Not Interested in Playing

[Ira Fishman]

Ira,


If you can fly the ball 200 yards off the tee, you can play most of PV . . . . . . Pebble Beach is worth the cost of admission just to breathe the air. Or just go walk around it (nobody cares) in the early evening and go play Pacific Grove for $50.


Everybody forgets what a fabulous experience at Spyglass (Dad's favorite course) and Spanish Bay, which is beguiling, beautiful and wonderfully fun.

Gib, I no longer can. Hence, my interest in walking but not playing PV. As Dirty Harry said, a man has gotta to know his limitations.


Ira

[Sean_A]

I admit that PB is not a course which comes to mind for my totally unrealistic bucket list. I wonder if that has anything to do with the PB Pro Am, an event I always considered to be distinctly 3rd class. I don't even recall spending much time watching the Opens held there. The most I watched of PB is the Shells WWoG match I think from the 60s.

I would probably walk the course if I was in the area with time, but I seriously doubt I would be tempted to pay. There is something about seriously expensive green fees which feels very wrong to me on most levels. Before people get crazy, I reiterate it feels wrong to me. What you feel is entirely yours. I think deep down I know the game I grew to love was never meant to be Pebble Beached. Greatness is over rated.

Ciao

[Jim Sherma]

I agree that crazy money for golf seems wrong on many levels, but at the same time is the cost of doing business and I am guilty as most here are of at least occasionally paying up. Lord knows that my annual golf related spend is much too high for me to even want to do a full accounting of it. Saying that, there are some courses that I could see myself paying big money for, and others that I would not. Pebble is certainly on the former list.

[Tim Martin]

I agree that crazy money for golf seems wrong on many levels, but at the same time is the cost of doing business and I am guilty as most here are of at least occasionally paying up. Lord knows that my annual golf related spend is much too high for me to even want to do a full accounting of it. Saying that, there are some courses that I could see myself paying big money for, and others that I would not. Pebble is certainly on the former list.

I’ve had a few that I have balked over the price but Pebble is one I would pay for.

[Greg Smith]

Looking at those top 50 rankings, I think my odd man out is Pinehurst No. 2.  It's undeniably a great golf course and I'd be happy to visit.  But playing-wise?  Of all courses on the list, this is the one that would beat me to death such that the day would be diminished.  Just don't think my game can handle those green complexes. 

I'd be much less afraid of a course like Oakmont where at least there is some rough collar or something to keep my wayward ball near the green and leave me a thinkable chip or pitch.  And I've proven to myself I can putt extremely fast greens, at least.  At Oakmont, I think I'd have a chance of surviving.

The way everything runs off at No. 2 I'd just get killed on every attempt at an approach shot; I just do not have the shotmaking ability anymore to keep it in the right position on greens like that.  And if I'm gonna get totally embarrassed, there has got to be some nice scenery or something to salve the wounds.  The scenery at Pinehurst isn't necessarily anything special compared to some other places.

Right now, top of my "want to play" list is Yeamans Hall, followed by Lahinch.

[Tim Leahy]

I admit that PB is not a course which comes to mind for my totally unrealistic bucket list. I wonder if that has anything to do with the PB Pro Am, an event I always considered to be distinctly 3rd class. I don't even recall spending much time watching the Opens held there. The most I watched of PB is the Shells WWoG match I think from the 60s.

I would probably walk the course if I was in the area with time, but I seriously doubt I would be tempted to pay. There is something about seriously expensive green fees which feels very wrong to me on most levels. Before people get crazy, I reiterate it feels wrong to me. What you feel is entirely yours. I think deep down I know the game I grew to love was never meant to be Pebble Beached. Greatness is over rated.

Ciao

It feels wrong to you because you are cheap. LOL

[Rob Marshall]

Greg,
I've got Yeamans on my list as well. My sister is friends with the Pro but I've never been there at the right time of the year when I can get out. I need to get down there in the summer months.

[Jeff_Brauer]

As it happens, this thread comes up at a time when my wife, who has an annual biz trip to CA coming up in February, floated the idea of going down to play PB.  Have to admit, having played it twice, not crazy about it, but then, it is on her bucket list, so we will probably do it.


I played the first time as a single, and had the worst experience - behind a honeymoon couple who rarely, if ever played golf.  It was hit the ball, kiss, whiff, swing again, hit the ball, kiss, etc.  Had they hit a good shot, I wondered if they would do more than kiss, but such is a younger man's mind, LOL.


I haven't played it since the Palmer redo, which I do like on TV, and believe had to be done since the bunkering largely looked tired.  I may use that as the justification.  In the end, I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but its sort of like Disney....once you've decided that vacation experiences is worth it, you hold your nose and pay the price, trying not to think about is.


BTW, what is the current access status, if anyone knows?  Do you need to stay at the lodge to access?  Does it give you any privilege's on tee times, etc.?

[Sean_A]

I admit that PB is not a course which comes to mind for my totally unrealistic bucket list. I wonder if that has anything to do with the PB Pro Am, an event I always considered to be distinctly 3rd class. I don't even recall spending much time watching the Opens held there. The most I watched of PB is the Shells WWoG match I think from the 60s.

I would probably walk the course if I was in the area with time, but I seriously doubt I would be tempted to pay. There is something about seriously expensive green fees which feels very wrong to me on most levels. Before people get crazy, I reiterate it feels wrong to me. What you feel is entirely yours. I think deep down I know the game I grew to love was never meant to be Pebble Beached. Greatness is over rated.

