Pebble Beach Golf Links™

The course, the caddie and the people in the lodge were exceptional. Most of the staff at the pro shop were friendly and courteous. My negative experience was with a Marshall on the course. Our group teed off at our scheduled 7:50 time, but the 7:40 group before us did not show. Instead of moving us up, they kept us at our regular time. Before starting there is a sign that says to keep a 1/2 hole between groups. Because a group was missing in front of us, we were practically harassed into hurting to catch up to the group in front of us. The marshal said we were 1 1/2 holes behind, yet on a par 5 we were waiting to hit because the group in front of us was still on the green. So, the marshal lied about us being behind. Even though we were told at the pro shop to expect a round of golf to take 6 hours, we finished in just over 4 hours. There was no need for a marshal to act like he did.

I've been lucky to play PB at least five times in the past decade since moving to California. This was the first time I saw Mother Nature at her angriest. The wind was howling. It was cold. I hit a 8 iron that was short - short! - on the 107-yard 8th.

The weather is really the course's best defense these days, other than its small, tricky greens. It was good to get this perspective ahead of the 2023 U.S. Women's Open.

Having heard a few quibbles over the years about the course in terms of green conditions and the "lackluster" interior holes, I feel compelled to write a review about my experience playing Pebble for the first time. The area had just received 10 inches of rain over the past two weeks prior to my round, but despite the fairways being a bit soggy the course was in great shape. We played the gold tees with lift, clean, and place rules in the fairways. The greens were true, and even in the wet conditions were almost treacherously fast on downhill putts.

I have played all of the Bandon courses, Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines South, Whistling Straits, Chambers Bay, and PGA West Stadium Course, and Pebble beats them hands-down as my best overall golf experience ever. I just can't explain how solid the course design is, and how well that design dovetails with the natural landscape of the headlands. And don't let anyone tell you the "inland" holes bring this course down. Holes 1-3 slowly build you up, each having their own interesting design features. Holes 1 and 2 in particular have scarily narrow greens with challenging bunkering on each side, and hole 2 is a solid par 5 that under dry conditions will provide great risk/reward options (and the trees and traversing bunker/trench at about 80 yards out provide a unique design feature). Hole 3 is a great looking dogleg left par 4 that gives you a decision to make on how aggressively you want to attack the dogleg, and provides yet another challenging/narrow green.

Then holes 4 and 5 lead you into the oceanside holes, with 4 being a nicely bunkered uphill par 4 with a diabolically small green perched at the end of a ravine. I loved hole 5, and was surprised at how little I remember seeing this one on TV. The shallow green is nicely angled with any miss right taking you off the cliff. I don't need to say anything about holes 6-10, other than the fact that hole 6 might be my favorite par 5 ever (absolutely love the unique design features on that hole) and the second shot on hole 8 is easily the most memorable second shot on a par 4 in my life.

Holes 11 and 12 are solid, with 11 requiring the proper placement of the tee shot to enable any hope of getting close to the pin on the approach, and 12 is a solid par 3 with an angled green that has little room for a miss. Holes 13 and 14 were challening, with 14 being my second favorite par 5 on the course. And these "inland" holes give you an expansive view of the ocean and holes 8-10 below.

Holes 15 ane 16 have yet new and different design features that give them their own character and as usual require proper placement off the tee, especially 16.

Again, not much needs to be said about 17 and 18, execept that I liked how 18, despite being more narrow than you think from beach to OB by the fairway tree once you walk up the fairway and get a close look, is pretty doable if you can manage a subtle draw. Do the wet conditions getting home in two was not an option, but I would love to be tied for the lead going into 18 and having to decide whether or not to go for that green in two.

All in all, Bandon Dunes may have a more consistent seaside wow factor (that's a strong maybe), and Bethpage may be equal in terms of layout and course design, but Pebble for me provides the combination of the two that makes it unequaled. You can feel the history of the course, particularly with the small size of the greens, but this course holds up to the modern game and requires solid course management and good ball striking. I would hate to see this course under US Open conditions...dear god with US Open rough and greens any miss with an iron would be dearly punished. The price is obviously not easy on the pocket book, but if you are a true golf junky you simply have to squirrel away $50 a month for a year and make the pilgrimage...you won't regret it.

Played Pebble for the first time July 5th at 10.20am. We had a caddie named Dave and we thought he was FANTASTIC, after watching us hit a few shots, he basically knew to tell us when to lay up and when to go for it. It was a wonderful day and we hope to go again some day.

Walked the Golds (6454/73.2/137) in 4H, 20M mid morning. CPO if riding. Like others, I took advantage of the Inn being closed because of COVID and was 'only" required to pay the golf fee. After playing in a gale in May, the weather was great this time. Started out in the 50's but was 70 by the end of the round. Calm most of the round, 1-2 club wind the last few holes. Played with John and Dan, and our forecaddie was Jerry, who was very nice and helpful.

