[archie_struthers]

1992  ...late afternoon rate of $206 carried my bag and walked , joined with three "strangers" and had a great time....we had a four-caddie who was pretty good and had some local knowledge

Played ok , real good on the front and just ok on back  thought I hit my tee shot into the chasm on eight and it turned out perfect hit second close and three jacked it

thought the golf course was really breathtaking , and quite fun to play ,the miiddle stretch from 8-15 was quite hard , with the rest of the golf course very playable ,  shot even of the front with a double on nine.

Obviously the experience , though expensive , was well worth , not a lot of frills but it was quite nice carrying my own bag and just checking out the scenery.

I can remember almost every hole , a good sign !   Still rememeber my third shot of 14 playing really long from 120 yards...flushed one and came up dead short , not even close to enough club   ??

quite an experience 

[Matt Schmidt]

What was your first impression? - Surprised at the tourist traffic right around the first tee, but everyone was having a great time and it was a great atmosphere.

What surprised you? - The view from the tee on 17 was a lot different than I was expecting.  Also, the terrain of the 6th and the green on 14.

What disappointed you? - The greens were horrible when I played.  I strain to recall a single putt, even a 3-footer that didn't bonce more than once.  I played late in the afternoon and I've been told the greens are better earlier in the day.

How has it changed? - I've only played it once so far.

What was your favorite hole? - 18.  I had it built up in my mind so it was very fun to finally play it.

Any weak holes? - Several, when compared to the stronger holes, some of which were really strong.

Worth the money? - Yes, but the $$ combined with the pace of play will limit the number of times I play it.

Can you die in peace without playing it?  - I could die in peace without playing it again.  I'm glad I played it though and likely will again next time I'm in the area (probably this summer).

Great thread.  Brings back some good memories and elicits some interesting details rather than just general impressions.

[Patrick_Mucci]

  What was your first impression?
I knew that I was going to play it again.

  What surprised you?
The difficulty of the 18th hole.   It looked so easy on TV, but, was far more challenging in person

  What disapointed you?
Nothing

  How has it changed?
# 5 and probably the rough lines

  What was your favorite hole?

# 7 and # 8, although I liked # 6 and many, many more.
  Any weak holes?
Not to my thinking

  Worth the money?
Yes

  Can you die in peace without playing it?
If not playing it is the only thing that prevents you from dying in peace... you've led a good life

  Tell us about your experience.....
The course, company, weather, accomodations and my play over a few days were all very pleasing, even with two side trips to CPC and one to Spyglass

It was a great experience, one that I made sure to repeat

  Thanks....Anthony



    

[John Mayhugh]

First impression?  Couldn't believe how small the greens really are.

What surprised you?  How good so many of the holes were, especially some of the less famous ones.

What disappointed you?  That I couldn't go back out the next day and play it again.

How has it change?  Not sure how to answer.  Only played it once.

What was your favorite hole?  I really liked the sixth. The thrill of cliimbing that hill is hard to describe.

Any weak holes?  Nothing that bothered me.  I try to look at the overall experience. 

Worth the money?   You bet.  After I reached the sixth green, there was no doubt in my mind.

Can you die in peace without playing it?  Sure, but anyone that has the chance shouldn't miss it.


I wasn't sure when or if I would ever play PB.  It's just so expensive, especially when you have to stay at the Lodge to get guaranteed times.  I was out at the KP a couple of years ago, playing Spyglass with Tim Bert, Bob Jenkins, & Jordan Wall.  Tim had just played PB a couple of days before.  I'm not sure how it happened, but somewhere around the middle of the round I looked at Bob and asked what he thought about trying to play there in the afternoon.  We managed to talk ourselves into it, and even convinced Jordan to go too.  Now, all that was left was convincing the staff at Pebble to let us out. 

Jordan's told the story before - he managed to negotiate the last spot of the day.  We weren't guaranteed to finish before dark, but we took the chance.  It was fun not having anyone behind us, so we really didn't even notice the pace of play. It took us a little over five hours and we finished up in the lights on 18th green.  So many great memories from that single round of golf.  $500 for the experience that I had was well worth it.

Thanks to everybody for sharing their experiences.  Mike Sweeney described it especially well.

Nice topic, Anthony.

