50 Words or Less
Pebble Beach Golf Links is arguably the most beautiful course on Earth. A solid challenge – particularly for your irons – that will create a lifetime of memories.
Introduction
Pebble Beach needs no introduction. It’s routinely rated the #1 public course in the US and has hosted a wealth of prestigious championships. This is a course that every golfer wants to check off their bucket list, so in this review, I’ll give you an idea of what a round there is like.
If you’re looking for a less expensive round at Pebble Beach, check out The HayHERE
Practice Facilities
Up the hill from Pebble Beach Golf Links is thePebble Beach Golf Academy. A shuttle runs constantly between the two so that golfers can warm up at thisworld class facilitybefore their round. As you would expect, there’s a huge driving range stacked with pyramids of premium TaylorMade golf balls. There’s also a short game area with two practice greens – one for chipping, one for bunker shots. I particularly like that the bunkers are deep and the greens are small, just like on the course. Finally, there’s a 4,500 square foot putting green.
Back at the first tee, there’s another very large putting green. This is great for staying busy in the final anxious minutes before your first drive.
Customer Service & Amenities
The experience of golfing at Pebble Beach isevery bit as premium as you would expect. From the moment you arrive until you walk back to your car, the customer service is excellent. I want to give particularly high praise to the starter who kept everything on schedule while maintaining a calm, friendly atmosphere.
On the course, there areample opportunities to refuel. There’s a snack tent that you can visit before holes four and seventeen. There’s also a full turn stand that you pass twice in the middle of the round. If that’s not enough, a beverage cart tours the course.
In terms of the post-round shopping experience, I’ve never seen anything quite like Pebble Beach. All those shops around the putting green are stuffed to the gills with every kind of logoed item you can imagine. From shirts to home goods to hats and beyond, you can find it here.
Caddie service is availableat Pebble Beach Golf linksand highly recommended. If you’ve never golfed with a caddie before, I have a primer on how to do soHERE.
Beauty & Scenery
Pebble Beach is the most beautiful golf course I’ve ever played, full stop. Like most golfers, I’ve seen it on TV countless times and played hundreds of rounds of Tiger Woods Golf there, but none of it prepared me. Pictures don’t do it justice. 4K doesn’t do it justice. The way the coast meets the cliffs is simply beyond words.
Beyond the overwhelming scale, pictures fail to convey thebeautiful rhythm of a round at Pebble Beach. The first three holes are inland and build your anticipation. After your drive on four, you dive headlong into coastal views for the next five holes. The highlight for me is #6, but there are no wrong answers on this test. Holes eleven through sixteen take you back inland just long enough make you fully appreciate the majesty of the closing duo.
Check out Pebble Beach’s other oceanside course, The Links at Spanish BayHERE
Tee Shots
Your primary objective off the tee isstaying out of the hazards. Driving it into the ocean or one of the numerous fairway bunkers is a one-way ticket to a big number. Despite all my PlayStation experience, I did not realize how many sand traps litter the fairways. Though the fairways are rather wide, you need to pick specific targets and drive it accurately.
One of the things that makes Pebble Beach play longer than the number on the card is thatmany holes do not require driver off the tee. The first, fourth, and eighth spring to mind as tee shots where – if you’re playing the right tees – a FW or hybrid is a better choice than driver.
On that point of playing the right tees, I would strongly advise you to be conservative. Pebble Beach has a sign recommending tees based on handicap and driver distance. Read it and abide by it. Even though the tips don’t seem overwhelming at 6,817 yards, the wind, elevation, and design make it play much longer.
Approach Shots
Unlike its sister courses, Pebble Beach Golf Links provides golfers with asteady diet of benign lies. Not every fairway is driving range flat, but you have to get unlucky to find a dramatic stance. If you’re driving it accurately, you’ll be rewarded.
Similarly, therough is not overly penalat Pebble Beach. You won’t have perfect control of your ball and you may draw a poor lie, but the rough shouldn’t keep you from a green in regulation.
The two ways in which Pebble Beach challenges your iron play areelevationand small greens. Most golfers are familiar with some of the most dramatic examples of elevation change such as the sixth, seventh, and eighth holes. While the other approach shots don’t jump off your TV screen the same way, they are far from flat.
Pebble Beach famously has thesmallest greens on the PGA Tour, averaging just 3,500 square feet. You can play a very decent iron shot and miss the green, especially if you’re hitting a lot of mid or long irons. Even conservative target selection won’t save you when there’s only a few yards of room for error.
Finally, the most variable element –wind– deserves a mention. On a calm day, a strong ball striker can have a career day. However, if the coastal winds are up, every green in regulation is going to feel like a significant accomplishment.
If you’re looking for a stricter test of ball striking, check out Pebble’s sister course, Spyglass HillHERE.
Greens & Surrounds
As with the approaches, the short game relies mainly on the tiny greens to provide the challenge. Thesurroundsare generally friendly withmoderate rough and tame undulations. Most of the greens sit a little above the surround but not dramatically so.