Having walked the course once before definitely assisted. Alex's review of 2 days ago was spot on and especially captured the essence of the greens and sand traps perfectly. The course was immaculate overall.

Tees lush, almost immaculate. Only thing I did not rate 10/10, and they got a 9/10.

Fairways were immaculate.

Primary rough surprisingly even, about 2.5", lush and THICK. Usually difficult to play out of, several times our group had balls we could not locate until almost on top of them not that far off fairways. Every hole has some native areas that are a likely lost ball.

Traps were amazing. Lots of nice, fluffy sand. And I had 4 fairway and 5 greenside opportunities to sample them.

Had a good putting day my first round @ PB. Today experienced what Alex mentioned prominently in his review. Had 2 chip in 0 putts, otherwise my putting numbers would have been unusually high. Small poa greens remind me very much of the Donald Ross course I grew up playing back in N.C. Greens rolled great in spite of my not making hardly any putts.

Customer Service outstanding. Asked if I could purchase a replacement bag tag for the one that was stolen several months ago, they gave me a replacement. Much appreciated! All grass range across the street was available before the round. Got there early and hit some different wedges on a simulator in doors set up as hole #7. Pro Shop and shops open this visit. Masks required at check-in and when dealing with all P.B. personnel, not required on the course. No on course services today. New TW designed par 3 course looks about ready for prime time. Highly recommended.

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I actually played this course, Links at Spanish Bay and Spyglass in July 1976

Good golf course but a bit overrated. Not worth $500+.

Everything I expected and more. Driving range is about a mile away and nothing special but the putting green was nice. There is a shuttle to take you to the course.

It is surreal to play the course when you have memorized the holes from the watching tournaments over the years. Most proud of my pars on 7 and 8 which are iconic holes. I was fortunate to have someone pay for my round but would pay the green fee in a heart beat. Hope to come back again.

This place couldn’t be anymore beautiful !!! The course layout is every bit as challenging from all tees as it looks on tv !! The shotmaking you have to do at times is amazing but you do get to be creative on the greens ! Check your lines when putting 3 times because they aren’t anything what you initially think ! The course itself is so pure and greens are like fresh carpet ! The price tag is well worth the experience to walk or ride on the hallowed grounds of the greats from the past and present !! Just never thought I would see the day I play it but finally did today

Walked the Golds (6454/73.2/137) in 4H, 45M mid afternoon. The weather was mid 60's, overcast and WINDY. Matched up with 3 other walkers, Dave, Matt and Blake. All from Nor Cal and all excellent guys to play with. Six years ago, my wife handed me a Christmas card that said "Good for one round at Pebble Beach". After finding out that the normal $585 charge to play could only be obtained IF you stayed 2 nights at the lodge AND that when all the extras were added up it would be over $2k, I never used it. With COVID-19, the lodge is closed and many of the usual required extras were not available. They were offering a discount for the month of May, slightly less than $500 to walk. I figured it would not likely be cheaper, so I finally made the tee time my wife offered to pay for years ago. Having seen over 40 years of televised PGA events from PB, I was pretty prepared for the actual holes. However, seeing them on TV you do not realize how they are configured. Some were more hilly than I thought, but a few were flatter than anticipated. The course was much lusher than I expected, so it actually exceeded lofty expectations. The homes surrounding many holes are actually larger and more grand than they appear on TV. I knew the holes beside the water were going to have the majestic views they did. However, I did not realize how many holes you just barely have to turn your head to have a breath taking view. So those two areas were even more of a plus than anticipated. Tees lush, almost immaculate. Fairways were immaculate. Primary rough surprisingly even, about 2.5" and lush. Usually very good to play out of. Every hole has some native areas that are a likely lost ball. Traps considering the wind were amazing. Lots of nice, fluffy sand. Small poa greens reminded me very much of the Donald Ross course I grew up playing back in N.C. Loved the greens and had a good putting day in spite of several 3 putts. Customer Service outstanding. All grass range across the street was available 1 hour before your tee time. Was not allowed to enter the course until 20 minutes before your tee time, both COVID-19 measures. Pro Shop and clubhouse closed. Masks required at check-in and when dealing with on course personnel. Drink cart around numerous times, and they had an open snack stand on the course. Tiger Woods was on site working on the par 3 course he is designing between the pro shop and the driving range. If you are truly a golf fan, you need to play here at least once. And I say that even though I drew the short straw on the wind today. I punched a 5 iron a little too long into the teeth of a 25-30 mph side wind on #7, the downhill 100 yard par 3. After seeing what happened the first 2 short irons I got up in the air in the 25+ mph cross wind, there was no way I was hitting a normal shot. How strong was the wind? I gave up on a hat after the 5th hole, having already chased it down about 10 times. My push cart blew over numerous times and I had to chase a head cover over 100 yards before catching it. The only hole that played straight downwind AD was #8, which played 400 yards from the tees I played. I hit a 7I to lay up short of the ravine off the tee and then an 8I to the back fringe to set up a routine par. Had a 31' putt on 17 that I thought would be within 3-5' at the most when I hit it. When the wind got finished with it, I had 60' coming back. The holes by the water absolutely ate my lunch, they were by far the windest. I reteed at least 6 times on those holes after the ball was blown off the tee. Marking your ball and placing it w/o it rolling was a challenge if on even a gentle slope and the wind was blowing in that direction. The more inland holes were more like a 10 mph wind and played much easier. Experience overall exceeded expectations.