[Andy Troeger]

  What was your first impression?
I was first off in November, so it was dark when I arrived and everything was still closed. I got to hit the first shot of the day though which was pretty cool.

  What surprised you?
I had heard quite a bit and watched the tournament many times, so probably not a whole lot. I did hit a shot that stayed about 10 feet below the top of the cliff on #8 below the green--and it was actually playable. I made a bogey, which was pretty good from there.

Oh and that I was -1 after 7 holes and shot 37 on the front from the tips. Couldn't hold on and shot 80, but I was pretty happy with that.

  What disapointed you?
Nothing. I got to walk and carry, played in 3 hrs, 40 minutes as part of a foursome, and had no one to look at in front of us. It did rain for a few holes, so I guess that was the bummer.

  How has it changed?
Haven't been back.

  What was your favorite hole?
#8, although there are a bunch that are just about as good.

  Any weak holes?
I wouldn't call any of them weak. #15 is my least favorite, but its not bad.

  Worth the money?
One time it would be--perhaps not the second time.

  Can you die in peace without playing it?
I can die in peace without playing any golf course--but that doesn't diminish the experience.

  Tell us about your experience.....
After shooting about 90 at Pasatiempo the day before with Huckaby and Pieracci that included a birdie on the 18th I bogeyed #1 at Pebble before making birdies at #3 and #5. I made 20 footers on both holes and missed one a quarter of that length on #4 for another one. Reality returned eventually, I'm not sure I even hit a green on the back nine--they are small targets!

[Craig Sweet]

I don't remember much about my first time playing Pebble Beach....I had my rabbit with me and he demanded all my attention. 

[Tom Huckaby]

My story is damn near identical to that of Tom Doak... I too first played it when I was 13 years old... most of my family was up in NorCal for something (we lived in SoCal), Dad couldn't go due to work issues, but he drove up to take me to play Pebble... driving all night to do so...  So....

  What was your first impression?
Man there are a lot of people watching you on that first tee.

  What surprised you? 
that so many people were there so early in the morning.  That my Dad was grumpy.  Remember I was 13 and dying to play.. Dad had driven through the night to make the early morning tee time.

  What disapointed you?
Nothing.  I was on cloud nine the entire day, in golf course love.

  How has it changed?   I recall it costing $65 that day, which seemed like a fortune as no golf I had ever played cost more than $10.  This was 1976.  So the cost has rather risen.  Outside of that, I don't recall the course being much different from how it is now.

  What was your favorite hole?  Echoing Doak, "I couldn't hit it more than maybe 175 yards at that age.  #7 was cool because it was manageable.  #8 was a great par-5 for me ... didn't have to lay up off the tee, diagonal second shot to approach fairway.  I also loved the deep ravine / bunker features on 2, 3 and 16, I don't think I had ever seen a hazard like those before."  I'll just go with that.  I really don't remember to be honest but that sounds good.

  Any weak holes?    Nope, not even close.

  Worth the money?    Dad paid.  It was a great investment for him, as it made such an impression on me, that I managed to take HIM there at age 21, plus several other great places as the years went on... culminating in another rather nice private club up the road last year (thanks to the generosity of a great man from this site).  So it rather paid off for Dad, but of course I can never come close to repaying him for all he's done for me.  As for me... well... it was really this outing that set me out in a lifetime of seeking out great golf courses, and I wonder if that was a good investment?  Oh sure I have seen a lot of wonderful courses.  But has this been a net positive in the overall life context?  That is a question to ponder.

  Can you die in peace without playing it?    Shit I'll be the first to say it:  NO.  Not if you love great golf courses.

[Dan Kelly]

First (and only) time:

June 1986. Friday morning of U.S. Open week. En route from San Francisco to L.A., with my fiancee.

I'd called ahead, from Minnesota, a week or two earlier, to make a tee time. Got the day's first -- at about 6:45, if I remember right.

Green fee: $110 -- plus caddie or cart. (I planned to take a caddie.)

Got to the pro shop about half an hour before my tee time. Walked up to the counter and said: "Kelly. Tee time at [whatever it was]."

Guy said: "Is the rest of your group here yet?"

Kelly: "The rest of my group? I don't have a group. I'm alone."

Guy: Alone? You can't be alone. You can't make a tee time unless you're a foursome.

