[Brock Peyer]

A buddy of mine is making the Pebble trip next week.  They had to drop one course and are needing to add another.  What is the name of the public course right there, the poor man's Cypress?  They had added Fort Ord but he didn't know much about that course.

Please help, the name is escaping me.

[Craig Van Egmond]

I believe Pacific Grove is the course you are looking for.

[Brock Peyer]

Thanks Craig, that's what I needed.

Pacific Grove or Fort Ord?  Which do you choose?

[Tom Huckaby]

Fort Ord has two courses - Bayonet and Blackhorse.  Each is a fine test of golf, with the Blackhorse course being a bit quirkier.  Conditions are generally impeccable, drainage is fantastic.  Both courses are very very tough.  Some far away ocean views can be had.  They are doing significant work on Blackhorse now, but Bayonet has been recently renovated and is open.  Each will cost around $100 depending on when you play.

PG Muni has a very cool back nine, going down into sand dunes, with those holes being a fair approximation of links golf, and offering some fine ocean views.  The front nine is quirky and odd and most of us can find some love for it, but if it stood alone people would likely think it no better than standard muni golf.  Conditions are generally pretty good, but sometimes iffy.  The draw at PG Muni remains the very cool back nine.  Prices there are around $40.

Judge accordingly.  If price is no object and/or conditions drive one's choice, do Bayonet.  If you are a bit more adventurous or price conscious, do PG Muni.

Interestingly, players at our King's Putter gathering in April will be playing both of these....

TH

[Lou_Duran]

Can a poor man acquire a pass to the venerable one?  If so, how?  Or might he just have to make do hitchhiking through 17-MIle Dr., taking in the vistas?  Pity!

Except for four or five holes on the back, is PG really worth playing?  I've not played the front, and couldn't see much of the last couple of holes (took the ocean loop twice) due to darkness.   

[Tom Huckaby]

Lou:

Hopefully Adam Clayman doesn't read your question.  He's likely seething enough at my description of PG Muni - yours might send him over the edge.

 

My take is this:  it's a darn fun golf course.  Yes, the 4-5 holes in the dunesy area on the back nine are the main reason to play it.  But there's a lot to love in the rest of it too, including the front nine.  Greens are pretty cool and there is a lot of quirk.  However, I always am somewhat reticent sending out of towners there as if they go in expecting too much they will inevitably be disappointed.

The bottom line is this:  I am quite excited we are playing there for TKP.  This group will love it.

But people outside this group?  Well.....

TH

[Adam Clayman]

Lou- Your aloofness is showing. The front nine is worth playing, if only for the build up of anticipating the back. But on many repeated plays it stands up and has it's own attributes. As Tom states, if you get there on a day when the greens are cut, you will have your hands full on several of the front nine greens. And, if you happen to have an off day with either your decision making or ball striking, the trees will give you fits. If I recall correctly, the front is one shot harder than the back.

[Tom Huckaby]

Adam:

Harder does not equal better, of course.  I have zero doubt the back is harder than the front.  One can go silly low on the back, particularly on a windless day.

The question is more how fun, or interesting, or great is the front?

And I do find a lot to love there, as I say.  Oh yes the greens have given me fits, and I liked that.  There were quite a few choices to be made also, and I like that too.  But give some more detail to win over Lou, and others who may be reading.  Our asses are on the line for putting one round of The King's Putter there.

 

LATE EDIT - NO NEED - I FORGOT... Adam did a damn fine 'My Home Course" which says all that need be said.  I have no worries.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/pacificgrove.html

[Lou_Duran]

Adam,

I don't think I am aloof.  I've only played the back because we had less than two hours before dark and the course was nearly empty.  The dunes holes were great fun on a moderately windy day and the perfect light of dusk.

The KP being played there did not cross my mind when I posted.  If somehow I am able to attend and there's still room for me, I would probably prefer playing PG over the Bayonet course (which I like very much, but did not find compelling- the double jeopardy of high rough and abundant trees lining the fairways make the punch shot recovery impossible).

[Tom Huckaby]

Lou:  re KP, it's not an either/or really.  PG Muni is early am, Bayonet is early pm.

And PG Muni is a hell of a lot more fun than Bayonet, either old version or new version. 

[Craig Van Egmond]

I would choose PG over the Bayonet courses.  Hopefully the remodels have removed some of those trees and widened the fairways a bit.

[Tim Leahy]

Here's a vote for Bayonet or Black Horse over PG. That is if they are not working on Fort Ord.
The sand and iceplant at PG is nice if you have never played there, but the challenge of Fort Ord doesn't compare with the easy holes at PG.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tim:  if one is into challenge and challenge alone, then of course Bayonet is the call.  I do love the course.. or to put that better, I loved what it once was, as sadistic and incredibly challenging as the course was.  I'm not sure sure I have much love for the emasculated version of Bayonet... but we shall see, I haven't seen the latest butchering of it, er I mean renovation just yet.  Hopefully I get to at TKP.

I would say though that if one is into quirk and whimsy and fun, one would prefer PG Muni.

But neither course is all things to all people.

TH

[David Stamm]

I like the front nine. Obviously the back is the gem, but Egan is the arch of the front, a damn fine arch BTW, and has a neat old-English-town-course type of feel. I always enjoy playing PG and it's one of my favs.

[ed_getka]

Blackhorse isn't available for golf at this time (nor will it be for KP). I haven't played the new Bayonet yet, but it looks to be an improvement just on the basis of the tree removal I noticed driving in last week. I would pick PG for the fun, and Bayonet for the stern test of golf.
   Gene Bates is the architect of record for Bayonet/Blackhorse redo's. I haven't played any of his courses yet, so it will be interesting to see what they came up with.

[Kalen Braley]

Other notables by Gene Bates:

San Juan Oaks near Monterey
Circling Raven in Idaho

As well as several courses here in the Salt Lake city area.  He does solid work and interesting work.  By far and away Circling Raven is the nicest of his work I've played.

[Gerry B]

played  PG only once - early in the morning with a frost delay and then CPC in the afternoon  - thought the back 9  - holes 11-17 at PG were outstanding  - worth a visit IMHO

[rchesnut]

Pacific Grove is a good course, the back nine in particular is a lot of fun.  But your friend should go play Pasatiempo instead....it's less than an hour from Pebble and is a far better course than either PG or Fort Ord.   Rob

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