Pebble Beach

Accommodations:

Monterey Peninsula

Location:

Monterey Peninsula. California’s Monterey Peninsula has long been the destination for luxury-minded travelers and golfers from around the world.  Before the turn of the last century, they have been playing golf here and it is only getting better.  The scenery and the view are major elements of competition to the challenge of the courses.  Choose between the Inn at Spanish Bay and the Lodge at Pebble Beach.  You can’t go wrong either way.  The Lodge seems to be at the hub of all the activities on the Peninsula and the Inn is nestled between the Del Monte Forest and the Pacific shore.  Other amenities include restaurants and lounges, tennis, full-service fitness club and shopping.  It is outrageously expensive, but worth every penny.  Double occupancy.  Includes green fees, cart, resort fees and all taxes.

Pebble Beach Golf Links
What a thrill you will have on everyone’s favorite course.  It is the most well-known golf facility in the Unites States.  Besides the PGA Tour’s AT&T National Pro Am, it has hosted the US Open in 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2000.  The greens are small and deep rough borders the narrow fairways.  In fact, if you can keep the ball in the fairways, the course is not a killer, but the ocean views are very distracting and the wind is a major factor.  Originally designed in 1919 by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course has gone through many revisions, including Jack Nicklaus’ redesign of #5.  This 166-yard, par 3 was designed to play along the cliffs.  #18 is one of the most famous finishing holes in golf.  This par 5 plays its entire length along the shoreline.  From its artificial rock tee box to the sweeping arc of the fairway and the two trees that stand defiantly at the landing area of your drive to the temptation to go for the green in two and to the putt that breaks towards the ocean, this makes the trip worth every penny.

Spyglass Hill Golf Course
One of Robert Trent Jones, Senior’s best designs, this track is named in honor of Robert Lewis Stevenson, who found inspiration for Treasure Island when he visited the Monterey Peninsula in the late 1880’s.  Jones even named each hole with references from the book.  Treasure Island is #1 and features an island green only surrounded by sand, not water.  Only the first few holes play along the ocean, but the wind can still affect your play after you enter the forest.  The wildlife is abundant on the course.  The last time I played the course, I had to avoid a deer with my tee ball.  Hole #14, Long John Silver is Jones at his best with a double dogleg fairway.  Golf Digest ranks the course in their top 30 of America’s 100 Greatest Courses and 7^th best in the State. Believe me when I say, all the other magazines agree and you will as well.

The Links at Spanish Bay
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. with Tom Watson and Sandy Tatum, this course opened in 1987 and is spectacular.  Watson says, “Spanish Bay is so much like Scotland, you can almost hear the bagpipes.”  I guess you figured it out that this is a links-style course.  Well, it is and with all the dunes it is as authentic as it gets.  Ranked #13 in the state by Golf Digest and in the top 50 of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play, this track is located on a dramatic crescent bay bordered by the Del Monte Forest.  It provides some dramatic challenges: rolling fairways and dunes up to 24 feet high.  One of my favorite holes is the 4^th, where you need to be right center with your drive on this dogleg left par 4.  The two-level green slopes severely from front to back.  If you hit in the ice plant, the best bet is to take the shortest route to recovery.

Del Monte Golf Course
Built in 1897 and designed by Charles Maud, this course is the oldest track west of the Mississippi.  Del Monte was the original and still current host of the California State Amateur. Its small, well-protected greens, narrow, tree-lined fairways and long distinguished history make this course a treat to play.  This is the only layout where water is absent from play, but there are 68 bunkers that will cause you plenty of grief.  Two of the par 3’s, hole #6 at 196 yards and #14 at 219 yards, have the reputation of being the most difficult holes to play on the course.  The signature hole is 18, a short par 4, with a strategically placed green that slopes from front to back.  The most difficult hole is #7, where if you drive too far left or right you are in trouble as well as short.  Once in the fairway, a three-tiered, elevated green awaits. 

Poppy Hills Golf Course
While you are on the Peninsula, this is a must play.  Another Robert Trent Jones, Jr. creation, built in 1986 and has been part of the course rotation for the AT&T National Pro-Am since 1991.  The course also hosted the 1992 NCAA Golf Championship.  Rated 4 ½ Stars with special recognition for value and conditioning by Golf Digest, this track features fairway-sized greens that cause plenty of three putts.  The course is cut through the forest and the trees definitely come into play.  This course can play extremely difficult, especially on windy days.  #5 is a 426-yard par 4 that features a huge undulating green protected by water and the 10^th gets you going again on the back with 515 yards and has a larger green and it also is protected by water.  Survive this one and your game is solid.