I said I didn't know anything about that -- but that I'd called from Minnesota, said I would be here that day, and hoped I could get a tee time -- and that the woman on the phone had said 'Fine" and given me a tee time.

Guy said: Well, what the heck. You're here. There's no one on the course. In fact, there aren't any caddies here yet, either. So grab a cart and go!

First I paid: $110, plus $15 for the cart.

Then I grabbed a cart and went.

It was a beautiful morning, with very gentle breezes. The greens were lightning-fast (I thought). I made one birdie (on the old par-3 5th) and hit one great, great shot -- second to No. 8, with a 3-wood, after HITTING the aiming pole with my drive. The 3-wood flew like a dart, landed about three feet from the hole, and bounded up the green to about 20, 25 feet. I breathed on the putt down the hill and blew it 10 feet past. Three-putted for bogey -- but I didn't care then, at all, and I care less now.

I played well. Shot about an 82 or 83 -- though the U.S.G.A. would not have approved (nor, perhaps, would the Pebble Beach Co.) of the fact that I took a few * extra* shots from various interesting locations. After all, I wasn't holding anyone up!

One fun memory: At address on the 7th tee, I looked up and saw a seagull standing on top of the tee marker. He (or, of course, she) CAWED at me. (Do seagulls CAW?) I hit my tee shot -- long. I thought I knew what that CAW meant: Too much club!

It was a great morning.

To paraphrase Woody Allen: "Don't knock playing alone. It's golf with someone I love."

[JMEvensky]

First (and only) time:

June 1986. Friday morning of U.S. Open week. En route from San Francisco to L.A., with my fiancee.

I'd called ahead, from Minnesota, a week or two earlier, to make a tee time. Got the day's first -- at about 6:45, if I remember right.

Green fee: $110 -- plus caddie or cart. (I planned to take a caddie.)

Got to the pro shop about half an hour before my tee time. Walked up to the counter and said: "Kelly. Tee time at [whatever it was]."

Guy said: "Is the rest of your group here yet?"

Kelly: "The rest of my group? I don't have a group. I'm alone."

Guy: Alone? You can't be alone. You can't make a tee time unless you're a foursome.

I said I didn't know anything about that -- but that I'd called from Minnesota, said I would be here that day, and hoped I could get a tee time -- and that the woman on the phone had said 'Fine" and given me a tee time.

Guy said: Well, what the heck. You're here. There's no one on the course. In fact, there aren't any caddies here yet, either. So grab a cart and go!

First I paid: $110, plus $15 for the cart.

Then I grabbed a cart and went.

It was a beautiful morning, with very gentle breezes. The greens were lightning-fast (I thought). I made one birdie (on the old par-3 5th) and hit one great, great shot -- second to No. 8, with a 3-wood, after HITTING the aiming pole with my drive. The 3-wood flew like a dart, landed about three feet from the hole, and bounded up the green to about 20, 25 feet. I breathed on the putt down the hill and blew it 10 feet past. Three-putted for bogey -- but I didn't care then, at all, and I care less now.

I played well. Shot about an 83 or 83 -- though the U.S.G.A. would not have approved (nor, perhaps, would the Pebble Beach Co.) of the fact that I took a few * extra* shots from various interesting locations. After all, I wasn't holding any one up!

It was a great morning.

To paraphrase Woody Allen: "Don't knock playing alone. It's golf with someone I love."

Great story and major extra credit for figuring out how to paraphrase one of my favorite lines in Annie Hall.

[Ken McGlynn]

1986...30th Birthday surprise by my then lovely wife (yes she's gone the way of the Tour Edition golf ball I played back then)

First tee time on a Sunday morning after one too many glasses of wine at the Tap Room the night before.

I lucked out on the caddie draw...Casey Boyns...2 time California Amateur champion...nobody knows Pebble Beach better than him.

As a single I'm paired with 2 kids from Southern California in town for an early unofficial practice round for the state am that was beginning the following week. One of the kids I don't remember, was from Santa Barbara, a very erratic player (like me). The other guy was the Tiger Woods of SoCal junior golf before we even knew of TW...Bob May. I had heard of him, the fact that he qualified to play in the LA Open at age 15 and that he was on his way to Oklahoma State in the fall.

