What is not perfect about the 18th at Pebble Beach?

[John Kavanaugh]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?

[SteveOgulukian]

The way I played it was far from perfect 

[John Kavanaugh]

The way I played it was far from perfect 

Give us the shot by shot breakdown. Every time I play near the ocean I try to make sure to have a marine biologist in my group.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?


JakaB,

I'm not a fan of the OB on the right when you have a lateral hazard the entire length of the hole on the left.

Throw the center tree/s in and it's another demerit for me.

But, I do like the hole in general.

[David_Elvins]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?

The style of fairway bunkering is horrible. 

[John Kavanaugh]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?


JakaB,

I'm not a fan of the OB on the right when you have a lateral hazard the entire length of the hole on the left.

Throw the center tree/s in and it's another demerit for me.

But, I do like the hole in general.

Pat,

I like an OB right with a lateral left on a par 5. It takes easy par out of the equation. I don't believe a finishing hole can be perfect if average ball striking gets you home.

[Richard Choi]

I don't think any hole with housing on it would fit my definition of perfect.

[Dan_Callahan]

There are often hordes of people encroaching on the fairway up by the green to take pictures. I find that distracting and annoying. If they made the hole less attractive, perhaps by adding mounding down the left so there wasn't an ocean view, I think it would greatly reduce the riff raff wandering onto the course.

[Adam Clayman]

Both the OB and housing right are not really an issue for 99% of the 1% who get to pay here.

Originally a par 4, perhaps it qualifies as the greatest hole ever changed, in that manner?

[Mark Johnson]

depends a bit on the tee.   

I dont like the tee angle on any tee except the back one.   The middle tee (which 90% of players play from) is an awkward tee.

[John Kavanaugh]

I don't think any hole with housing on it would fit my definition of perfect.

I considered that. The houses along side the 18th are not just houses, they are symbols of a dying American dream. Who are those people and how did they get there is an experience in itself.

[Jason Thurman]

As far as I'm concerned, it's damn near perfect. The only thing that holds it back is the lack of movement in the terrain. It's a terribly flat hole. Still, it would be my favorite hole on any other course I've ever played (I think it's probably my 5th favorite at Pebble).

It's one of the best walks in golf. It takes a special kind of person to complain about visual blemishes when standing on that tee. Why are you looking at the houses? And if you are, do you really think they should be evaluated on the same terms as the vinyl empire that surrounds other courses with housing?

Honestly, if you hate the housing at Pebble, you probably belong at Occupy Carmel instead of Pebble Beach. I'm with John. I actually paid money to walk around the grounds of the Biltmore Estate last weekend, and I'm happy to wonder about the lives of the people living alongside the course when I'm at Pebble too. You know, when I'm not staring at the ocean alongside the best cliffline in golf.

[SteveOgulukian]

The way I played it was far from perfect  

Give us the shot by shot breakdown. Every time I play near the ocean I try to make sure to have a marine biologist in my group.

Well, since you asked for it, here it goes.  My drive almost struck a bird (great pic of this below), so I thought it was a good sign for a birdie.



Drive ended up just fine in the fairway but way back.  Tried to advance a baby draw up the fairway.  Nothing too "babyish" about this draw as it ended up with the whales.  I reloaded and thought I hit a perfect shot but ended up getting a back kick left into the trap by the retaining wall about 85 yards out.  Trickled one onto the green from there and 3 putted for my 8.  

I really didn't want that round to end so I basically got a 19th hole in with that 8 on 18!

[Patrick_Mucci]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?


JakaB,

I'm not a fan of the OB on the right when you have a lateral hazard the entire length of the hole on the left.

Throw the center tree/s in and it's another demerit for me.

But, I do like the hole in general.

Pat,

I like an OB right with a lateral left on a par 5. It takes easy par out of the equation.

I think the ocean is an ample deterrent

I don't believe a finishing hole can be perfect if average ball striking gets you home.

I don't know that average ball striking won't get you home, BUT, perhaps you haven't played the 18th holes at NGLA or Sebonack, two great finishing par fives where average ball striking will get you home.
18 at NGLA is less than 500 yards

[Terry Lavin]

It's great because it's the finishing hole at Pebble Beach. If it were the finisher at Innisbrook Copperhead, it would draw nothing but yawns. Tahe away the view and you get a ho-hum half-assed par-5 that needs bilateral OB a tree in the fairway to command strategy and/or luck to prevent it from being a cupcake finish.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Pebble is my favorite course and 18 is one of my favorite holes to play but if you’re talking about perfect, from my perspective there are some less than perfect aspects of the hole.

As mentioned by others I'm not a fan of OB right hazard left.  The general appearance of the cement (?) on the tee to prevent erosion is less than perfect.  It's a closing hole playing directly into the setting sun (this is a plus for the tv tournament coverage though).  I also preferred the hole without the second fairway bunker next to the trees.

[Richard Choi]

Honestly, if you hate the housing at Pebble, you probably belong at Occupy Carmel instead of Pebble Beach. I'm with John. I actually paid money to walk around the grounds of the Biltmore Estate last weekend, and I'm happy to wonder about the lives of the people living alongside the course when I'm at Pebble too. You know, when I'm not staring at the ocean alongside the best cliffline in golf.

I'm happy for you that you like houses surrounding a golf hole. I don't.

I don't care if they put Fallingwater next to the green, I still would think that is less than ideal.

Perfection means something to me.

[Kyle Henderson]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?

The style of fairway bunkering is horrible.  

Thankfully, the hole features different styles elsewhere...

[Mark Pearce]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?

The style of fairway bunkering is horrible.  

Thankfully, the hole features different styles elsewhere...

But perfect means perfect.

[Jimbo]

Live Cam of 18

http://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/pebble-beach-golf-links/live-golf-cams/hole18

[Wayne Freeman]

I agree that the hole is less than perfect.... the central tree, flatness, and houses detract from it... that being said, if I could
  only play one hole for the rest of my life it would be this one... the tee shot ( I just love to sit on the fence at the back tee
  and watch the water and sea otters) , overall drama, and views every step of the way make it magical.   For me 7-10 are
  all pretty perfect.
 

[Tom_Doak]

Well, 20 responses and nobody mentioned that it plays directly into the setting sun.  That's less than perfect for an 18th hole!

[George Pazin]

Kinda flat. Everywhere.

Nice, maybe even great, not perfect.

[Kyle Henderson]

I believe that the 18th at Pebble is a perfect golf hole. Perfect length, use of hazards, green site and position in routing. Even the use of a tree is so perfect that the tree was replaced with a full grown specimen. How is this not the finest golf hole ever built?

The style of fairway bunkering is horrible.  

Thankfully, the hole features different styles elsewhere...

But perfect means perfect.

Indeed. I believe we are in agreement.

[Padraig Dooley]

Well, 20 responses and nobody mentioned that it plays directly into the setting sun.  That's less than perfect for an 18th hole!

First thing that crossed my mind, great for tv cameras behind the 18th green, terrible to be hitting a wedge into the setting sun!!