If your planning on playing Spyglass, Spanish Bay, or Del Monte along with Pebble with your buddies your might want to consider the Duke's Card that is offered:
http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?id=2350
you get big discounts at all those courses and sometimes even Pebble in the off season, I have had good luck with it. Also Bayonet Blackhorse has some great deals on line if you sign up for their online club.
If you go to Monterey for golf, it would be a complete waste of time to check out Bayonet or Black Horse, sorry Tim.
Pasatiempo, on the other hand, is fantastic, and just 45 minutes down the road. Out of the Monterey courses, only Cypress and Pebble are better, as Mackenzie put his genius to work at Pasa. In fact, I would go out of my way to make it to Pasatiempo. It is possible to do a morning round in Monterey and an afternoon round at Pasa with plenty of daylight to spare, Mayhugh and I did it last summer and we had a blast.
John Mayhugh and I also each signed up for the NCGA last summer, at $50 each. You can sign up at Poppy Hills, it takes almost no time at all. We saved well over the $50 fee per person at Pasatiempo, and the rates at Poppy Hills also get much cheaper as a member. I'm not sure if you'll get discounts at Spanish Bay, Spyglass or Del Monte (you don't at Pebble), but you'll get your moneys worth using the membership at Poppy and Pasa alone, and on top of that you'll be supporting a great cause. John Vanderbought, a fellow gca member, heads the NCGA and could give you further details.
Oh, just to throw it out there, my first time to Monterey I had no problem getting on at Pebble. At about 1:00 on a beautiful April day with the peninsula just packed, while we were on the 16th hole at Spyglass, Bob Jenkins, John Mayhugh, and I decided we wanted to play Pebble that afternoon. We got to the Pebble pro shop at 2:15, and teed off about a half hour later, with no calls in advance or anything. Definitely not the best way to try and get on Pebble, but it can be done. If you're coming in from another country, or this is a once in a lifetime trip for you, and getting a time at Pebble seems to be a problem, I suggest talking to Edward at at the Pebble Beach pro shop and explaining to him your situation. Edward is a very kind gentleman and will surely take time to try and meet your needs and wishes regarding Pebble Beach.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Jordan