[Benjamin Litman]

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/geoff-ogilvy-what-makes-18th-hole-pebble-beach-great

Some interesting GCA comments in here from the ever-thoughtful pro.

[Terry Lavin]

Great opener:

"The most interesting aspect of the 18th at Pebble Beach is that it is actually a succession of challenging holes. It’s a great and endlessly beautiful par-5 as is, of course. But after a solid drive up the middle it becomes the equivalent of a terrific short par-4. It’s a fascinating birdie-three hole from, say, 330 yards out. And it’s a thought-provoking birdie-two hole from 130. Which is exactly what every strategically sound par-5 should be."

[JESII]

Interesting write up but I can't help but feel it's forced. Did GM say "write a piece on how good 18 at Pebble is"?

[JESII]

For 98% of golfers, if they happen to drive it in the left side of that fairway they are paralyzed on the second because they feel the ocean splashing in their back pocket.

Cool, fun hole for low single digits and better, but pure defense for the rest of the world.

[Peter Pallotta]

Jim's always been good at saying a lot with a few words. (It helps that he's a two time mid-am champ, so we tend to listen.)  So in his honour, a JES Haiku:

At Pebble, at Last

a rare good shot left
the ocean sprays crash behind
a paralyzed form

the seasoned golfer
a living eliot poem
head-piece filled with fear

no banging second
the whimpering play for five
a wasteland of pars

so many hours
and sacrificed half a grand
dare you hit a shot?

poor mister lemon
many fruitless rounds right here
never made the cut

lesson or lessons
listen to the mid-am champ
get better, or don't

[JESII]

That's a talent beyond my comprehension.

[JMEvensky]

That's a talent beyond my comprehension.

 It only took Keats a couple of hours to knock out Ode On A Grecian Urn--Peter's a vanity 6,maybe a 5,handicap poet.

[JESII]

Imagine how good a 6 handicap looks to the guy that can't get the ball in the air...

[Peter Pallotta]

Sort of what I'd feel if we ever played a round together. Except worse. Can you imagine what a birdie looks like to me?  

Thanks gents -- and my apologies, Benjamin. My pen ran away with me and sidetracked the thread.

What I'd really meant to say was that Geoff O. had made absolutely convinced (as he often does) of his analysis, and then Jim suddenly brought a whole different perspective.

It was that difference that seemed worth exploring.

Peter

 

[Patrick_Mucci]

For 98% of golfers, if they happen to drive it in the left side of that fairway they are paralyzed on the second because they feel the ocean splashing in their back pocket.

Cool, fun hole for low single digits and better, but pure defense for the rest of the world.

Jim,

Not surprisingly, I disagree.

What you and most other low handicap players often forget is that "the rest of the world" isn't trying to make birdie, and some are just hoping for par, with bogey or double being their target score.

An 18 handicap doesn't conceive of playing # 18 as you do.

Like most low handicap golfers, you assume that all others think and play as you do.

The 18th at PBGC is a thrilling challenge for every golfer.

The only requirement, irrespective of handicap, is a reasonable golfing IQ

Armed with a reasonable golfing IQ, every golfer can enjoy playing # 18

[Mark Fedeli]

Having never played Pebble, I'd be curious to hear more about the (newly single) tree in the fairway.

Geoff hints that the value is in preventing someone who played safe from the tee in having a clear shot to the green, but then goes on to celebrate how that's already well-punished by bad angles. It does look good sitting there, but with ocean left and bunkers right of the DZ, is the tree a piece of good strategic design or simply a long-standing piece of quirk? It seems overly penal to the average player attempting to play in 3 shots. But that's just the view from my couch. Would love to hear from those who have played it.

[Mark Fedeli]

No replies about the tree? Man, I thought I tee'd that one up beautifully for you guys.

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