What took Pebble Beach so long to have a professional major?

[Anthony Gray]

   Over 60 years before a proffesional major. Wasn't it a dream destination? So why so long for a major?

   Anthony

[ed_getka]

Well they did have the '29 Amateur there, back when it was considered a major. Other than that I don't know what took so long.

[Kevin_Reilly]

I heard Ron Read on the "Hooked on Golf" radio show this morning.  He said the ocean will really be in play on #10.  They will be doing something similar to what they've done on #6...move the rough line on the left in a bit, making one favor the right side off the tee.  Rough on the right side will be eliminated (or minimized) so that balls can go off the cliff.  #10 will play c. 500 yds, making it a difficult "opening" hole for those starting on the back during the Open.  He said that rough near the cliff on #8 would be cut as well, but wasn't specific.

[Joe Bausch]

And there was the quite the upset in that 1929 US Amateur at Pebble.  Just think, if Jones wins that one and then does the following year at Merion, he has a record four straight that would still stand today (and likely would forever).  This from Pebble's web page:

Bobby Jones comes into this tournament as the defending champion and the greatest amateur of the day. A 1929 victory will mean three Amateur championships in a row – a record Jones is widely expected to set. Johnny Goodman, a young amateur from Omaha, Nebraska, does not share this expectation, however, and quickly finds himself two up on Jones in the middle of the first round of match play. The two battle throughout the day, with Goodman the unlikely one-up leader when they come to 18. The pair halve the hole, then the mighty Robert Tyre Jones finds himself knocked out of contention in the first round.

[Adam Clayman]

I certainly don't know why, but, I do know that because of it's popularity, Pebble became a maintenance nightmare I believe in the 60's and 70's. Carts were allowed to go almost anywhere. So, conditions could've been a reason for the long delay. Another...Prox to Far Hills?

I recall one old timer (former Santa Cruz High football coach Bob...can't get the last name. Was big at De la'veaga.) who use to play Pebble and Cypress everyday for a week for $15 toto. He was an original member of Pasatiempo for $1500.00. When he was in his 80's he finally had a lawyer look into selling it. The lawyer told him to sit down. $180,000.00 is what he got and that was after it had already traded at $210,000.00

The caddie fee in the 30's was a quarter. And 75 cents was a huge tip.

Maybe old Pablo is still around at Pacific Grove. (but I doubt it since they've gone all greedy)  But if he is, ask him about what it was like to caddy in the 30's at Pebble. Old Cliff Harris too. He used to loop at CPC and Pebble and still cusses out Peter Hay.

[David Stamm]

And there was the quite the upset in that 1929 US Amateur at Pebble.  Just think, if Jones wins that one and then does the following year at Merion, he has a record four straight that would still stand today (and likely would forever).  This from Pebble's web page:

Bobby Jones comes into this tournament as the defending champion and the greatest amateur of the day. A 1929 victory will mean three Amateur championships in a row – a record Jones is widely expected to set. Johnny Goodman, a young amateur from Omaha, Nebraska, does not share this expectation, however, and quickly finds himself two up on Jones in the middle of the first round of match play. The two battle throughout the day, with Goodman the unlikely one-up leader when they come to 18. The pair halve the hole, then the mighty Robert Tyre Jones finds himself knocked out of contention in the first round.

And lucky for us, Jones did have an early exit or else he likely would not have met MacKenzie, seen CPC and Pasa ,and ANGC might not have been the course it turned out to be. One of the many serendipitous moments in golf lore.

[David Stamm]

I heard Ron Read on the "Hooked on Golf" radio show this morning.  He said the ocean will really be in play on #10.  They will be doing something similar to what they've done on #6...move the rough line on the left in a bit, making one favor the right side off the tee.  Rough on the right side will be eliminated (or minimized) so that balls can go off the cliff.  #10 will play c. 500 yds, making it a difficult "opening" hole for those starting on the back during the Open.  He said that rough near the cliff on #8 would be cut as well, but wasn't specific.

Kevin, didn't they recently bring in to play a new tee further to the right? BTW, I listen to that show from time to time on line. Those two are a couple of characters.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Over 60 years before a proffesional major.

Probably because the owners and residents didn't want ANOTHER event

Wasn't it a dream destination?

Not logistically and weatherwise.

So why so long for a major?

Good common sense 

[Kevin_Reilly]

I heard Ron Read on the "Hooked on Golf" radio show this morning.  He said the ocean will really be in play on #10.  They will be doing something similar to what they've done on #6...move the rough line on the left in a bit, making one favor the right side off the tee.  Rough on the right side will be eliminated (or minimized) so that balls can go off the cliff.  #10 will play c. 500 yds, making it a difficult "opening" hole for those starting on the back during the Open.  He said that rough near the cliff on #8 would be cut as well, but wasn't specific.

Kevin, didn't they recently bring in to play a new tee further to the right? BTW, I listen to that show from time to time on line. Those two are a couple of characters.

David -- I haven't been down there in a few years, so someone else will have to weigh in on that.

John Abendroth, by the way, is a long time member at Olympic and still holds a course record on the Lake.  Out of a lineup of 100 folks taking practice swings (so you can't see the ball) he'd be about #90 who you think can play.  But boy can he.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Why was Pebble logistically a nightmare that the USGA or PGA couldn't handle?  They were used to holding tour events since the Bing Crosby had been there for decades and in the period in question the logistical demands would have been much less than they are today, at least in terms of hospitality tents, etc.

Was the weather at Pebble worse than Dallas or Tulsa isn't rain or gof better than 100 degrees?

