Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint Garland with my review of these holes. This is a comparison of two stellar holes. These are the first holes at each course to play near the ocean. But the similarities end there.
Pebble Beach, Par 4, 326 yards. This is a fantastic, very strategic short par 4. The play off the tee is to the left side of the fairway, but a fairway bunker just left of the centerline of the fairway forces the player to make a big choice. He can play left of it into a 10 or so yard wide sliver of fairway; he can play right of the bunker into a wider portion of the fairway potentially bringing the ocean into play and certainly leaving a less desirable angle to the green; he can play past the bunker either leaving a short shot from a poor angle or threading the needle up onto the front approach for the better angle; or the player can attempt to drive the green, a certain possibility given the down wind nature of the hole but one that calls for a very precise shot. For the second shot, the player is confronted with a small green with some significant undulation, and surrounded by bunkers.
Pacific Dunes, Par 4, 463 yards. Very good, long hole playing along the Pacific Ocean. Again, the hole is set up from the tee. The ocean obviously provides a significant hazard to the right. But the player does not really have a bail out area as there are bunkers the pinch in the fairway to the left. While some players are capable of carrying the ball over the bunkers given that the hole typically plays with the wind, even those players must contend with the ocean if they want to have a clear angle into the green. From short of the bunker, the player either has to play a draw into the green, aiming over the ocean and bringing that into play, or play a semi-blind shot to the left side of the green, that runs away from the player from front left to back right. From the right side of the fairway, players are left with a much more open shot to the green, being able to run the ball onto the surface. The few players who can carry the bunkers are left with wedges into the green, but given how firm the course normally plays, these shots are no bargain.
I really want to call this one a draw. These are both fantastic holes, offering 3-4 options off the tee to set up the approach shot. Both have the scenery of the ocean. But in the end, Garland is just going to have to experience disappointment on this one, because I am giving the nod to Pacific Dunes on this hole.