Pacific Grove - a few pictures

[Jim Johnson]

In early May my wife and I traveled to California and had the pleasure of golfing at Pacific Grove, Pasatiempo, San Juan Oaks, Monarch Dunes, Sandpiper, Oak Quarry, Desert Willow-Firecliff, and LaQuinta Mountain.

After hitting a bank in Monterey to take out more money after paying United's bag fees 
we drove over to Pacific Grove.

Deer had the run of the place on the front nine, during a relaxing Sunday afternoon round...


And more deer...


The approach on the 265 yard par-4 4th hole, with 5 and 6 in the background...


Did I mention the deer?


The 11th hole, a downhill par-4 of 303 yards tracking down toward the sea...


The 11th green...


The 12th, a par-5 of 513 yards...


The approach on 13, a 316 yard par-4...


The lighthouse overlooking the 16th...


Tee shot on the 355 yard par-4 16th...


It was an interesting, if not quirky, round to begin our golf season (first rounds of the year for us Canucks). And doubly interesting that the opening tee-shot of the season was on a par 3. Two of them in fact before hitting a par-4 on the 3rd hole. The course stretches to 5727 yards from the blue tees, with a slope rating of 118.

Temp was in the mid 60's with a refreshing ocean breeze. Out of the 8 courses played on the trip, it was probably our 6th favorite.

Tomorrow, some pics from Pasatiempo.

Cheers,
Jim

[Garland Bayley]

6th is perhaps right. I find it interesting that it gets praise here, because in has negative attributes that would be slammed when found on other courses.

[Kalen Braley]

The problem with Pacific is depending on what you remember, it can either be glorious or ho hum

1-10 - Ho hum with a little bit of interest mingled in.

11-16 - An epic stretch...worth the price of admission alone

17-18 - Ho hum again.

[William_G]

6th place for preference, but  1st place for lowest green fee around 17 mile drive, except for Peter Hay par 3.

[Brian Hilko]

Early one mourning before a round at a course near by we watched the sun come up over the back 9 and break through the haze. Great start to a great day.

[Garland Bayley]

The problem with Pacific is depending on what you remember, it can either be glorious or ho hum

1-10 - Ho hum with a little bit of interest mingled in.

11-16 - An epic stretch...worth the price of admission alone

17-18 - Ho hum again.

My assessment is almost the opposite. Front nine better than back. 12-16 particularly bad. 18 better than ho hum.

[Kalen Braley]

The problem with Pacific is depending on what you remember, it can either be glorious or ho hum

1-10 - Ho hum with a little bit of interest mingled in.

11-16 - An epic stretch...worth the price of admission alone

17-18 - Ho hum again.

My assessment is almost the opposite. Front nine better than back. 12-16 particularly bad. 18 better than ho hum.

Garland,

Oddly, I'm not surprised with your assessment.

If we said the sky is blue, I think you would claim its Orange just to be contradictory. 

[Matthew Mollica]

FWIW I'm with you Kalen.

I loved 11 thru 16. Could leave the rest if need be. A few more pictures for those interested -

Drive on 12.


Fairway on 13. Note the transition from fairway turf to sand - amazing how an under-resourced club gets it so right!


13 greensite.


15 greensite.


MM

[Greg Tallman]

Given the comments and some of the photos I can't help but wonder if this could be converted to one of the best 9-hole tracks anywhere? Maybe 12?

[Garland Bayley]

...

If we said the sky is blue, I think you would claim its Orange just to be contradictory.  

The sky of course is white, as is the sun. And, that is not being contradictory, it is being factual.

[Niall C]

Jim

Thanks for posting. Looks like my kind of course. Simple, good-value, uncluttered golf thats scruffy round the edges. In addition the weathers just like Scotland.

Niall

[Garland Bayley]

Given the comments and some of the photos I can't help but wonder if this could be converted to one of the best 9-hole tracks anywhere? Maybe 12?

Greg,

The pictures look great. But, what they don't show you is how cramped for space the course is. 12 has OB left, and incourse OB right. 12, 13 and 14 are particularly dangerous, because shots can be easily lost into an adjacent fairway. My favorite hole there was 11, after which you being playing dodge ball. Actually, come to think of it, 11 tee was in danger of mishit tee shots from the par 3 10th. How do I know? Unfortunately my tee shot on 10 came far to close to players on 11 for comfort.