A few photos from Pacific Grove GC

[Mike Benham]

I had the chance to play Pacific Grove GC (finally) earlier this week.  For those that have driven past it but never got out of the car, we only get a glimpse of the dunes holes, set among the lighthouse and iceplant covered sand dunes.  Needless to say, as most have commented, these holes are something special, fun, challenging and worth the $ 32 to play ... here are a few photos of some of the holes (with more to follow):

Yes, it was foggy as this is "summer" in Monterey but notice the uneven color of the fairways ... these fairways are as close to Scotland courses as I have seen through my extensive travels

From the tee of the dogleg right par-5 12th ...



About two-farty to the green (insert Scottish caddie accent here ...)



I think the disk says 100 to the middle ...



The tee shot on #13, 316 yards, slight dogleg right with the wind slightly helping from the right.  Similar to #12 at Rustic Canyon but with softer green contours.



The short approach to # 13 ...



The view of #13 green from the 14th teeing area ...



As I post more photos, check the write-up that Adam Clayman authored about PG in the My Home Course section ...

Pacific Grove by Adam Clayman

[Bob_Huntley]

Mike,

Wonderful photographs of a gem of a back nine. Oh, that the first nine could be improved.

Bob

[PThomas]

never having played there, is there anything that could be done to the front nine?  could be it plowed up and redesigned?

[David_Tepper]

Paul -

While there are some nice views of Monterey Bay from a few holes on the front 9 at PG, all of those holes are inland/parkland and are totally different in character from the back 9. They certainly could be improved/re-built, but they would remain quite distinct.

DT  

[Bob_Huntley]

Paul -

While there are some nice views of Monterey Bay from a few holes on the front 9 at PG, all of those holes are inland/parkland and are totally different in character from the back 9. They certainly could be improved/re-built, but they would remain quite distinct.

DT  

Distinct certainly, but something could be done to improve the front nine.

Perhaps Adam could help us here. Would making the first and second holes, now par threes, be made into a really fIrst class dog-leg par 4?

[John Keenan]

I have not played there in a long time but the impression I had was that the two nines were built at different times.

Is that correct.

My guess was that the front nine was first then the city recived the OK to add an additional 9 along the ocean?

I also remember an issue over a new club house that received a lot of posts on GCA what was the outcome?

[A_Clay_Man]

Oh, that the first nine could be improved.

Bob, the front nine is being Spruced-up.
In his infinite wisdom, Mike Leach has added more trees to the landing area of the wonderful thrid. I believe the sixth has also seen an increase in the number of trees, since my residency. Architectural genius at it's finest.

[Mike Benham]

John -

If you would have read Adam's My Home Course then you would know that the front 9 was built in 1932 while the second nine, the links holes, were built in 1960.

Here is a photo of the under-construction Clubhouse and Grill featuring over-priced California Cuisine and additional storage space for the Mortuary / Crematorium next door.  They are also building a second building to the left of this one, next to the first tee which will be the Pro Shop and parking garages for the hearses.

Pacific Grove GC Aerial via Google

[Kevin_Reilly]

Mike, re conditioning...were fairways firm?  

[Mike Nuzzo]

Having only played once...

Is it easier to play the 12th from the 13th fairway?
Shorten the dogleg.

I couldn't wait to get off the front nine... to be fair dark was approaching.

[THuckaby2]

Having only played once...

Is it easier to play the 12th from the 13th fairway?
Shorten the dogleg.

It would indeed be.
But I'm pretty sure they mark it as OB.  Been awhile since I've played the course, but you can see the white stakes in Mike's pics.
I understand the need for it - the course gets crowded and it likely has saved lives.
But I did mention I hate in-course OB?

 

[Mike Benham]

Is it easier to play the 12th from the 13th fairway?
Shorten the dogleg.

Yes, it would be easier ... actually, it would be shorter ... and a penalty ...

Kevin -

The turf at PG seems to be a mix of every know strain with the parkland holes having quite a bit of kikuyu and to that extent the fairways are not considered fast.  The non-kikuyu fairways were on the damp side but not soft.

The links holes did have decent bounce to them but not what I would consider firm (and there is some kikuyu on some of these holes also).  It was foggy the morning I played, which is common in July and I'm not sure how much of an effect this had on the turf condition.

Mike

[A_Clay_Man]

Re: In-course o.b on # 12

If one looks approx. 30 yards to the right of the current teeing ground on 12, they will see the reminants of the original teeing ground. From that position, intentional or not, taking the ball over the dune on the right, trying to get up the 13th fairway, in order to cut the corner, is was and will always be a dangerous situation because it is the same dune that is behind the 13th green.

No matter how sacreligious an in-course O.b. is, in this case it's justified. If only to make the hole play as an intended dogleg.

What's realy amazing about this hole is what is on the ground. The cants and rolls are textbook quality GCA, and IMO, there is more character on this one hole, than all of Dubsdread.

[THuckaby2]

Adam:

I still hate in-course OB.  If it's used - and yes, it often does make sense for safety reasons - then that's a big strike against the hole, and the course, as I see things.

See, no one should tell a golfer where he can and can't hit is ball, within the boundaries of the course.

Who's to say how a hole is "intended" to be played if not the golfer himself?

So yes it does make sense on #12 PG.

But it also does put a little "asterisk" on the hole in the overall scheme of things.

And that asterisk means:  "cool hole, great views, very fun dunes and crumpled ground, but less fun to play than it might be due to godforsaken in-course ob."

Did I mention I hate in-course ob?  Thus for photography and hiking, give me #12 PG Muni.  For playing golf, I'll take Dubsdread, thank you very much.  Character only goes so far.. one does need to play the game.

 

TH

ps - remove the stupid OB and my view changes dramatically.  Did I mention I hate the concept?

[John Keenan]

Professor Benham

I will go the corner and write 500 times read before you write



       

[A_Clay_Man]

Tom,

 I'm not so married to the kind of rules that are being broken in this case. And I'm a Taurus!

There are still plenty of options, for the golfer, with the in-course OB.  You dont like dictation? Yet you prefer Dubs dread? That's ambiguous. You are inaccurate about the removal of the option. A player can take his tee shot right, up over the dune, and hook it back in bounds, to the left. Or, he can carry all the way down the 13th fairway, hoping he gets passed where the O.B ends. A double white stakes marks the end.  

Obviously, the small parcel the backnine sits on, is fortunate to have golf on it. So suggesting the golfer stay left by placing the OB along the right, Is prudent use of the parcel.  We are the lucky one's to have experienced her before, she gets ruined for all of time, because I predict ESA's will pollute the environs on almost every hole. Place those astericks, baby.

[PThomas]

Mortuary/crematorium???  is this a joke?  if not there are probably some really nasty jokes waiting to be made. ....

[Mike Benham]

Mortuary/crematorium???  is this a joke?  if not there are probably some really nasty jokes waiting to be made. ....

Yep, a funeral home, the Little Chapel by the Sea, is located to the right of the first tee and a cemetary, mentioned in John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, is OB right of #1 and #2 ...

Little Chapel by-the-sea