Ciao

It feels wrong to you because you are cheap. LOL

Frugal if you please 😎. But I do think my distaste for high fees runs deeper and I feel it is part of what I think of as negative aspects of golf. But, hey, that's me. We all play the game for our own purposes as it should be.

Ciao

[Jeff Schley]

I recall watching a US Open preview of Johnny Miller in 2000 of Pebble Beach and remember him saying, "It's open to anyone, so save up your money or whatever as it is worth it."
I played it twice on March 1, 2001 on a 12:50 "saver rate" of $185 (we finished), then on August 1, 2010 for $425 IIRC. I do believe Johnny Miller was right.

[Tim Martin]

On the private side some unaccompanied fees are high enough that you will be tolerated but you know that you really are not wanted.

[Mark Mammel]

As it happens, this thread comes up at a time when my wife, who has an annual biz trip to CA coming up in February, floated the idea of going down to play PB.  Have to admit, having played it twice, not crazy about it, but then, it is on her bucket list, so we will probably do it.


I played the first time as a single, and had the worst experience - behind a honeymoon couple who rarely, if ever played golf.  It was hit the ball, kiss, whiff, swing again, hit the ball, kiss, etc.  Had they hit a good shot, I wondered if they would do more than kiss, but such is a younger man's mind, LOL.


I haven't played it since the Palmer redo, which I do like on TV, and believe had to be done since the bunkering largely looked tired.  I may use that as the justification.  In the end, I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but its sort of like Disney....once you've decided that vacation experiences is worth it, you hold your nose and pay the price, trying not to think about is.


BTW, what is the current access status, if anyone knows?  Do you need to stay at the lodge to access?  Does it give you any privilege's on tee times, etc.?

Jeff- Maybe I am wrong but I would assume your credentials would get you on the course! Yes, the PB Corp is pleased to charge all the traffic will bear, but the last few months have been tough. They have recently offered reduced rates for play - like $450?- not totally sure- and since the hotel has only just reopened, and CA is in a resurgence, I think it would be worth al call to explain you need to play the course for professional reasons!
All the best.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Not sure about today, but in the "way back machine" you could rent a cart from the goldf shop and just tour the place.


Showed up there with my Santa Cruz artist younger brother (who does not play) in 1990. We walked into the shop at 5:00 pm and asked. The asst offered that we play anyway.


What??!!...was my reaction....!


Yup...it had poured rain all day and the tee sheet was clean so for $75.00 i played my first round there...twilight rate, of course.
No one in sight until we got to 16 and played in with a father and his two sons from Boston and beat the sunset.


It was magical.

[Ronald Montesano]

Ira...I'm in the frugal camp with you. I don't believe that I shan't pony up the $550+ to play Shadow Creek, Pebble Beach, or any course that falls into that economic category. I'm happy for the folks on this site that make salaries that accommodate a round at that rate or higher. Figuring travel, lodging, and sustenance into the equation makes it even more unmanageable.


I had an opportunity to walk a top-shelf course once, long ago, taking photos as I went. My friends were playing and I had a wondrous time on the hike. I was jealous of their opportunity for brief moments, but much more satisfied with their opportunity to play, and the photos that did turn out well.


It is neat to hear golfers of our age (50 years plus) talk about rounds that were played at these giants in the earth, for less than $100, in another time. It is sad that those born after 1975 won't really be able to have those memories, as costs have been uber-high for quite some time. Their memories will have to come from ways in which they avoided paying the green fee (employment at the course, sneaking on during the winter season, etc.)


Time spent among this discussion group alerts us to the myriad courses that are nearly the equal of the Pebbles, the Shadows, the Straits, that can be had for half or less the price. I think back to my college (Wake Forest) in the 1980s. We paid $7K $8K $9K $10K for a total of $34K over four years. Now, that's about 1/2 the cost of a single year. Since then, many Wakes have emerged (Elon, Wofford, High Point) at a more manageable price point, the one I paid. Same will be with golf.

[Mark Pritchett]

Pebble is a better value than Pasatiempo. 

[Kalen Braley]

Ronald,

Excellent post.  In my couple walks of Pebble, as much as it would have been nice to play it, I too got a ton of enjoyment just watching, observing, and taking it all in.  That 2nd shot on 8 is the one I would really love to take a chop at. $100 in 1975 is approx $475 in today's dollars, so I'm not so sure it was affordable for most back then either.

Mark makes a great point here, its all about the value to the individual.  To some the price tag is certainly worth it even if its not for most. But its such an iconic venue and guessing there are plenty on the tee sheet who just can't resist to play it once despite the price tag.

[Rob Marshall]

Ronald,

Excellent post.  In my couple walks of Pebble, as much as it would have been nice to play it, I too got a ton of enjoyment just watching, observing, and taking it all in.  That 2nd shot on 8 is the one I would really love to take a chop at. $100 in 1975 is approx $475 in today's dollars, so I'm not so sure it was affordable for most back then either.

Mark makes a great point here, its all about the value to the individual.  To some the price tag is certainly worth it even if its not for most. But its such an iconic venue and guessing there are plenty on the tee sheet who just can't resist to play it once despite the price tag.

It's really $1000+ if you want to have an advanced tee time. I paid $2200 for two nights at the lodge, a round on PB and Spyglass. They also gave me a $200 pro shop voucher. It was worth every penny. 2nd shot on 8 was incredible.