Greatest place on earth! Words cannot describe an experience at Pebble Beach. Course was in fantastic shape, and greens were perfect. They've done a couple improvements to the less memorable holes ... Continue »

Greatest place on earth! Words cannot describe an experience at Pebble Beach. Course was in fantastic shape, and greens were perfect. They've done a couple improvements to the less memorable holes such as 13 and 15. They've really added some length, as well. US Open tees are ridiculous! Greens are tiny. If you ever get the chance to play, make an entire day of it. The scenery is unbelievable. Doesn't even look real. Simple the best golf experience ever!

First and (probably) the last time. If money was no object I would play this course again. This is a great course steeped in tradition and it was a memorable experience, especially with a caddy. I ... Continue »

First and (probably) the last time. If money was no object I would play this course again. This is a great course steeped in tradition and it was a memorable experience, especially with a caddy. I did stay off site at a B&B which reduced the overall cost considerably. This was my first time to use a caddy and I expected a bit more expertise at reading the greens (my reads were generally much better) but his course knowledge was very helpful and I highly reccomend a caddy if it is your first time. I had an 8:30 tee time so there was no wind. Wrapped it up in a bit over 4 hours. I played Pacific Grove (a muni course) for $42 in the afternoon when the wind kicked up a bit. Not nearly the course that Pebble is, but then I could play Pacific Grove 15 times and still have enough for a hotdog and a beer. Customer service was above average, but not the best I've had.

Played 03/21/2010. What a spectacular course! Tee'd off around 10am and finished at 3:30pm. This was my second time playing and it was just as memorable and exciting as the first. The only difference ... Continue »

Played 03/21/2010. What a spectacular course! Tee'd off around 10am and finished at 3:30pm. This was my second time playing and it was just as memorable and exciting as the first. The only difference was that I walked the round this time which I highly recommend. The weather was perfect with a slight breeze. The views on this course are simply breathtaking.

Everything was perfect from tee to green. Lush and level tee boxes, carpet fairways, afro rough, spectacular greens, and the best bunkers around. Although the course isn't too long, even from the tips, it is definetly challenging. The service was wonderful and the beverage cart was always around. Kinda pricey tho...$10 for a can of beer! Domestic!

Began the round en fuego at 1-under after the 5th hole until my buddy jinxed me and reminded me that I was 1-under. Tripled the next hole and so goes the story.

The only downside are the tourist and spectators who walk the course and take pictures, especially on the 18th hole. There was a family with baby strollers and little kids walking down the 18th fairway. I was probably 240yds away when I yelled "fore" before my shot in order to get them out of the way. The entire family just looked back at me and started smiling and waving at me. They obviously didn't know anything about golf. About 5 minutes later, I was faced with a 15yd chip in the rough when another group of tourists were taking their pictures and running around and frolicking around my ball. My buddy asked them to be quite while I hit but they just looked at us like we were crazy.

Overall, golfing Pebble Beach is more an experience than a round of golf. I recommend all golfers to visit the golf mecca at least once in their lifetime.

This is more of an experience than a golf round. Absolutely amazing. Hard to put a price on it, but they did with almost 500. Hard to concentrate on swing thoughts with the views and feelings you g... Continue »

This is more of an experience than a golf round. Absolutely amazing. Hard to put a price on it, but they did with almost 500. Hard to concentrate on swing thoughts with the views and feelings you get walking these hallowed grounds. Your camera will be exhausted after it all. Better views and scenes than you see on TV. Course itself is in great condition, with some trouble on divots not being repaired, but who carries sand with them in their bag? If there was once course I could play forever and forsake all others, this would be it, if I could afford it that is. Do yourself a favor and make the pilgrimage to golf Mecca one day before you die.

Played for the first time on my 40th birthday with my wife (6.23). I played Spyglass and Spanish Bay on the sunday and monday before with my buddies who flew up to surprise me for my birthday. It wa... Continue »

Played for the first time on my 40th birthday with my wife (6.23). I played Spyglass and Spanish Bay on the sunday and monday before with my buddies who flew up to surprise me for my birthday. It was a fantastic three days that culminated with Pebble.

What an amazing day. We hired a caddie (Tom) and i have to HIGHLY recommend the experience. It was the single best walk I have ever taken. Although it was a bit cool and gray we had an EXCELLENT day. This is why we play golf.

