Pebble Beach comes up in the conversation. As long as golf is part of the topic, Pebble Beach represents. Why? It’s kinda sorta public. The freight is expensive, but the experience just might be worth it, depending on what you expect. Know this: no one has ever returned from Pebble and commented “I shot my best score ever at Pebble Beach!” You’d be amazed at how many people say that about the Old Course at St. Andrews. Both are Open Championship stalwarts, but Pebble is tough!
No matter, we’re going! We’re paying nearly $600 to play the vaunted links, because we have a tee time, and we are not going to miss it. Might as well hit a few more tee balls while on the Monterey peninsula, but where? Cypress Point and Monterey Peninsula are super-great, but they’re private. Rumor has it that Cypress offers one early time each day to a lucky foursome; we’re not banking on hitting that jackpot.
Relax. OnCore has you covered. There is plenty of golf to keep you occupied, when not strolling the gorgeous streets of toney Carmel-By-The-Sea. We break it down for you, and we keep it simple Along with Monterey, you have the knowns, and you also have the unknowns. Allow us to elaborate.
The Knowns
You’ve seen them on television, when the professionals visit MP for the AT&T Classic. You’ve heard them mentioned, when the Open is played at Pebble. The Pebble Beach resort is made up of more than just one course. Tiger Woods is putting the finishing touches on a redesign of the short course on site. Formerly called the Peter Hay short course, the new one will have all the touches of its big sister, and that will be fun!
The Pebble Beach links occupies land on the southern perimeter of the peninsula. The rest of the golf is either north or east of Pebble. Directly north, adjacent to Cypress Point, is the Spyglass Hill golf course. This Robert Trent Jones, sr., layout begins in the dunes, and ends in the forest. It’s known as the toughest of the three courses in the AT&T rotation.
Way up north, nearly to Point Pinos, is the Links at Spanish Bay. This is the most recent addition to the company, and it has undergone a bit of revision since it took its first bow in 1987. The combined efforts of renowned professional Tom Watson, decorated amateur Sandy Tatum, and golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, jr., produced this gem.
The Unknowns
Way up north, adjacent to Point Pinos, is the hidden gem of the Monterey peninsula. The Pacific Grove golf links is the product of the same two gentlemen who designed Pebble Beach. Think of this one as the affordable PB; it will cost you 10% of what the big one charges. Unlike Spyglass Hill, Pacific Grove begins inland, and concludes along the coast. Let’s be honest: we’ve come west to golf along the water. What better place to do so, than a local course that concludes against the breakers?
Moving inland, south-east of Pacific Grove and north-east of Pebble Beach, is the Monterey Pines golf course and Laguna Seca golf ranch. Like the Grove, Laguna Seca charges in the neighborhood of $60 per round. The Pines comes in at half that cost and 5500 yards, for a nice, executive finish to the week. Unless your lottery ticket cashed, balancing the resort courses (north of $300 per 18) with the affordable locals will confer the ability to eat!
Green Fees
Pebble: $575 Pacific Grove: $60 Spyglass Hill: $425
Laguna Seca: $60 Spanish Bay: $275
5 rounds on the easy: Pebble, Pacific X 2, Laguna X2 = $825
5 rounds in the middle: Pebble, Pacific X 2, Laguna, Spyglass = $1180
5 round at the ritz: Pebble X 2, Spyglass X 2, Spanish Bay = $2550