I was so looking forward to playing the 18th hole. By the time I played 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 ... 18 was somewhat an afterthought. If you can, you must play Pebble.

Most phenomenal course I ever played in the worst weather conditions. The course conditions were not the fault of the course. It was just hard to play with flooded greens and waves crashing onto the 18th. But, hey, its Pebble.

It’s expensive however it’s a must for anyone who loves the game and well worth it. The history is incredible. The course must be walked for sure as it’s the experience of walking where the legends have played. There is truly no feeling like it. The caddies are great, ask for jim. He keeps you relaxed and really allowed us to enjoy our experience, with the stories, the jokes and the jabs. It’s a bucket list item for sure. And of course 7 and 18. Don’t forgot your buds can watch you tee off on hole 1 over the Internet, don’t shank it.

Waiting my whole life to play this course, watching multiple tournaments, came with huge expectations, Pebble Beach didn’t disappoint. Incredible condition, beautiful sights worth every penny spent. Very small greens, fairly short course by today’s standards. I rented the electro golf cart—cart path only always— didn’t know this until the first hole when the 2 I was paired with had candies, and they told me. I will definitely get a caddy if I came back.

Wow, what an epic place! My husband and I loved our time at Pebble Beach. This place is nothing short of pristine, and as amateur non-golfers, we loved spectating the final hole from the bar and looking out at the water. What an amazing place to finish the 17 Mile drive. We highly recommend doing the 17-Mile drive, making all the stops and ending at Pebble Beach. Such a memorable experience.

TV does not do this course justice. I go the huge opportunity to play this golf course with my grandfather on my spring break. We drove 2 hours from Sacramento and endured double the traffic on the way back but it was all worth it. The first tee box presents you with a bit of nerves because there are plenty of people around watching you tee off. I regretfully took a cart, I say regretfully because with it being cart path only its just like walking. I would strongly recommend a caddie. By far my favorite hole was number 8, a lay up approach shot gives you the opportunity to hit over a cove to the green below your feet. Pro tip: We booked our tee time the day after they punched the greens and they were very sandy but they took a large sum off the total price and lifted the "stay to play" rule. If youre okay with playing on sandy (but still better than your local muni) greens I would go that route. If its on your bucket list, do it.

Playing Pebble Beach during 2019 U.S. Open media day was a special kind of challenge. On one hand, it might have been the most visual experience I've ever had there - dolphins swimming off the 7th green and surfers riding waves off of the 18th tee. On the other, it was the most difficult of setups. The fairways had been narrowed for the U.S. Open and the rough starting to show its teeth. It wasn't hack-out unbearable, but it did make for a long day for those crooked off the tee. The round started with perfect weather and sunshine before some big winds kicked up off the ocean. The day ended as all rounds at Pebble Beach should with beers and grub in the Tap Room. My two travel companions had never played Pebble before, so I fed off their energy and enthusiasm. As days at the office go, this one can't be topped.

Rare do you show up to a course for the first time already knowing so much about it. Even still, I left with a whole new level of appreciation of Pebble Beach. We played the course a few weeks before the upcoming 2019 US Open and the course couldn't have been in better shape. The rough was grown out but you could still catch some decent lies in it. Greens were fabulous.

Pebble's routing is unbelievable. The 6th hole is probably the most remarkable hole I've ever seen. 8 is all drama too. What's crazy is that when we turned the corner and got to 11, I almost felt this sense of relief after 7 incredibly intense oceanfront holes. You get a few holes inland to catch your breath and then get right back out on 17 and then finish with a bang on 18.

A few notes:

Taking a cart is pointless. We did because we were in a shotgun, but it's cart-path only every day and on pretty much every hole the cart path is on the opposite side of the ocean or well off the fairway. Just walk or take a caddie (ours was very good).

Be sure to take enough club off the 8th tee! Staff say too many golfers lay back too much and end up with 200 yards into the green.

Pace was bad but we were in a media shotgun with many of the holes having A & B groups (and we were all getting tons of video, photography etc.).. Staff say that thanks to Tagmarhall, normal tee sheets are averaging under 5 hours now.

The staff plans on keeping the course in US Open shape all summer but will scale back the rough to "resort" conditions before the Champions Tour event this fall. All in all I felt the round was challenging but the fairways weren't too narrow (I hit 8 of them!). The greens are small and quick. If you hit a green you've got a good chance at a birdie.

There is a reason why the US Open held its 100th event here and Pebble's 100th anniversary will host the US Open. I can't think of a more fitting venue to hold our nation's tournament.