The first two holes are pretty basic, but after that it builds to the best layout I have ever been on. Holes 5-10 are simply fantastic. You have ocean, cliffs, barking sea lions, diving pelicans, crashing waves, wind, etc...

I didn't play especially well (95), but i parred a few holes and hit some shots I am especially proud of. They punched the greens the morning i played so it may have cost me a couple of putts, but I didn't really let it bother me. My wife plays only about 10 times a year, but she played really well (parred four holes on the front nine) as she listened to exactly what our caddie said and hit the ball great.

It is extremely expensive to play, but well worth it for a special occasion. We also stayed at the lodge (Ocean View room on the 18th fairway) and I can recommend that experience as well. What a trip!

If you read down two reviews down you will see my last review of Pebble Beach Golf Links from just over one month ago. In that review I don’t think that I mentioned that I had a 14 on the 18th hole (... Continue »

If you read down two reviews down you will see my last review of Pebble Beach Golf Links from just over one month ago. In that review I don’t think that I mentioned that I had a 14 on the 18th hole (3 OB’s). That has weighed heavily upon me over the past month, so much so that I had to return to Pebble Beach this morning to seek redemption.

This morning I had a 7:00 AM tee time, I was playing with a gentleman from Texas and in front was a foursome some and behind was a threesome. Pace of play was excellent, very little waiting and the round was completed in 4 hours and 15 minutes. This is perfect for Pebble as we never felt rushed, yet we kept moving.
Weather was perfect, in fact it felt hot at the start of the round around the 14 hole a gentle breeze came up to make things even more pleasant.

The course was in excellent condition. The work that I saw them working on last month (bunker at the 14th green) is complete and now work is going on with the 13th green. This isn’t like a muni however, these guys work quickly, and by the time you play Pebble they will be onto something else. Absolutely no complaints with tees, fairways or greens, or bunkers, everything was great. The greens were quick and completely true. The rough is not US Open length yet but does add to the challenge with the ball settling down very deep.

The staff was very nice today. The slightly odd guy that was in the pro shop last time was not there this time. The pro shop staff this time was a non-quirky nice. Jim the started gave me two ball markers, and all the tees I could grab. On the course the marshals only had pleasant talk for us. A good staff all way around.

All in all this was another absolutely wonderful experience. I was concerned as the first time played it was simply magical, and I was concerned that a replay might be an expensive ($375.00) let down. Things that I picked up on last time were very useful this time, plus having already played the course took much of the jitters out of the picture, not all of them as this is Pebble beach after all. Also please note that during this economic downturn Pebble is hurting and you can get on for $375 now if you ask for the Northern California Golfer discount. If you don’t ask for this its $495. This lasts through the end of the month. If you sign up on the Pebble Beach website you can get their emails, and keep track of how long this discount lasts.

Now I will review my round at Pebble. I will try to keep this brief, but if you are not my mother you may wish to stop here.

I played the blue tees this morning; this makes the course 6737 yards long. After my last round there I changed the clubs that I carried. I got rid of my 4 hybrid for a 2 wood. I also added a 56 degree wedge because of all the little lob shots around the greens that I had last time. So I carried 1-2-3 woods, 3-SW+56 degree and putter. I hope that is only 14 clubs.

On the front 9 I shot a 46. I managed this with four pars and three 7’s. I knocked two balls into the ocean and one OB. My driver caused me fits as I was pulling it very badly, such as the OB left on #2, and trying to fix your swing while playing Pebble is not ideal. On the bright side, on the 1st, I hit the perfect drive using the 2 wood. In fact this was the only reason I carried the two wood, that one shot. I had pars on both of the par three’s hitting the green on both (5 iron on 5, PW on 7). And on 8 and 9 I had very nice drives, that I was unable to follow through on.

On the back 9 things came together a bit more and I had a 41. I had par on 10, which was a very nice hole to par. A horrible drive pulled way left followed by a 5 iron to the fringe and two putts for par. I will note that this green may perhaps be the most beautiful spot on the course if not in the world. From there on I played very steady with pars on 13,15 and 17. I gave up completely on my driver on the 14th hole and began using the two wood which worked on two on three attempts thereafter.
When I got to the 18th tee, on the back nine I had 4 pars and 4 bogies.

