Cypress

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I do not know how any first time visitor to the area passes on Pebble. I promise you will spend more at Cypress. Remember you will buy shirts hats sweaters. I take great pride in my ability to hold records for pro shop purchases. I still may hold the lifetime record at Cypress. But Doctor Gene  still holds the one time visit record, hands down. Go play Pebble. Play early in the morning so your pace of play will be better. You will never regret it. I stopped playing there 7 years ago. But I go look at the course every time I am in town. There is no other course in this discussion that will hold you for life like Pebble except Cypress and TOC. You will see why many of us have special feelings for MPCC as you ride around 17 mile drive to Cypress.

[Sean Leary]

I know of very few that have spent the money to play Pebble that didn't say it was worth it. $500 is an absurd amount to pay but in a lifetime, $500 is a mere pittance. I sincerely think you will be happy with your decision if you play it...

Some even say it is better than Cypress....

[Frank M]

Some say Pebble is not a top 50 course and I've actually heard it a few times, but I'm sure we would all agree that that is absurd. Most of those people say it because of the high green fee, but I don't believe a course rating/review and green fee should be intertwined unless rating for value.

In my general experience, golfers who are worried about the cost of something before they experience it will have some sort of remorse afterwards, and if it is the case that the OP thinks $500 is ridiculous, I'd be willing to wager it will still be ridiculous after he's spent it and played.

The honest truth is I don't believe Pebble (or any golf course) is worth $500. Does that change my opinion of it? No. Still a great course.

[Carl Nichols]

This is an interesting thread in light of the other threads about public courses that would be more highly regarded if they were private, and vice versa.  I read Scott's posts -- especially where he says "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" -- as indicating that he's willing to pay the same or more to play Cypress precisely because it's highly private, and (presumably) because he can play Pebble anytime.    

[Sean Leary]

Frank,

I think most people that play Pebble are worried about the price. I was.

[PThomas]

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.

+1

[George Pazin]

Make your own decisions with respect to Pebble. You can walk it for free, if you're just interested in seeing the course. It's a beautiful walk.

[William_G]

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....Cordevalle, Bayonet, or Black Horse
Monday: Cypress at 7:30am.... Lunch at Pebble, then golf at Pebble\
Tuesday: Pasatiempo in the morning-- fly home in afternoon

[David Hendler]

If you are headed out to the area for the first time, you need to play Pebble.  I could not imagine a scenario going to the Carmel/Pebble/Monterey area for the first time and not playing Pebble Beach.

I'm headed out there for the first time with a dear friend and our wives in January for a milestone birthday.  We hope to play both Cypress and Pebble.  As of now, only Pebble and Spyglass are 1000% confirmed this point! We are also playing MPCC, which should be awesome!

Have fun on your trip!

[Jim Franklin]

Go eat at The Whaling Station in Monterey. It is my favorite restaurant anywhere.

[Mike Benham]

Scott -

A few points to ponder (one of my favorite sections of Reader's Digest magazine) and ones that you likely have already considered:

They 11:30 arrival is an issue.  If that is when the plane pulls into the gate, you will lucky to get your luggage and in your rental car by 12:30 ...

Distance to travel to the suggested golf courses from SJIA:

Cinnabar Hills:  23 miles, 31 minutes
Pajaro Valley:  50 miles, 60 minutes
Bayonet:  72 miles, 1 hour, 19 minutes
Pebble Beach:  78 miles, 1 hour, 30 minutes

Sunset is at approximately 5:15 throughout the month of January, if the weather is anything but sunny and clear, it will seem that it gets darker sooner then that.

Although Cinnabar Hills is your closest option, it can be a crowded golf course if the weather is decent and since their regular green  fees are rather high, many golfers choose to take advantage of discounted afternoon rates so Sunday afternoon may not be a walk-up-and-tee-off deal.

Pajaro Valley is your next closest suggested course and they have a 12 noon skins games on Sunday that is notoriously slow (just kidding) ... but the odds are you will be teeing off no earlier then 1:30 so making a full 18 might be tough.

As for Monday at Cypress Point, I doubt that you will tee off at 7:30, might be closer to 8:00 if not slightly past that.  If it is cold, there might be a frost delay although that close to the ocean it isn't likely.

Regardless of what the treehouse may claim, no one plays CPC in 4 hours, and frankly, if this is your only shot at it, you won't want to ... add in a few minutes in pro-shop post round to buy logo'd items for family and friends, you are there for 5 hours minimum.

So now you are pushing 12:30 to 1:00 PM and you haven't even changed from you golf shoes to your street shoes in the locker room yet (I personally haven't left the property any earlier than 1:30 PM), so yep, you are now going to be up against the daylight issue again for the afternoon round.

And for Pasatiempo, they reserve a block of tee times for the members, up to 9:30 AM, and then release them to the general public if not reserved by the members.  I can't believe there will be too many members wanting to play in the dampness of a weekday January morning but depending on when your flight leaves that afternoon, you might have a tight schedule (31 miles, 40 minutes to SJIA).
 
Mike

[Kalen Braley]

Mike,

Very well said.

