Cypress

[Scott Tricker]

Good evening all,

New member to the group. My father and I are taking a trip out to the Carmel area in January and are fortunate enough to recieve an opportunity to play Cypress. I have never been to the area, and am looking to get some recommendations from the group of where else to play given our schedule below. I REFUSE to pay $500+ (absurd) to play Pebble, and Spyglass at $425+ is not too far away in the category of ridiculous. Based on our schedule below, I am definitely locked in on playing Pasatiempo, but am looking for one more recommendation of something off the path. Have read about Monterrey Penisula CC....thoughts anyone???
Am also open to any recommendations on lodging/accomodations in the area.

Schedule:

Sunday-- arrive in San Jose around 11:30....NEED RECOMMENDATION
Monday: Cypress at 7:30am.... thinking about Pacific Grove in the afternoon for fun...hear the back nine is a gem
Tuesday: Pasatiempo in the morning-- fly home in afternoon

[Keith Doleshel]

Scott,
With no disrespect, you are getting to play Cypress Point.  Go ahead and send for Pebble.  You are playing with house money at this point, don't let cost be the reason by you bypass playing Pebble Beach.  Just think, you are essentially getting Pebble and Cypress for $500.  Pasatiempo is also a must play, its a really good golf course.  Have a good trip.

[Bill_McBride]

Scott,
With no disrespect, you are getting to play Cypress Point.  Go ahead and send for Pebble.  You are playing with house money at this point, don't let cost be the reason by you bypass playing Pebble Beach.  Just think, you are essentially getting Pebble and Cypress for $500.  Pasatiempo is also a must play, its a really good golf course.  Have a good trip.

CPC isn't free, it's close to $300 with guest fee and caddy.   Still, it's hard to see skipping Pebble since you are already there. 

[Mark Saltzman]

I'd play Pebble.  You know, 'once in a lifetime' and all that jazz.

[Scott Tricker]

Pebble is VERY tempting, but the $500+ pricetag is tough to swallow. For some reason, it just doesn't excite me in the way Bandon did 4 years ago or other places. I've been fortunate to play a number of courses in the world that are a fraction of this fee, and I just struggle with justification. Cypress is not a "freebie" by any means. However, the privilege to play there is a once-in-a-lifetime and no-brainer to me regardless of the price...just the chance to see the architecture in person will be amazing.

Any other suggestions of "off the path" gems are always appreciated!!!

[Tim Bert]

As one who doesn't rate Pebble as highly as some others around here I think it is safe to say it is a mistake not to play it if you can afford it. If you have financial issues that prevent it that's another thing but I'm guessing if that were the case you probably wouldnt be headed to Monterey to play Cypress.  Yes the price is absurd; don't spend the round thinking about how much you spent.  Enjoy the golf course and the setting.   Not sure if Pebble's play is back up but as recently as a year or two ago you could get a discounted short notice rate at Pebble as an NCGA member (don't need to be a CA resident to join).  Five years ago I never fathomed paying to play there. I have since played three times and I don't regret it.  It gets better each time around in my opinion.

Both courses at MPCC are excellent if access is not an issue.

Enjoy Cypress. Time spent on that property is priceless.

[Ben Jarvis]

Scott,

I was lucky enough to play at Cypress with my father in July this year. Enjoy the expereince, it really is incredible!

The day prior, we played Pebble and Spyglass. Was I happy to pay a $500 green fee at Pebble - no. Do I regret paying a $500 green fee - absolutely not! Depending on daylight, you can take advantage of a replay rate to play Spyglass for $180.  

One bit of advice - don't play Pebble after Cypress. You will be letdown somewhat and may not be able to justify the pricetag for Pebble at the time of playing it. Cypress is the perfect way to complete a onece-in-a-lifetime trip!

[JLahrman]

If your flight doesn't land until 11:30 AM, you're going to be hard pressed to get too much golf in with the January light.  Unless you play right near San Jose.  My recommendation would be to cool your heels, have a nice dinner, and make sure you're well rested for Cypress and Pasatiempo.

[astavrides]

If your flight doesn't land until 11:30 AM, you're going to be hard pressed to get too much golf in with the January light.  Unless you play right near San Jose.  My recommendation would be to cool your heels, have a nice dinner, and make sure you're well rested for Cypress and Pasatiempo.

If he gets his bag and is in his car by 12, he can make it to Monterey by 115.  Depending on what date in January, he could have until after 5--plenty of time to get 18 in on a sunday afternoon depending on the pace of play at the course he ends up at.  Bayonet might be a good call.  He could do worse than Cinnabar in southern san jose also.

[JLahrman]

If he gets his bag and is in his car by 12, he can make it to Monterey by 115.  Depending on what date in January, he could have until after 5--plenty of time to get 18 in on a sunday afternoon depending on the pace of play at the course he ends up at.  Bayonet might be a good call.  He could do worse than Cinnabar in southern san jose also.

I agree that it could work, but it seems like a lot of rushing.  Personally I'd chill out and rest up for Cypress.  But I'm kinda lazy and I don't like golf as much as most of the people on this site do.

[Matt_Cohn]

If your flight doesn't land until 11:30 AM, you're going to be hard pressed to get too much golf in with the January light.  Unless you play right near San Jose.  My recommendation would be to cool your heels, have a nice dinner, and make sure you're well rested for Cypress and Pasatiempo.

