Your Favorite Shot of the Day #2 - Pebble Beach

[Jeff Fortson]

Since the last one was the Old Course at St. Andrews I figured this one should be what many consider to be mecca for golf in the USA.....

Pebble Beach

What is your favorite shot to hit at Pebble?  Why?

Please pick only ONE shot.

I'll start.....

I'm so predictable, the approach to the 8th green.  Do I need to answer why?


Jeff F.

[Tim_Weiman]

Jeff,

Nicklaus' favorite and I have to agree.

[Mike Benham]

I'll pick the tee shot on 18 ....

Not so much for the shear challenge of the shot (although there is that ...) but as it is the beginning of the end of the round ...

You have just played 17 holes, steeped in traditon, lore, opportunity and challenges ...

You may or may not have played well, and the 18th present the last chance for you to make your round memorble (for the golfing aspect of it ...).

So, chew off as much of the rocky, watery abyss as you dare and it sets up a memorble finish to an awesome day ...

[THuckaby2]

Just one?  Then we can't go past the 2nd on #8.  That's the best shot on that course without question.

I can name some other fun ones, for me, if you wish to suspend the rules...  

TH

[A_Clay_Man]

One of the under-sung greats is the tee shot on #3. It's all about position baby.

[THuckaby2]

Adam:

YAHOOOOOO!  That's exactly what was gonna be next for me - tee shot on 3.  I can't say that's more favored for me than the 2nd on 8, but what the hell, the door is open now.  Man I could go on all day about that shot... early in the round, bite off as much as you can chew... favors right to left, hard for me to do... death left if one gets too bold... bad angle right if one is too timid... heavy rough if one goes too far right... When I get to play Pebble, I swear that is a shot I pre-play in my mind more than just about any other.

TH

[Gene Greco]

2nd shot #8 hands down

[Doug Wright]

All other shots on Pebble Beach Golf Links--what, $450?
2d shot on 8--Priceless

[THuckaby2]

Well said, Doug.

And shivas, what, you like hard 5irons that much?  

TH

[Gene Greco]

Shivas:

    You seem to be going against the grain at every turn. Didn't you learn in 1st grade to play nice at least sometimes.

Crumudgeon!

[Dan Kelly]

Since the only reasonable answer has already been given, and given, and given, and given ...

I'll give it again: the second on 8 -- which, the one time I've played Pebble Beach, was the site of the single best shot of my life ... a 3-wood over the water, after hitting the directional flag at the brow of the hill with one of my trademark low-screamer drives. Second shot hung over the cove for an eternity before landing a few feet from the hole and bounding up the green, 20, 25 feet past. Fastest putt I've ever hit. It went maybe a dozen feet past. I missed the comebacker. Bogey. But what a bogey!

Next time I play there, if there is a next time, I'm hoping for wind -- and if I get it, I'll nominate the tee shot on 7 as the one I'll really be looking forward to.

[Mike Benham]

Then we can't go past the 2nd on #8.  That's the best shot on that course without question.

I assume that all the posters who chose the 2nd shot at # 8 have someone else hit their tee shots and stripe it down the middle ...

Don't you guys really mean to say:

1.  The second on #8 from the right rough, buried lie, 230 yards to the green, 190 to carry the cliff ..

or

2.  The second (technically the 3rd) after toeing one into Carmel Bay ...

       

[THuckaby2]

Of course, Mike.  We're assuming some one gets the golf ball into the right place, just before the cliff.
But those other shots work just fine also.

 

[Tony_Chapman]

It seems this has turned into "does anyone have a favorite shot other, than the second at #8?" Not that there is anything wrong with that.  

It is also ONE of my favorite shots, manly because I hit a 7-wood (it's ok if you think I am Annika) to about 12 feet and two putted for par. It's great not only because of it's beauty but of its challenge as well.

But, my favorite is the second shot to #6 - simply because of what it gets you to. You have a dramatic view back over Stillwater Cove and can see 17 and 18 plain as day then when you walk to the top of that hill its about as good as it gets.

[Phil_the_Author]

For me it would be the tee shot on #7 into a stiff wind!

[Joel_Stewart]

I'll be completely hokey and say the tee shot on the 18th.  Standing out on the pensuila looking out on the bay and chewing off as much as you want is always thrilling.

[CHrisB]

My least favorite shot at Pebble is the 6th shot at #13 . My favorite is the 2nd shot at #8. All of the shots from 6-10 are fun.

[Joel_Stewart]

I'll do my best Rich impersonation here  

 Is there trouble between the player and the hole?  If there is, I didn't see it; I was focused solely on the flagstick.  What's there that makes it so special...

Duh, yea there is a little water hazard between the player and the green.  You don't understand how awesome it is until you look back up from the green.  

The other factor(s) are the wind and the depth perception since you are hitting downhill.  Tremendous reward to reach the green and normally tremendous pain if you miss.

[Mike Benham]

[Jonathan Cummings]

Shiv my man how in the world can you give the green light to favorite shot status to the opener at one.  There, you simply conquer the embarassment factor with a successful tee shot.  A successful second shot at eight conquers world peace, the human genome, AIDS....  

In my poor excuse of a golfing career I have reached the green at eight in two but once.  When I did I felt that a Blue Angle fly-over would have been anticlimatic!

       

[George Pazin]

Personally, if I were gonna go contrarian, I'd say 2nd shot on #6 after a big drive.

[SteveTL]

Glenlivet in the Tap Room.  Only if you slice your approach on #8.

[Darren_Kilfara]

Are you guys giving extra credit for the view from BEHIND the 8th green, after you've hit your shot? Because the view from the fairway isn't noticeably more attractive to me than the view from the 4th, 6th, 9th, 10th and 18th fairways...

As my going-against-the-grain pick, I'll nominate the 3rd or 4th shot at the 14th, from short/right of the green, up the slope (you know what I'm talking about) to a pin tucked on the left. How many different ways are there to play that one?

Cheers,
Darren

[Jonathan Cummings]

Darren,

I know I'll get shot for this but the problem with the approach at 14 to the back pin you cite is that the tiniest mis-hit penalizes you way too severely.

JC