Scott, not to be flippant, but any chance of getting a different flight that gets in earlier?  Even something that arrives 60-90 minutes early could mean the difference between golf on the day you arrive and not.

As for Monday, even though I hate to say this...but Pebble looks almost impossible.  With notoriously slow rounds...even if you hustled straight there after playing CPC...which no one wants to do, as opposed to hanging around...you will still struggle to get that 2nd round in.

How about this as a potential itinerary:

Sunday-- arrive in San Jose around 11:30....Take your time getting down to Monterey, then just play the back 9 at Pacific Grove...if you can swing it.
Monday: Cypress at 7:30am.... take your time at the pro shop. Walk Pebble in the afternoon.
Tuesday: Pasatiempo in the morning-- fly home in afternoon

[Carl Nichols]

Cordevalle might be an option for that first day -- 31 miles door-to-door from the airport, plus the fact that there are only certain spots open to the public may make it quicker to play. 

[Joe_Tucholski]

Cordevalle might be an option for that first day -- 31 miles door-to-door from the airport, plus the fact that there are only certain spots open to the public may make it quicker to play. 

I was under the impression you had to be a hotel guest or member to make a tee time at Cordevalle...at least that's what I was told when I called to make a reservaton for a trip.  Was I told a partial truth?

[astavrides]

might get a twilight rate at spyglass on the day you arrive and you probably won't get 18 in, but you'll at least play the interesting, seaside holes on the front 9.

[Scott Tricker]

Kalen,

Your thoughts/recommendations are spot-on. Will report back to the group my experiences regarding the courses as well as the dining locations.

Mike,

Very well said.

Scott, not to be flippant, but any chance of getting a different flight that gets in earlier?  Even something that arrives 60-90 minutes early could mean the difference between golf on the day you arrive and not.

As for Monday, even though I hate to say this...but Pebble looks almost impossible.  With notoriously slow rounds...even if you hustled straight there after playing CPC...which no one wants to do, as opposed to hanging around...you will still struggle to get that 2nd round in.

How about this as a potential itinerary:

Sunday-- arrive in San Jose around 11:30....Take your time getting down to Monterey, then just play the back 9 at Pacific Grove...if you can swing it.
Monday: Cypress at 7:30am.... take your time at the pro shop. Walk Pebble in the afternoon.
Tuesday: Pasatiempo in the morning-- fly home in afternoon

[Carl Nichols]

Joe-
I'm not sure. I played there as a hotel guest when I was there for a wedding, and thought I heard someone mention a rate for non-hotel guests, but I had no reason to inquire further. Even if the general rule doesn't permit public play, I wonder whether they would let a non-guest on with a call from a pro. My guess is they would.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Mike knows what he is talking about on drive times, logistics etc by the by.

[Jason Topp]

Do they have a twilight rate at Pebble?  If you started at 2:00 on the 1st day you would get to play quite a few holes.

[Brent Carlson]

I have to agree with most.  Play PB if it fits your budget.  Yes it's $500, but the cost per round is not that high.  Say we're conservative and you relive the round 10 times in your mind.  Well, now it's down to $50 a round.

Walking the course is one way to go, but playing is highly recommended. 

Pacific Grove's back nine is nice.  Overall I was underwhelmed by the course.

Pasa is amazing - top shelf in my book.

Enjoy the trip.

[David_Elvins]

Scott T,

I too find $500 a bit expensive for my tastes so whenever I go to Monterey I walk around Pebble in the afternoon/evening.  It is a fantastic experience and great value for money. 

If you are looking for something to squeeze in on the afternoon of your arrival, may I sugest The Ranch in San Jose.  It is possibly the worst golf course ever built and a must see for this reason.  I travelled half way around the world to play it and was not dissapointed.  Typing this post is giving me a special nauseating feeling and shortness of breath.  It is a special course. 

[astavrides]

Do they have a twilight rate at Pebble? 

no.

[Kalen Braley]

I totally get why everyone is recommending Pebble for one who's never played it.....

But given this scenario and specifically time of year (lack of light), I'm not seeing how this is feasible.  On either day the best he could do is a 1:30 PM tee time, which means there is no way in the world he finishes with Pebbles notorious slow play.  I would hate to pony up $500 bones, only to have to bail out after the 15th hole and not be able to play 16-18 coming in.

[Mike Benham]

But Kalen, if you suggested he inquire about the back 9 at Pacific Grove in the middle of the afternoon (I assume by just elbowing your way into foursomes coming off the front 9), why not suggest that he ask to play holes 5 through 10 and 17 and 18 at Pebble?         

[Jed Peters]

But Kalen, if you suggested he inquire about the back 9 at Pacific Grove in the middle of the afternoon (I assume by just elbowing your way into foursomes coming off the front 9), why not suggest that he ask to play holes 5 through 10 and 17 and 18 at Pebble?         

Long walk between 10 and 17, that's why.

Play Cinnabar or Cordevalle when you land.

Don't pass on Pebble after Cypress. Anything other than Pebble or MPCC would be a let down after cypress.

I recently did a Cypress/Poppy Hills double. I felt hungover after playing cypress; I shouldn't have played in the afternoon (when the option was Poppy Hills).

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