So I'm nervous as hell with this pairing. First hole they rip 3 irons around the corner, and I cold ass top one some 120 yards off the tee.
Somehow I collected myself (thanks to C. Boyns steady influence) and play very respectable golf for the day...shooting an even 80 after birdie at the last.

Things I will never forget: The condition of the golf course...pristine. The pure beauty of the short 7th.The approach to 8...the most terrifying shot I had ever faced. Making a 40 footer on 18.

Playing with May was enlightening. Never again would I even think of my golf game as being anywhere near good after watching him for 18 holes. He played with a swagger that reminded me of a young Lanny Wadkins. A tremendous ball striker, he absolutely went all out on ever swing. On 7 he hit a sand wedge over the top of the flag by 20 feet that he nearly sucked back into the hole. I think he shot 68 that day without making anything over 6 feet. It's a shame his career never really took off.

[Michael Ryan]

What was your first impression?

I remember driving through 17 Mile Dr with my best friend being about as excited as you can be about a round of golf.

  What surprised you?

The size of the greens, the amount of forgettable holes

  What disapointed you?

The amount of forgettable holes, being blown away at the beauty of #8 but being disappointed in the playability.  I don't like a hole where you have to lay back off the tee only to face a monstrous second. 

  How has it changed?

First round in 2003, played two more times in 2004, not qualified to answer this question.

  What was your favorite hole?

18 is my favorite, a great par 5 first and foremost that offers so many personalities due to the breeze.  Talk about the setting of 18 overshadows how good a hole I think it is.

  Any weak holes?

17 has had some of the greatest moments in golf history (Nicklaus in '72, Watson in '82), but I think it's the single most over rated hole in golf.

  Worth the money?

First time, worth even more if you consider yourself a golfer.  Second time and on, not worth the astronomical fees they charge

  Can you die in peace without playing it?

I'm sure I could have but I'm glad I don't have to worry about it...

[Brad Tufts]

What was your first impression?

It was raining, so I wanted the rain to go away so I didn't have to play PB in my rainsuit.  After one hole, it did!  Also, the first tee is almost totally surrounded by the pro shop, entry area to the lodge, and nearby houses, so you don't get out "into the course" until hole 2.  That cross-hazard on #2 is also very cool, a hazard that seems much more original and untouched than others on the course.

What surprised you?

How nice the greens were, after everyone always making a big deal of how bad they were...even in the rain.  I was amazed at the 14th green...I had a 3-footer for birdie, and didn't even scare the hole after my caddie and I looked at it for quite a while.  My biggest surprise was that usually at these great layouts, I have trouble scoring on the first play.  What makes them great is that they are tough before you get to know them.  But, my caddie and I channeled, and I shot a 72 that easily could've been 68 or 69.  It was probably a combination of lack of wind, drop-and-stop approach shots with the moisture, and me being used to small New England greens. 

What disappointed you?

The fact that it was so wet, but that was not the course's fault.  The moisture made the course easier I thought, even though it made me hit 5w into #9, and I'm not a short hitter.  There were a few A to B holes that are not very memorable like 12-13 and 15, but that's not the end of the world. 

How has it changed?

Won't know till I go back after a while.  After seeing lots of historical photos, it seems like it may be approaching Augusta in the # of times its been tinkered with.  Luckily it has such a definitive landscape (perhaps unlike an Augusta or Pinehurst amongst the southern pine trees), that it will always "look like Pebble."

What was your favorite hole?

I liked #7-10.  Call me an ocean whore when it comes to Pebble.  I will go for #8 if I have to pick one.  I hit 3w and flushed a 4-iron to 20 feet, probably my best moment of the day considering difficulty of shot.  I thought #11 was underrated as an uphill hole with a severely breaking green.

Any weak holes?

12-13, and 15.  None of those are horrible, just pale in comparison to the others.

Worth the money?

I think so, if any course can charge $475 or whatever, it's PB.  I would recommend doing it within a package though; a la carte you are plunking down the 475, but if you play a few rounds at SB and SH and stay at the lodge, it averages out to be less.  Sometimes these "perfect moment" or "break the bank" rounds fail to deliver (I played with my Dad, my best man, and his dad), but this one did....we had a great time, I played well, took some great photos...and because of this, I would definately go back, even for the $$$.

Can you die in peace without playing it?

