second round on the monterey peninsula over past weekend.

i had avoided coming here given the high greens fees, but honestly i'm not sure why i... » More

second round on the monterey peninsula over past weekend.

i had avoided coming here given the high greens fees, but honestly i'm not sure why i waited so long. the course was spectacular and worth it just for the experience alone, even if just once.

practice area is excellent, including the range area and short game area. need to take a shuttle and your clubs with you. the first tee was a bit chaotic as mentioned in a previous review, a lot of people milling around, golf bags everywhere. didn't really seem needed to check in with the shop if you had a time, just let the starter know about 10 minutes beforehand.

course was in very good condition, a step below spyglass but still very nice compared to some pictures i had seen and some videos i had watched prior to coming. tee boxes were flat and mowed to perfection, fairways were well covered and not too lush, not too tight. rough was grown out but was just short enough so that you didn't lose your ball. hit it hard out of there though, really thick and grabbed your club. i was in about oh...12 or 13 bunkers and they were amazing to play out of. hit some really good ones out of the soft sand that you could get under and pop up with good spin. greens were difficult to read, a bit of that bumpy poa made them just a bit unpredictable too. i didn't get a caddie, but it didn't seem to help the putting of others in my group. putts seemed to be either super fast or super slow.

i walked 18, and by the end i was starting to tire a bit. next time probably take less stuff in my bag or just get into d%mn ed shape. still not convinced about a caddie. i'm glad i finally made the trip, and am already scheming as to when i can get back for revenge against the course. the scenery of holes 4-10 made it worth it, honestly the holes coming back are pretty good too. next time instead of staying on property i'll probably just call up a week or two in advance and find an available time.
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made it up to monterey this past weekend to play spyglass and pebble as part of a birthday trip, the centennial package they were offering for their 1... » More

made it up to monterey this past weekend to play spyglass and pebble as part of a birthday trip, the centennial package they were offering for their 100th anniversary sealed the deal. started off the first day with spyglass, which in general i've heard is the superior and tougher track. the clubhouse and grill are very small, don't expect any amenities here like at the lodge, just golf. staying on property, i grabbed the shuttle here and i don't think it really mattered to them either day that i checked in at the front desk. they just said to grab a bag of balls and the range was a few steps down the way, see the starter about 15 minutes before my time. range that day was artificial turf.

course conditions were excellent, one of the best i've played. the tee boxes were in excellent condition, mown down perfectly and flat. fairways were more lush, just a few divots here and there but excellent and carpet like. i played at 830am, so it was still moist and got little roll off drives. many uneven lies in the fairway, so a good drive was not always rewarded well. rough was thick and lush, grabbed your club so you would be lucky to get a mid iron out, even a hybrid was dicey. if you could find your ball sitting down there in the first place. i was only in 1 or 2 bunkers, this course really isn't bunkered that heavily. sand was soft, white, and excellent to hit out of. the greens though. running fast and with tricky contours, i had a tough time lagging my putts anywhere near the hole. it felt like if your approach wasn't close, it was a 3 putt.

the course itself was indeed tough, starting with the 5 'ocean' holes, of which i found #2 (fairway) and #4 (green) kind of gimmicky but still enjoyed the spectacular views. the sand dunes and the structures stand in stark contrast to pebble's ocean holes which are perched directly on the cliffs of the peninsula. if you like true parkland courses though, you will love the rest of spyglass hill. running in and out of the del monte forest, each subsequent hole is framed by monterey pines and generally isolated from structures or road. hit the ball straight and take an extra club into the green seems to be par for most of this course. and par will be a good score on any hole here as there are challenging doglegs. strategically placed trees and water, and greens that can punish even the best hit approach shots.

only nitpick was that i felt the par 3s to be a bit of a weakness here, as they felt particularly less challenging compared to the rest of the course. all four play short, 3 of them severely downhill (though #3 is an awesome hole). the two on the back 9 felt like mirror images of one another and felt like an afterthought. Nothing like #5 or #17 at pebble.

though many say this is a superior course to pebble and it probably is, as a recreational golfer i would rather play pebble again. after my round at spyglass, i felt exhausted as if i had been through a battle. had to manage the rough when my drive went astray, or a long uphill approach, and then had to handle the quick, undulating greens. shot about 12 or 13 shots above my usual round. i will make it back again, for sure, perhaps when my game is worthy of the test of golf that is course is.
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Played late morning weekday with a few buddies. I feel like if there's a course I frequent that never disappoints it's maderas. Though a bit out of ... » More

Played late morning weekday with a few buddies. I feel like if there's a course I frequent that never disappoints it's maderas. Though a bit out of the way for me, the course, conditions, and service I feel are worth it. Check-in and starter very friendly, range balls included. Course was set up fast. Tees in good condition, fairways mown nice and tight for a lot of roll. Rough was short for the most part but consistent. I was not in any bunkers, cant speak to that. This course is true target golf but I enjoy that and it makes for good scenery. The toughest part though here is the greens... Huge greens but multiple undulations, tiers, and speed is always difficult to judge IMO because the grain seems to affect putts so much more here than most places i play. Pop was 4h15min, too slow for my taste. Still a gorgeous day to play though
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