Winter 2011/12 Digital Edition

The Mystique of Pebble Beach

By Ryan Byers

Sitting on what many consider the most prized land in the country, the Monterey Peninsula is home to the most scenic grouping of golf courses in the world–Cypress Point Golf Club, one of the most exclusive private courses and toughest in the country to obtain play on next to Augusta National (as they allow only six sponsored guests per week), Monterey Peninsula Country Club, and three of the most well-known and highest ranked courses one can actually play: The Links At Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Pebble Beach Golf Links. The three latter courses along with a Peter Hay designed par-3 course are all owned and operated by the Pebble Beach Company along with the renowned Inn at Spanish Bay,
Lodge at Pebble Beach, and ultra exclusive Casa Palermo. The Pebble Beach Company is owned by a private investment group led by notables Clint Eastwood, Arnold Palmer, and former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth. The prestige of Pebble Beach has attracted such exclusive sponsors as Lexus and Rolex and is also the annual home to the esteemed Concours d’Elegance and Pebble Beach Food and Wine event once a year.

Surrounding the spectacular golf courses on the peninsula is the highly scenic 17- Mile Drive. This breathtaking pathway mostly runs along the rustic tree and estate lined coast, while weaving through Pacific Grove as well as Pebble Beach. On this adventure through picturesque serenity are numerous turn-offs for photo opportunities, possibly the most famous of which is the locale of The Lone Cypress Tree (pictured on p40). This pronounced landmark is the official symbol of Pebble Beach (as seen in silhouette on your Pebble Beach golf attire) and as its 250-year-old roots reflect, is the ultimate sign of fortitude and adversity.

Along with the expansive views of the crashing Pacific and mystical fog ridden cliffs, one will also encounter some of the most prestigious residences in the region. Home to the likes of Charles Schwab and Clint Eastwood, the prime real estate on the the Pebble Beach Golf Course has averaged, even in this economy, around a $17,000,000 in asking prices. All in all, a Pebble Beach golf trip is one filled with the best of the best in golf, accommodations, views, and bonding.

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Links At Spanish Bay is the most recent addition to these three masterpieces. Built in 1987, it is designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Tom Watson, and Frank Tatum. The course plays to 6,821 yards with a 74.2 course rating and a slope rating of 142 from the championship tees. The rolling fairways and multi-level greens make for some of the toughest play on the peninsula. The idea behind the layout of the golf course was to create a Scottish-style links course along the coast, strongly resembling many designs in Scottland, where the game was created more than 500 years ago.

A traditional links course tends to have many uneven rolling fairways, tall and thick rough, as well as small, deep bunkers known as “pot bunkers.” Many times pot bunkers can be found in the middle of fairways, and sometimes even hidden by the elevation changes of the terrain. Due to the fact many links courses are located on the coast, there is a strong possibility of high winds which add to the already difficult conditions. The Links At Spanish Bay includes all of these Scottish-style links characteristics, along with large, and dramatic undulating greens, that make putting treacherous and will be sure to give even the best of golfers an invited challenge. At the end of each golf day, you are sure to get the full experience by listening to the sounds of the bagpipe player while watching the colorful hues as the sun sets over the Pacific. The Links At Spanish Bay is a great way to experience a true links golf course without leaving the country.

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Spyglass Hill Golf Course, known as “The Glass,” opened for play on March 11, 1966. The Robert Trent Jones, Sr., designed course is host in part to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am played annually in February. Spyglass Hill Golf Course obtained its name from Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel, Treasure Island. Rumor has it that Stevenson once wandered around the Spyglass area, looking for ideas for his books, and every hole on the course has its own noticeably unique name pulled from characters from his writings. For example, the tenth hole is named Captain Flint, while 16 is Black Dog. With a course rating of 75.5, a slope rating of 147, and a lengthy distance of 6,953 yards from the championship tees, Spyglass Hill is another extremely difficult course. In fact, in the 1999 U.S. Amateur at The Glass, the stroke average for the field was over 79. The first five holes have spectacular ocean views, but don’t let that distract you too much, for there are very demanding shots that one must pull off to keep your score down. The remaining thirteen holes have a completely different look to them, but the beauty remains. You might not have the ocean views anymore, but there is a feel to the remainder of the course similar to that of Augusta National in Georgia. With its massive pine tree lined fairways, elevated and crowned greens, strategically placed white sand bunkers, gorgeous lakes, extremely fast putting surfaces (all of which are in pristine condition), the similarities are obvious. I recommend taking a caddie with you on this journey, as there is a lot of course knowledge he or she will be able to help you with. This is a must play course for any golf fanatic, but be prepared to share it with the occasional deer that crosses the fairways.

---

 

Legendary Pebble Beach, regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world, first opened in 1919. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course hugs the rugged coastline, providing wide-open vistas, cliff-side fairways, and sloping greens. Home to professional competition since 1926 (when it hosted the Monterey Peninsula Open), the course continued to gain fame when it hosted the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Tournament in 1947 (later to become the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am). Site of some of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, Pebble Beach has hosted the U.S. Open five times (including this year). The event will return for a sixth time in 2019. Currently, green fees are among the highest in the world starting at $495 as the Pebble Beach Golf Links is currently rated one of the top courses to play in the world.