Pebble Beach Why do we all fawn over it?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Sean,

What do you think ?

[Matthew Essig]

You never hear about the golf cart accident because it happened so long ago.

[Andrew Summerell]

The only reference I found was an article by Dave Kindred in Golf Digest who quotes Tom Callahan. The quote from the article says, "The legend was that two Japanese gentlemen drove off the cliff to their deaths," my colleague Tom Callahan said. "Not so. But I was told that someone did forget to set the cart brake and an unmanned cart took itself over a cliff at the sixth."

[Tim_Weiman]

Andrew:

Pebble really isn't one of my favorite courses, but I never really found the cart paths or the houses to occupy my mind when playing the course, even on #18, where especially when playing in any kind of wind I was always just so focused on playing the shot.

Can you list the holes and specific shots where either the paths or homes were a distraction over the task at hand?

[Kevin Pallier]

Tiger

I don't fawn over it. I think many are distracted by its +'ve surrounds (ocean backdrop) and try and ignore the -'ve ones (cart paths / houses)

It is a great location and has some superb holes yet it has it's lesser lights as well - moreso than many other of the greats IMO.

[Sean Leary]

Sean,

What do you think ?

Urban legend I would guess, although it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.

[Ted Cahill]

Brian Sheehy and I were fortunate to be first out as a twosome last spring.  I know the feeling of an earlier poster when you stand on the seventh tee box and you feel like the only golfers on the planet.  I have said often that I think Spyglass is a better course or would rather go to Bandon- yet the stretch from 6 to 11 is unmatched.  Also, being able to play a course so familar from golf history adds a lot of value for me. 

[Andy Stamm]

I get a kick of all of the fawning because I don't really like it. I've never played it, but I've been to the Crosby a couple of times, so I've seen the whole course in person. The houses really take A LOT away from it for me. And the whole place just feels so 'corporate.' I freely admit that there are some really great holes out there, but there are some clunkers, too, which I think hurts it considering it's supposed to be 'all-world.'

I actually agree with you, Andy. And I have played the course enough to make sure I didn't miss anything. Unfortunately, the houses and cart paths are there. It's an excellent course, but probably not worth this amount of fawning.

Thanks for the support; it was getting pretty lonely!

As far as houses being "in the way," I'd say 1 is a good example. Right out of the gate it looks like a housing development course, tight with a lot of houses and trees whose only purpose seems to be to hide/protect those houses. The 18th tee is bad because the line is "right at the chandelier in the living room of the modernist mansion, with a little draw." But the houses are right there for most of the back nine. For example 14, where mercifully the play of the hole takes you away from the houses, but they're very much on display.

And cart paths are one thing, but Pebble takes that to a whole new level with actual roads. I think it's three where just over the green runs down a hill to a convergence of several paths/roads. I slightly overhit ball could go miles beyond the hole because of those paths. And I think there's OB right there too that they bring into play.

For me, 6-10 are not only cracking holes, they're away from the that stuff with ocean to the right and golf to the left. The development is now way left and out of my radar.

[Jud_T]

We fawn over it because it's a historic course in one of the most beautiful settings on earth.  Joe Blow could shoot 150 but if he smoked a Cohiba while he watched the seals play on #7 tee, hit the green and made his par he got his money worth...For good players it's a very good test, for the rest of us it's an expensive walk in the park and necessary bedpost notch...

[Tim Leahy]

1. Setting
2. History
3. Access

I would bet that there is not a course in the top 100 that more of us on this site have played and can give an opinion on.

[jeffwarne]

1. Setting
2. History
3. Access

I would bet that there is not a course in the top 100 that more of us on this site have played and can give an opinion on.

If you're focused on the cart paths and the houses, you're looking the wrong direction

To answer the original question
setting, history,great past champions, and it's 30 degrees out for much of the population of the country,

[Matthew Rose]

Man, Pebble Beach must be one terrible golf course. I've been led to believe all of the following:

The new 5th hole is worse than the old one.
The 6th hole would be nothing if the ocean wasn't there. Same for the 7th.
The 8th hole is overrated.
The 12th is the worst par three in the Western Hemisphere.
The 17th hole is terrible.
The 18th hole is terrible.

Maybe they should blow the entire thing up and let someone else have a crack at it?

You know what.... if enough people bag it, maybe they'll drop the green fee so a hack like me can actually afford it.

[Bill Brightly]

1. Setting
2. History
3. Access

I would bet that there is not a course in the top 100 that more of us on this site have played and can give an opinion on.

