Played Christmas Eve @7:30. Course was in great shape, especially the greens. No frost, no rain delays. For a wet morning, the greens rolled fast and true. A couple of approach shots even plugged on the green. Apparently, some patrons were spooked by the reports of possible rain, so there were many cancellations. It was a great day of no pressure play and we finished in four hours.

Played July 2, 2008. Little or no wind. A little foggy, but not affecting play. We had heard about how the weather affects play, but that didn't happen to us.

It was exactly like the pictures and the tv images, except for the bulldozers and maintenance workers setting up for the 2010 US Open. If you didn't think too much, you'd think that it's just another golf course with tee boxes and greens. But the history and the aura and the experience make Pebble Beach a course that every fan of golf and golf history should play.

Granted, the $495 greens fee is prohibitive, but the word is that you don't have to stay at the resort or flash Benjamins to get a tee time these days. Apparently, our economy in 2008 is so bad that Pebble Beach is taking walk-ons for the first time in years.

Our caddie was Jimmy, a terrific caddie. For his convenience, he moved all of our clubs into his Ping Hoofers. His advice on the course from tee to green was worth every dollar of his $75 fee. We saw two other caddies during our stay in Monterey, and Jimmy was by far the best we saw. Remarkably, he figured out most of our clubs and distances by the time we reached the third tee.

The course is in great shape, even with the work and the workers moving around. They don't get in the way of play, and they don't get in the way of the scenery. The greens at Spanish Bay were cleaner, and frankly, the scenery was prettier than that at Pebble Beach, but nothing beats putting on the same greens that Nicklaus putted on, and chipping in the same rough that Watson chipped in, and walking the same fairways that Tiger walked on.

I shot an 87 from the white tees. I probably would have shot a similar score from the golds, but I already felt enough pressure just being there, let alone playing there. I would have shot worse if it weren't for our caddie Jimmy. Frankly, the best advice I can give anyone who plays Pebble Beach is to get a good caddie and trust his advice. And bring a camera!

Played on a cold Saturday afternoon with rain threatening. Everything's in great shape. The greens were fast but true. Pace of play was outstanding because everyone but maybe five other groups stayed home.

Cresta Verde is a good course with many changes in elevation, a characteristic of many golf courses in the Riverside area. I am disappointed, however, that the management switched the back nine with the front nine. The old #18 was a better finishing hole with the fountain and the water protecting a spacious green.