked the front.

I played early in the morning on 9/13/18 and maybe it was the quiet solitude on the front nine that made it possible to appreciate those holes. It was pretty much just me and the deer out there.

Also, it was as good a way as any to warm up before getting to the real attraction, which is holes 11-16, the holes in the dunes, which are spectacular.

The course was in good shape, maybe a bit soft. Greens rolled well, but again were pretty soft, putted about medium speed (this was a day after playing Pasatiempo and Poppy Hills, though so my concept of fast may be relative). The rough was thick and wet early in the morning. The grounds crew was in the midst of aerating some fairways on the front nine, about half had been punched already as I played and the guy was working on the seventh fairway when I got to the tee, so note that the next couple weeks (less an issue in fairways than on greens obviously and I saw no signs that they were planning to do greens).

I was not in any bunkers but they looked OK.

POP was quick, since I was the first off. I saw one group who started on the back nine, but they let me play through right away off the 11th tee. The only waiting I did was for deer and for maintenance guys.

The price here might be a bit steep. Granted, it's a steal compared to Pebble or Spanish (the other courses where you can play next to the ocean). But it's not hard to find an online deal for Poppy Hills which is a way better golf experience for just a bit more money. But it's up on the hill, not on the ocean.

Played on 6/13 @ 3PM in just under 3 hours. First time playing and a great deal @ $48. Driving range is small and is limited to around 225 yds. The front 9 included some fun dogleg holes while the ... Continue »

Played on 6/13 @ 3PM in just under 3 hours. First time playing and a great deal @ $48. Driving range is small and is limited to around 225 yds. The front 9 included some fun dogleg holes while the back 9 was situated against the coast and had great views.

Back out at PG Golf links for a nice later afternoon round by the ocean. Since I reviewed the course earlier this month, this is just a quick update on course conditions. Fairways and tee boxes are i... Continue »

Back out at PG Golf links for a nice later afternoon round by the ocean. Since I reviewed the course earlier this month, this is just a quick update on course conditions. Fairways and tee boxes are in great shape. Green, level and lush all around. Just a few thin areas on a couple of the fairways.

The greens were rolling medium fast and super smooth. They were very firm so getting even well struck short iron approach shots to stick proved difficult. Customer service was great as always.

PG is always an enjoyable track. Course starts out out with two par 3's then a driveable par 4 on the 4th hole. Front nine is set in a tight wooded scene with several looks at the ocean from a few ... Continue »

PG is always an enjoyable track. Course starts out out with two par 3's then a driveable par 4 on the 4th hole. Front nine is set in a tight wooded scene with several looks at the ocean from a few blocks above. Hole 9 is a 220 yard par three that plays directly into the wind.

The back 9 is set right on the ocean and winds around the lighthouse. Gone are the tree lined fairways of the front with sand dunes guarding the edges of the fairway. The beauty of being right on the ocean comes with a price, as the wind will now be a factor in almost every shot on the back nine.

Hole 17 is a short iron par 3 with the ocean directly on your left and a forced carry over a pond in front of the green. It doesn't get any more beautiful and fun than that!

Greens are small but roll smooth and are soft, easily holding approach shots. Fairways are in very nice shape as well. Tee boxes were a little thin on a couple of the par 3's but were divot free.

Customer service is great in the pro shop. Course does have a range and carts have a USB port for charging electronics but do not have GPS. Probably because GPS devices frequently don't work at this course. I believe it has something to do with interference from the lighthouse. Be prepared for your electronic device distance device not to work here.

Restaurant has a great view but that's the extent of it. Food is way overpriced and garbage.

Overall, PG is a super fun course at a very reasonable price.