I think the GCA connoisseur needs to see it.  But, it is understandable that it is expensive, and comparable experiences can be had for less at great courses, like at Bandon or Pinehurst.

[paul cowley]

I also remember it as browner around the edges back in the day, but maybe not that first time.

Speaking of browner around the edges, that reminds me of the Snead Nicklaus match from 1963 that aired a few months ago.  I took these pics of my TV screen:

Pebble in 1963

Fantastic Kevin....I was a greenskeeper there in the early 70's and that was the course I remember most.

The Indian was the only one who knew where the cobbed together irrigation lines where and he ruled riding around in his dune buggy. Total job security.

A better course then than now IMO.

[paul cowley]

Anyone notice the true walking paths [triails] in kevins photos? carts didn't exist then....and when I was there they had aririved and one of my jobs was to try to acomodate their damage.

The Open in '75 [?] lead to cart paths and wall to wall irrigation. And its been downhill since.

[paul cowley]

dahm I'm feeling old...but could still handle it.

They still need to reverse #13 thru #9 though....with my help.

[Jason Topp]

dahm I'm feeling old...but could still handle it.

They still need to reverse #13 thru #9 though....with my help.

How long was there a tree left of the fairway on 18 near the tree in the middle of the fairway?  Did it come into play?

[paul cowley]

Jason

It was gone by 1970 or so...I don't remember it.

There were three PINES on the right side landing area, that have now been replaced with 2 cypress.

There was also a small grove, 7 or more, of pines to the right of 18 greenside, that have all gone and have been replaced with the big lone cypress we have today.

When I played for the first time in over 25 years a few years past, I was amazed to see and feel the difference of Pebble as a whole.

[Bill_McBride]

dahm I'm feeling old...but could still handle it.

They still need to reverse #13 thru #9 though....with my help.

Just curious, Paul, why?

You think 9 and 10 would play better with the ocean on the left?

How far is it from the 8th green to the 13th green (where I assume the new 9th tee would be)?

Interesting idea, but one of the charms of Pebble is the figure 8 routing.

[Jamie Van Gisbergen]

  What was your first impression?
Lost and confused trying to find the pro shop, and being rather nervous trying to hit the first tee shot with a semi-substantial crowd looking on.

  What surprised you?
The size of the greens and the elevation changes on 6, 7, 8 and 9.

  What disapointed you?
Walking off the 18th green

  How has it changed?
From 2007 to 2011, not much. A few minor bunker changes were all I noticed, I think they had changed the configuration on 2 and 6, but that was all I noticed.

  What was your favorite hole?
Is "all holes" acceptable? If I have to pick one, probably going to go against the grain and say #3. Exceptional land-locked Cape hole, better than the one at Old Macdonald I think.

  Any weak holes?
Only when compared to the holes down by the ocean that might be considered to be some of the best in the world. #11 is an impossible hole, The Road Hole at The Old Course or #2 at Pine Valley would probably look weak in that position, and the other holes are fine as is.

  Worth the money?
Yes. My former boss asked me when I was stationed at Kitsap if I wanted to join Royal Colwood, with the initiation fee being something like $15,000 or so at the time. I politely and respectfully told him I could play Pebble Beach 30 times for that and that I would have to decline. Think about the cost at Pebble Beach in relation to initiation at private clubs, I've had this discussion with friends numerous times.

  Can you die in peace without playing it?
Well, I suppose I could have...but now I don't have to worry about it. However, if someone told me I was going to die tomorrow, I know where I am playing golf today.

  Tell us about your experience.....
Awesome. Went down there with my boss and some other guys, spent the cash to stay in the Lodge (btw, I didn't think it was worth the cost) and played. Caddy was awesome, really knew his stuff. Course was just amazing. Atmosphere in general is amazing.
  
Thanks....Anthony     Welcome....JVG

[William_G]

  1977 or so

  What was your first impression?...driving range down the steet

  What surprised you?...everythingas it was my first time

  What disapointed you?...not playing #17 from across the street

  How has it changed?...more expensive $30---500, #5, more crowded

  What was your favorite hole? #8

  Any weak holes? N (old #5)

  Worth the money? Y

  Can you die in peace without playing it? not if you love golf

  Tell us about your experience.....

  Thanks....Anthony



  

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()