If he gets his bag and is in his car by 12, he can make it to Monterey by 115.  Depending on what date in January, he could have until after 5--plenty of time to get 18 in on a sunday afternoon depending on the pace of play at the course he ends up at.  Bayonet might be a good call.  He could do worse than Cinnabar in southern san jose also.

I'd second Cinnabar for that afternoon. It's not too far from the airport, so he'd be able to finish 18 holes. And while it's not Pebble, it is a very California golf experience with beautiful scenery and some pretty wild topography. The conditions there are always good. They also frequently have golfnow.com specials so the fare might not be so bad, especially for that quality of course.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Welcome to GCA...seems like a strange question to ask here, Is Pebble worth it?


Summer 2010 I took the family to California.  Between booking and flying I realised that year I would be on a very tight budget and I wasn't going to play Pebble on an overdraft.  So I walked it.  I now intend to go back and do it properly - so yes it's worth it.


Can't remember the name of the room but there's a place in the hotel where they serve coffee near the 18th green.  Have a drink on  the terrace, soak it all in, pay up  and then keep walking. Dress appropriately, walk purposefully and they'll assume you’re a guest.  Follow the routing backwards, stick to the cart parts, don't get in anyone’s way and you'll wish you had ponied up.  The scale of elevation changes, the great views and the sense of being there is the next best thing.  (Pick up a scoresaver in the pro shop first).  Admittedly I did it at 8am, but no one batted an eyelid.


Pacific grove is OK as long as you don’t expect too much. Doak 3 or 4 at best. Very good value.

[Mark Pearce]

Like Tony I wandered round Pebble earlier this year.  Unlike Tony, I concluded that whilst it looked like a wonderful golf course I wasn't going to lose any sleep over not having ponied up $500 to play it.  There again, I had been very fortunate in the other golf I got to play on that trip.  Be careful walking round, by the way.  I was nearly killed by a tee shot off the 15th tee whilst standing on a path some 100 yards from the tee but something like 75 yards left of the middle of the fairway.  There are some seriously crap golfers let out on that course.

[Sean Remington (SBR)]

Scott,

   Take a look at the Fort Ord, Bayonet and BlackHorse courses.

http://www.bayonetblackhorse.com/

[Mike_Young]

Scott,
Try the Pacific Grove Inn.  Great Bed and Breakfast.  Then try Fish Wife for dinner....paying for golf is one thing.  Staying in the lodge is another...

[Brett_Morrissy]

Scott,
If you are overnighting in Santa Cruz, try "Manresa", a restaurant I was forced to miss because of United Airlines, not sure if this kind of food is your thing, but it is right up there.

I also hard paying the tab at Pebble, I think you should play it,and the you can make your own educate decision whether it is worth it or not.

[PCCraig]

Since you're already out there I would pay the $500 and play Pebble. Yeah, it's really expensive, but so is everything else in the area. Spyglass at $425+ is an even bigger rip off if for an extra $75 you can go play PB.

[Mark Pearce]

In Pacific Grove I had a really good meal at Passionfish.

[Simon Holt]

Play Pebble.  As per Mark, eat at Passionfish.  Very good and well priced wine, outstanding food.  I make a point of going there every time I am in Monterey.  Technically Pacific Grove but you know what I mean!

[Dave Givnish]

Pacific Grove is a neat town.  How about playing Bayonet and staying at Spanish Bay?  Or at least go there for a drink and listen to the piper at dusk.

Cypress and Bayonet should be a good combination.  You will feel let down playing Pebble unless the weather is spectacular.  We played Cypress and The Preserve in one day.  The Preserve suffered terribly by comparison.

Can you get on to Olympic, Lake Merced, or SFGC?  That's a lot of driving but it would make for a great trip.

[Danny Brassil]

I have just returned from a golf trip to San Fran/Monterey, we played 36 at Cypress Point and Spyglass on Day 2. For what its worth my opinion would be to try and play Spyglass , it is in super condition and personally i prefer it to Pebble (although like Dave's comment about the Cypress/Preserve combo it is tough to be on a high after playing Cypress the same day)  . Either way enjoy Cypress it was my first time playing it and I loved every minute of it!! we also played the Meadow Club,Olympic, Lake Merced and SFGC on the trip.

[Adam Clayman]

Scott, Welcomw.  I'd consider stopping at Pajaro Valley, on yor way to the peninsula. Take the Santa Cruz route. That is one fun highway to drive if you like curves and crazy drivers. After Pajaro, I'd go to Moss Landing for Phil's fish market. You can't beat that.

[Kalen Braley]

I would agree that if you don;t land until 11:30...you're going to have a hard time getting the car rental and luggage and getting down to Monterey to get a round in for that time of year.  It'll be pretty much dark by 5:15 or so.

I would also second Cinnabar Hills, its your best option that is nearby.

[Tim Leahy]

If you can do Cypress and Pebble on the same day, it will be the best day of your life!
Pay the $$$ it is worth every penny. When you watch the next US Open at Pebble and you can say that is where I had a birdie, it will pay for itself.

[Frank M]

Any golf course priced at $500 a round will disappoint in my opinion, but that is if cost is a factor in your assessment.

Pebble is a great course that shouldn't be missed, especially as a back-to-back with Cypress. But if rates are a factor, avoid it like the plague.

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