Cypress Point vs Pebble Beach

[Andy Doyle]

It is one of my lifetime goals in golf to be qualified (in a Matt Wardian way) to participate in this thread.

Halfway there ...........

[Tim Leahy]

the only way to settle this is a GCA event at both courses, Tommy set this up immediately! We can call it KPVI.

Cypress has always been my holy grail and I think that exclusivity definitely adds to the lore as well as the beauty and classic design. But, Pebble's history may be the trump card in its favor, you can't play 17 and not think about or actually play Watson's chip in the US Open among many other historical shot's and celebrity moments. Both courses are 10's in my book and maybe if I ever get to play Cypress it may surpass Pebble.

[PThomas]

Gene,


My sentiments exactly... without getting emotional   - i sat on that tee box for an hour on my own and took the customary picture of that plaque and thought the same as you.

Sixteen tee was the spot for me...after I teed off I wish I could have stayed there with a some cocktails for the rest of the day....

[Seth Berliner]

I thought this thread needed some pics!  Bottom pic is one of the finest walks in golf.  If you have been there, you know exactly where this is.

[Jim Bearden]

I have been out of sorts for over a year and just logged in for the first time in a while. This discussion is up my alley since the plaque on 17 is my father and was done by another long time member Hank Ketchum (Dennis the Menace). thanks for your kind words.

To the subject at hand. If you look at statistics from the PGA Tour when the Crosby was played there. You will find that CPC was like the second shortest course on tour and among the 5 or 10 toughest on tour. If anybdy has an old edition of The World Of Golf I think that's where I saw it.

Now with all the advances in equipment this may no longer hold up. That said I think the reason it is so difficut are the greens. Now I played first in 1973 and last in 1998 and at the last the greens were far slower than before. The problem I think had to do with the lack of a true greenskeeper for a long time and the use of reclaimed water.

Now I don't know how it is now but if you had the earlier speed the greens make it one of the most difficult courses there are.

[Gary Slatter]

My opinion is based on playing CPC twice and PB 9 times, in the late 80s. Loved them both, would prefer CPC over PB given the chance to play only one.  For some reason I also enjoy Spyglass, almost as much as PB!   3 completely different perfect golfing experiences, in one small area.  I have not played Bandon yet but have this feeling that the 3 exisiting courses don't vary as much as the 3 Carmel courses.
Can't wait to find out!

[James Edwards]

Mark,

Fortunately that day, i was not playing, i was merely walking, observing and experiencing the finest golfing 'treat' of my life to date - i was the guest of the professional who was the only group on the course  A great day!  as for pace of play, i think i could of sat there for another hour, maybe two and still noone would have asked to play through  

[Andy Doyle]

Jim:

Such a cool way to have your father remembered in such a special place.

Andy

[Pat Howard]

I feel like I may be one of the few people around that HAS played Cypress and HASN'T played Pebble. I'd love to give an opinion, but I can't be fair to Pebble without having felt the magic of teeing it up there.

That being said, CPC is an unbelievable experience on every level!

[Craig Van Egmond]

Quote today from Golf Hole a Day calendar..

"Realistically, I think I've got 13 more years. I can't see myself still doing this at 90. But who knows?"

--Marty Larkin, a 77-year-old regular caddie at Cypress Point, when asked how much longer he plans to work.

[Stan Dodd]

Craig,
Marty is one of my golf/caddie mates.  He is a piece of work.  He is lean and hard as a rock.
He tells a great story of the time he was packing for an overweight guest.  They are on the back of the property and the guest is huffing and puffing and moaning and groaning.  Marty tells him "I will carry him our if need be". The guest says, "you could never carry me out". They play a couple more holes and walking up the hill to the eighth green the bellyaching starts again.  Marty says, "I'll carry you back to the clubhouse".  The guy says, "I bet you $100 you can't carry me out".  Marty says, "you're on".  The guys says ok.  Marty then says, "lay down".  "What do you mean lay down," repies the guest. Marty says, " Well if I'm going to pack you out I'll have to gut you first".  The group was rolling.  The guy gave Marty the $.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Stan,

        That is great. Marty sounds like a heck of a guy.  I wish I had met him while I was there.

[Jim Bearden]

Some time ago my fathers caddy Bob Villignes (sic) was caddieing for some guests and was telling them what they should do on the different holes. They came to 16 and one got tired of the instruction and said if you know so much why don't you show us how it's done. He promptly put it in the hole but since it was not a complete round it was not official.

[Gene Greco]

Jim:

    Was Bob V. Bobby Clampett's caddie as well?

[scuster]

Just came back from a vacation on the Peninsula and had to chime in on this one after playing both courses.
Our group voted 3-1 in favor of PB, with myself as the lone dissenter.  CPC was phenomenal, but it is hard to beat the feeling of cresting the hill on 6 at PB - 80 feet above the ocean, with water surrounding you on three sides.
Pebble has the bigger "Wow" factor.  Cypress is more subtle, and takes a longer look and a little more knowledge to appreciate.  
Can't wait to go back some day...

[Bill_McBride]

My vote is for Cypress Point.  It would be a lot closer if Pebble became a walking only course and they bulldozed those frickin' wall to wall cart paths with curbs.  Jeez.  

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

This question is always a mind bender, but it also surprises mr when so many people like Pebble as much as they do in terms of it being as good as a golf course.

To me, CPC, has no weak holes whatsoever..Pebble has several "ordinary" holes in numbers 3/14 and marginally # 2..that I know is being very picky, but taht is one of the only ways to seperate the two courses.

The variety in terrain and surroundings also gives CPC  the edge, but the most difficult stretch of hole is to be found at Pebble in that awesome run from 8-12...two great courses tfrom which perhaps we should not even try to pick a winner.
I like evrybody else on this sitye would gladly tee it up at either any day at anytime!

[tlavin]

This question is always a mind bender, but it also surprises mr when so many people like Pebble as much as they do in terms of it being as good as a golf course.

To me, CPC, has no weak holes whatsoever..Pebble has several "ordinary" holes in numbers 3/14 and marginally # 2..that I know is being very picky, but taht is one of the only ways to seperate the two courses.

The variety in terrain and surroundings also gives CPC  the edge, but the most difficult stretch of hole is to be found at Pebble in that awesome run from 8-12...two great courses tfrom which perhaps we should not even try to pick a winner.
I like evrybody else on this sitye would gladly tee it up at either any day at anytime!

I prefer Cypress but Pebble is awfully good, despite having five average holes.  Cypress has quite possibly the worst finishing hole for a "great" course, but somehow it just doesn't matter.

No losers in this debate.

[Adam Clayman]

Terry, Clearly Forrest is the loser in this debate.