http://www.golfobserver.com/preview/golfnotebook/golfnotebook_021006.html#courseobserverThe above link should take you to Golf Observer's newest feature page.
There you shall find one of the more unique pieces ever written. A scribe/critic admitting thier earlier opinion was in error. Not just any scribe, but Ron Whitten admits that Pebble is better than he ever thought it was.
The Verdict
I was wrong -- Pebble Beach needs one other improvement: A much faster pace of play. On Golf Digest's 10 point scale (1 being Unacceptable, 5 being Good, 10 being Absolutely Perfect), I rate Pebble Beach a 9.5.
Kudos to Whitten for the balls to re-evaluate.
I did take exception with two points.
1) I'm not certain if the lateral spine, he talks about on #12, is actually that. Perhaps it's semantics? As I recall the surface, it has several deceptive slopes. The most deceptive eminates from the right third of the green, towards the sea.(Likely what he calls "lateral spine") While the extreme right side is not as steep, there is no contrary slope, which would create a spine, IMO. The backside of the front bunker slopes away from the player, so any ball that just carries likey runs through. The back left side also slopes towards the center. Advice most often given when putting up Whitten's spine was " slower than it looks".
2), I completely disagree with his recco to raise the 17th tee. Firstly, he cites the views of crashing waves. Ahhmmm but this is STILLWATER COVE. Not too many crashers here. Maybe in the winter with a nice southern swell, but crashing waves are very rare indeed. Also, one of the most over looked subtleties integral to the design is where there is a lack of raised teeing grounds. If the first hole had it's original teeing ground, this element would be in your face on the very first. If that's not enough, why the raised bunker lip in front of the entire left 2/3 of the 17th green? The blindness is integral to the shot demand. It hieghtens the puckerability while accentuating the anticipation caused by not knowing exactly where one's ball came to rest, as you walk towards an unobstructed view of the Pacific. Raising the teeing ground would only appease the typical resort player, who play golf just for the vistas, and we all know how much they appreciate thoughtful design.
I might as well disagree with him about the pace, too.
Otherwise, Bravo !