Pebble Beach (PB) is Monterey’s famed public access course and as it’s only a short distance from Cypress Point on 17-mile drive its hard not to draw comparisons. Whilst CP stirred my emotions like few others - PB did not. Maybe it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges ? I don’t know - I just don’t get the “love affair” with PB as after all someone once told me: “looks aren’t everything”.
Numerous times I was asked throughout my trip whether I was seeing PB - and numerous times I said I was - but only to see if my initial thoughts on it some ten years ago were going to be altered. They weren’t.
I just don’t understand what all the adoration is for ? Yes – it has some great iconic visuals and the stretch of holes along its coastline are certainly “world famous”. But after say # 6 through # 10 and # 18 which in my mind are easily the best collection of holes on the property: particularly in light of the diverse array of shots one is asked to play - are the other holes really “that great” ? As I said recently on another thread I started: especially when it is considered by many including Golf Magazine as among the
Ten best courses in the World ?I certainly don’t think it deserves to belong in such exalted company particularly given the quality of modern courses having been built over the years: Sand Hills / Pacific Dunes to name but two and also those great courses outside the US that are IMO underappreciated eg: Royal Melbourne (Composite) and Royal Dornoch - most significantly.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing outlandishly “bad” there – it’s just that the “highs” are certainly offset by some “lows” eg: 1 / 5 / 11 / 15 to name but a few.
Its extravagant price tag of US$500 to play it is unbelievable when considering others that I paid on my trip or have paid in my lifetime. Each is to their own as far as “value” goes but if one is asked to part with $220 to play Pacific Dunes v $500 to play Pebble Beach – I know which one I’d plum for.
Holes I noted:
6th = (P5: 500yds) is a hole whose topography change needs to be seen to be believed. After a pretty innocuous drive with the best option to drive as close as possible to the bunkers on the left the fairway then rises sharply and narrows significantly. The 2nd shot landing zone is blind with the lone tree in the distance on the walk giving an indication of where the green is situated. One has to be particularly conscious of a long narrowing fairway bunker left and the ever-present ocean right.
Walk down fairway:
Looking back:
Approach to the green:
7th = (P3: 106yds) is a fantastic little short hole on a promontory. The wind factor is the biggest element here - that and taking into account the distance control required on such a dramatic downhill drop-off hole.
Modern:
Historic: (located inside the clubhouse – not sure when ? Egan’s ?)
8th = (P4: 416 yds) is a blind drive with a rock marking the centre of the fairway. This hole is all about the 2nd shot with a sharp drop off over a cliff to a small target with the green set at a very oblique angle and well protected by bunkers.
This may be the best three hole stretch I’ve ever seen particularly when combining the setting with the variety in the design.
Approach:
Looking back:
9th = (P4: 462yds) whilst not as dramatic as its predecessor this hole has its strength in the angle of the shot into the green with a large bunker protecting the direct line to a small target.
Significant fairway cant:
Greensite:
10th = (P4: 430yds) the run of cliff top holes concludes with a somewhat similar length hole to # 9. This hole has a significant slope that one can take advantage off the tee by driving it close to the bunkers and kicking it down the hill. The green is set at the far corner of the property flanked by bunkers and Carmel beach.
17th = (P3: 208 yds) this hole has been lauded by some as one of the best long P3’s going around. I think it doesn’t deserve such praise. The green is way too narrow at its centre for such a long shot IMO. Surely the green could be extended to the bunkers and make the target much more accessible. I would gladly play: 16 RMW / 16 Cypress Point over it for starters. The drive is bland to say the least and for mine it’s more of a connector hole to get to the 18th tee.
18th = (P5: 543 yds) PB certainly finishes off in style with a long P5 that bends around the cove. The trees in the fairway and next to the green make for some interesting ever-present obstacles.
For mine PB, has some great “highs” but the juxtaposition of that is that is has some real “lows” as well most notably the first few holes where you could think you are anywhere but at the Monterey Peninsula.
That said – others may find the overall feeling of PB well outweighs the sum of the individual parts and that’s one’s prerogative. I said on another thread – if given a choice I would gladly plum for CP over it and I fail to understand how some think it deserves a spot among the Top half dozen in the USA let alone the Top Ten in the world !!
Case in point – in the recent GM World Top100 the following courses from the US were listed behind it:
- Merion (East)
- Sand Hills
- National Golf Links of America
- Pacific Dunes
- Fishers Island
If someone can tell me why PB is better than any of the above I would be keen to hear why ?
PB is a very good course – and it’s obviously iconic but does it belong among the “very best” ? Certainly I am one who thinks not.