The last time I played the 18th I had the 14. Standing on the tee very intimidating if you are not driving with confidence, like me. I used the 2 wood, pulled the drive and watched it bounce off a rock next to the ocean and disappear in the rough down by the water. Amazingly enough I was able to find the ball and hack it back onto the fairway with a pitching wedge. A hooked six iron put me in the long bunker along the seawall. An 80 yard shot from the sand came up 15 yards short of the green. This is followed by the 56 degree to 6 inches for a bogie. 46-41=87 and I feel redeemed. Yes I threw away lots of shots but I am a 10 handicap and that is to be expected. I leave the course happy and redeemed.

A few things that I have learned from my two rounds at Pebble: Much of what I read about how to play the holes was written for pros not for people like me. For instance I tagged a driver on 8 and still had a long ways to go on the second shot. I read a few times not to use a driver as you may go over the cliff. Next, try never to get above the hole on the green and if you can avoid chipping from above the hole you will have saved yourself a handful of strokes. Next, on the first tee just hit a club that you have confidence in even if its going to only go 150 yards. It is the most intimidating shot on the course especially if it is your first round there. Next, there are many blind tee shots that you will face. Google earth the course and check out the distances, and fairway widths, it will pay dividends. Next, just play the course. Yes it is expensive and you can only make the tee time a day ahead of time, but it is worth every cent if you love golf. Finally, walk! You don’t ride a golf cart through the Louvre, so why would you at Pebble. The joy of walking down the fairways is just incredible, and it just can’t be replicated in a cart.

Best golfing experience of my life. if you get a chance hire a caddie. very helpful and fun to talk to. amazing views and in great shape.

Best golfing experience of my life. if you get a chance hire a caddie. very helpful and fun to talk to. amazing views and in great shape.

I played Pebble Beach this morning (5/12/09) in the first group out. First, this was the single greatest golf experience that I have ever had. the round took 4 hours, 5 minutes, and ever second was ... Continue »

I played Pebble Beach this morning (5/12/09) in the first group out. First, this was the single greatest golf experience that I have ever had. the round took 4 hours, 5 minutes, and ever second was just fantastic. It took about four holes to get over the jitters of playing on such a wonderful, historic and great course. Once the jitters were gone and there were no more excuses you find out how difficult the course is. Playing from the blue tees this is not a Driver/Wedge course. Lots of mid to long irons into small greens.

The greens are incredible, very fast and 100% true, and what ever you do, keep the ball below the whole. In a true golfing feat, I had no three putts. It helped that I only one green in regulation, but was on the fringe of most of the others in regulation.

Tee's and fairways were also in perfect condition. There were a couple sections that had recently been sodded and there was a bunker rebuild going on at the 14th green, but otherwise just perfect condition.

And the course itself. It is just completely great. I read people that feel let down as the course turns inland at 11, but I did not feel that at all. I don't think thats the case at all, the course is is still great, its just not directly on the water. I thought all the holes were excellent, even the ever maligned 12th and 15th. I didn't think there was a weak spot in the entire rotation.

As the first group out we set the pace of play, and although we seemed a bit rushed at times in the first 6 holes, from 7 on, we had a nice pace that allowed viewing the beauty of the place while still playing the course in just over four hours.

Service seemed fine. The guy in the pro shop was sort of hard to figure out, but everyone else was pleasant without being over-bearing.

And the price, $495. Well you know what, I joined the NCGA as an associate member for $25 yesterday and suddenly the price of a round dropped to $375. That softened the blow. But the experience of playing the course was just amazing. I played OK, actually good, considering the course, but that did not matter. Its just being in such a wonderful place for four hours, and experiencing it, that I think is worth $495. The morning started out a bit overcast and breezy, but when the sun finally broke out while we were walking down the 15th fairway, it made the whole experience magical.

If you still have a job, and want to play the best course that the public is allowed on in the United States, make the trek to Pebble.

If you ever get the chance, play Pebble Beach once in your life, for no other reason than to see the views and to say you did it. Played it today and luckily, the wind wasn't too bad...sure made #'s ... Continue »

If you ever get the chance, play Pebble Beach once in your life, for no other reason than to see the views and to say you did it. Played it today and luckily, the wind wasn't too bad...sure made #'s 4-10 interesting as it was coming from the northwest today but not as strong as yesterday. They'd plugged the fairways yesterday...earlier than scheduled, but didn't any problems...greens are scheduled for sometime in early April. All things considered, I have to agree with other posters who've said that for the money, Spyglass Hill is the better course, but part of the alure of Pebble are the water holes...take your camera!