+1

And we see it at least once per year on television, so even if we live far away, we feel that we "know" the course far better than most. Lastly, since it is public, posters are far more likely to make criticisms than if it were, say, Cypress Point...

[Matthew Essig]

Man, Pebble Beach must be one terrible golf course. I've been led to believe all of the following:

The new 5th hole is worse than the old one.
The 6th hole would be nothing if the ocean wasn't there. Same for the 7th.
The 8th hole is overrated.
The 12th is the worst par three in the Western Hemisphere.
The 17th hole is terrible.
The 18th hole is terrible.

Maybe they should blow the entire thing up and let someone else have a crack at it?

You know what.... if enough people bag it, maybe they'll drop the green fee so a hack like me can actually afford it.

The new 5th is fine. True statements about 6 and 7. The 8th is not overrated. The 12 is DEFINITELY the worst par 3 in the western hemisphere. There is a bunch of potential for 17 and it's overrated right now. I think the 18th hole is a great hole.

[Jed Peters]

You people bagging on pebble are absolutely NUTS.

Pebble is a fantastic place to play. Even number 1 is a good golf hole. I don't care what people say. I've actually played there more than a couple times, and the course is awesome.

12 is a fun par 3 for a guy like me. Play it out right, sling a hook in there.

I could go on and on about every hole. It's a sweet course. Period. I'd play there any day.

[Matthew Essig]

I would play pebble any day too. Just cause one critiques something doesn't mean one hates it.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

You people bagging on pebble are absolutely NUTS.

Pebble is a fantastic place to play. Even number 1 is a good golf hole. I don't care what people say. I've actually played there more than a couple times, and the course is awesome.

12 is a fun par 3 for a guy like me. Play it out right, sling a hook in there.

I could go on and on about every hole. It's a sweet course. Period. I'd play there any day.

+1.... no, make that +1/2.  I give it a full +1 when it's someone else's money... usually my dad's.  and then it becomes priceless... no place i'd rather play with him.

[William_G]

beautiful setting for golf you can play, and where history has been made, great parties have been had and all continue to happen

PS...erosion is Pebble's main enemy, and the houses are more prominent than ever as many trees have been blown over, cut down and not replaced

[Kirk Moon]

But with the green fee, reservation policy, and the 'bucket list' nature of many people's journey there, it's just too much for me.

During the last two Winters Pebble Beach Resort has offered one or two windows with discounted rounds and without the requirement that one stay at the resort in order to play.  Still expensive (this year I think the discounted rounds at Pebble were around $475, Spyglass around $325, and Spanish Bay around $225) but much more reasonable than usual.  Stay at an inexpensive motel in Seaside or Monterey and you can have the Pebble experience at a fraction the price. 

Might want to reconsider.  : )

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jed,

You're right, it's a spectacular golf course by any standard.

[jim_lewis]

Too bad that most of the ocean hazards are on the right since the average golfer (plus Tiger) tend to miss their tee shots to the right.

[Tom MacWood]

Yes, it is seaside golf. Yes the area is gorgeous. Yes it is an outstanding design. Yet, there are a number of these really well designed courses around the US and world located on the ocean and in incredible areas. What makes us go on and on about Pebble each year? I think for me is the combination of it all seems to rise above the rest. The lack of links style of play is the only thing missing.

I agree. PBGL has to be the most over-exposed golf course in the world, but still it rises to the top. What would be are perception if it was an ultra private domain like PVGC, CPGC, Seminole, or even Augusta? It is spectacular even with some of the idiotic bunkering changes.

[Andy Stamm]

But with the green fee, reservation policy, and the 'bucket list' nature of many people's journey there, it's just too much for me.

During the last two Winters Pebble Beach Resort has offered one or two windows with discounted rounds and without the requirement that one stay at the resort in order to play.  Still expensive (this year I think the discounted rounds at Pebble were around $475, Spyglass around $325, and Spanish Bay around $225) but much more reasonable than usual.  Stay at an inexpensive motel in Seaside or Monterey and you can have the Pebble experience at a fraction the price. 

Might want to reconsider.  : )

That's good to know, and I'm glad to hear it. That makes it pretty accessible for a once in a lifetime thing, that it is for a lot of people. And, I know there are tons of great winter golf days in that part of the world. But honestly, I'd just rather play Pasatiempo or go to Bandon or something. But it's a sensible policy notwithstanding my preferences.

[Kevin Pallier]

You people bagging on pebble are absolutely NUTS.

Jed

Why so ? Just because some don't fawn over it as much as you doesn't make them "nuts" ?

[Jud_T]

How many have actually played the course when conditions were firm and fast?