And the US Open did go out to California in 48, 55 and 66 so the travel had been done before.  And the PGA also made several trips to the left coast before the 70s and also went to Southern locales that would have been really hot, assuming the tournament was held in August at that time.

[David Stamm]

I heard Ron Read on the "Hooked on Golf" radio show this morning.  He said the ocean will really be in play on #10.  They will be doing something similar to what they've done on #6...move the rough line on the left in a bit, making one favor the right side off the tee.  Rough on the right side will be eliminated (or minimized) so that balls can go off the cliff.  #10 will play c. 500 yds, making it a difficult "opening" hole for those starting on the back during the Open.  He said that rough near the cliff on #8 would be cut as well, but wasn't specific.

Kevin, didn't they recently bring in to play a new tee further to the right? BTW, I listen to that show from time to time on line. Those two are a couple of characters.

David -- I haven't been down there in a few years, so someone else will have to weigh in on that.

John Abendroth, by the way, is a long time member at Olympic and still holds a course record on the Lake.  Out of a lineup of 100 folks taking practice swings (so you can't see the ball) he'd be about #90 who you think can play.  But boy can he.

Oh I believe it. The man played on tour for a few years, no? Also, when we were fortunate enough to get the TV show of theirs down here, he always played well. And I like his attitude about the game. Very laid back, but passionate.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Wayne,

Have you ever been to a U.S. Open ?

Have you ever been to Pebble Beach ?

[Phil_the_Author]

I think the answer is a simple one... It hosted the Crosby.

Both the USGA & the PGA were loathe to have a vourse host their championship that would also hiost a PGA tournament the same year. When the USGA finally gave in wasn't it at... Pebble Beach?

[Matt_Cohn]

I think the answer is a simple one... It hosted the Crosby.

Both the USGA & the PGA were loathe to have a vourse host their championship that would also hiost a PGA tournament the same year. When the USGA finally gave in wasn't it at... Pebble Beach?

No, they had Riviera and Colonial once each before that.

edit: Colonial didn't have a tour event yet in 1941, so only Riviera.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Have you ever been to a U.S. Open ?

Have you ever been to Pebble Beach ?

No I have not been to a US Open but I have been to a Ryder Cup and other tour events both in North America and in Europe..  I know it is a complex logistical exercise to put on a US Open but it was less complex in 1955 than in 2000, was it not?

Yes I have been to Pebble about 5-6 times.

[Wayne_Kozun]

I think the answer is a simple one... It hosted the Crosby.

Both the USGA & the PGA were loathe to have a vourse host their championship that would also hiost a PGA tournament the same year. When the USGA finally gave in wasn't it at... Pebble Beach?

But the PGA and US Open have been held at several courses that traditionally host PGA tour events - did they not host their regular tour events in the same year?  Examples include Riviera, Firestone, and Congressional.

[Phil_the_Author]

Wayne,

How often did it occur during the '30's-60's? Were thhey at courses that had been used for a num,ber of years as Pebble with Crosby had?

[Kevin_Reilly]

Different situation since it wasn't the same year, but interesting to note that Olympic Club hosted the SF Open in 1946 and of course hosted the Open nine years later.

[Anthony Gray]

  Did Tom Paul tell a story that his father was at the 1929 Am and his parents had a talk with Bobby Jones after their mutual defeats? Does enyone else remember that story? And by the way why no major for Cypress Point?

  Anthony

[astavrides]

I heard Ron Read on the "Hooked on Golf" radio show this morning.  He said the ocean will really be in play on #10.  They will be doing something similar to what they've done on #6...move the rough line on the left in a bit, making one favor the right side off the tee.  Rough on the right side will be eliminated (or minimized) so that balls can go off the cliff.  #10 will play c. 500 yds, making it a difficult "opening" hole for those starting on the back during the Open.  He said that rough near the cliff on #8 would be cut as well, but wasn't specific.

Kevin, didn't they recently bring in to play a new tee further to the right? BTW, I listen to that show from time to time on line. Those two are a couple of characters.

David -- I haven't been down there in a few years, so someone else will have to weigh in on that.

John Abendroth, by the way, is a long time member at Olympic and still holds a course record on the Lake.  Out of a lineup of 100 folks taking practice swings (so you can't see the ball) he'd be about #90 who you think can play.  But boy can he.

Oh I believe it. The man played on tour for a few years, no? Also, when we were fortunate enough to get the TV show of theirs down here, he always played well. And I like his attitude about the game. Very laid back, but passionate.

I agree, but he is a fat guy and has an ugly swing

[David Stamm]

I think the answer is a simple one... It hosted the Crosby.

 

Not until the '30's as Rancho Santa Fe GC was the host until then.

[Anthony Gray]

  David,

  Why did Cypress Point not have a major?

  Anthony

[David Stamm]

  Did Tom Paul tell a story that his father was at the 1929 Am and his parents had a talk with Bobby Jones after their mutual defeats? Does enyone else remember that story? And by the way why no major for Cypress Point?

  Anthony

Too short by today's standards, and some of the club's membership policies I'm sure have had something to do with it as well.

[Adam Clayman]

David, Do you know if the clambake was held during the war?

There was gentleman I knew in P.G. that was from Augusta Ga. He told me that during the war Bing held his party at Roosevelt Hospital in Augusta. It implies that had or have a golf course.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

[Tom_Doak]

I think Pebble was just too remote for the USGA to consider playing the Open there until the 1970's.  As was the case with Shinnecock Hills.

What was the most remote Open site before those?