If your ball finds grass, you should be able to make your next shot a putt. However, these greens are heavily bunkeredand some of the traps are quite deep. Make sure to tune up your sand play before your trip so you can escape without too much damage to your card. You can try your best to avoid the sand, but a round without a bunker shot is quite a rarity.
Once you’re on the putting surface, the hard work is done. Because the greens are so small, youdon’t need to worry about long lag putts. Thegreensare alsosubdued in their movements. I only had a couple putts where the read was more than a cup outside.
That samesubtlety can be the one cause of confusion when putting.There are numerous holes where the surround makes you think a putt will break one way but the green is actually tilted in the opposite direction. Lean on your caddie, trust your feet more than your eyes, and you’ll make a lot of putts.
Overall Design
The recipe for success at Pebble Beach Golf Links is straightforward. You need to be smart and solid off the tee. Your approach shots need to be very precise. Outside of an unlucky spot in the sand, the short game and putting are uncomplicated.
What that doesn’t account for isPebble’s secret weapon: nerves. If you’re anything like me, that opening tee shot – a lay up, literally and figuratively – will make your hands shake. Same for almost every shot on #6 and #7. By the time you’ve settled into the fact that you’re playing Pebble Beach, the birdie holes are largely gone and you’re holding on for dear life.
Also, one last time:get a caddie. They’re going to help you make a couple extra putts, lose fewer balls, and have a better time.
Is Pebble Beach worth the enormous price tag? We discussHERE
Favorite Holes
#6 – Par 5 – 498 Yards
I can’t recall the last time that one hole separated itself so clearly as my top choice. The tee shot on #6 is the most stunning view on the course and was my unequivocal, “This is Pebble Beach” moment. I genuinely had a hard time drawing the club back. And the drive isn’t even the coolest shot on this hole – that would be the second which has to climb four stories to the upper level of the fairway.
#7 – Par 3 – 106 Yards
Is this choice cliché? Yes, but that doesn’t make it wrong. The view and the history turn this from a routine flip wedge to a hole that you desperately want to birdie. Like I did.
#16 – Par 4 – 400 Yards
My one unusual pick is the final hole before the course returns to the ocean. This hole demands a drive that travels the right distance. Too short or too long and your approach is going to be severely compromised by the pair of trees in front of the massive bunker.
Conclusion
Playing Pebble Beach Golf Links is an experience I wish every serious golfer could have. It’s the most beautiful course I’ve ever played, and it was one of the most memorable rounds of my life. If you have the opportunity to walk alongside all this amazing history, do not hesitate to do so.
Visit Pebble BeachHERE
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Matt Saternus
Founder, Editor In ChiefatPluggedInGolf.com
Matt is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Plugged In Golf. He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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FAQs
How much do you tip a caddie at Pebble Beach? ›
The expected tip for a caddie at Pebble Beach varies depending on the number of bags the caddie is responsible for, as well as if they are a regular caddie or a forecaddie. The expected tips are $35-$60 per bag for a double caddie, $55-$80 per bag for a single caddie, and $25-$40 for a forecaddie.
What is the easiest Pebble Beach course to play? ›In terms of difficulty, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill are the more difficult of the three courses, while Monterey Peninsula typically plays the easiest of the bunch.
Which course is the hardest at Pebble Beach Pro Am? ›Spyglass Hill, which plays the toughest of the three courses, is heavily tree-lined, especially after an opening 6-hole stretch etched through the dunes.
How much does it cost to play Pebble Beach in 2023? ›2023 Pebble Beach green fees
For the first few months of 2023, Pebble Beach green fees are listed at $595 per player — but if you want to snag that “deal,” you need to book quickly, because starting on April 1st, that rate will increase to $625.
If you're not staying at the resort, it's $625 plus a $55 cart fee or $15 for a pull cart. For those who want the full experience with caddies, those fees will also increase from $150 to $155 for a single bag or $200 to $210 for a double bag.
What percentage does a pro caddy make? ›While these figures can be different based on negotiations, the most standard figure is that the caddie of a tournament's winner earns ten percent of what the golfer wins. That's a pretty good chunk of change, as the average value of a win on the PGA Tour during the 2021-22 season was just over $1.64 million.
Can you wear shorts to play Pebble Beach? ›Bermuda-length shorts or slacks are permitted for men; skirts, shorts, slacks or skorts are appropriate for women. No denim, please.
Can you play Pebble Beach without a caddie? ›Caddies are not required but greatly enhance the guest experience. Those wishing to request a caddie should call Caddie Services at least 72 hours in advance of the round at (866) 903-9101. Golfers desiring a caddie should travel with a single strap carry bag with a stand, less than 24 pounds.
What is the best month to play Pebble Beach? ›The high season at Pebble Beach Golf Links is from September to November when you have lots of Indian Summer days. Spring is also a popular time.
What is the best hole at Pebble Beach? ›8th Hole (par-4 428 yds)
As with its neighbour, the 7th, hole 8 at Pebble Beach is one of the most instantly recognisable in world golf. Approaching the tee, it's very easy to let the mind wander and get caught up in a second shot once described by Jack Nicklaus as his favourite in the game.
What is the famous course at Pebble Beach? ›
The Hay. It's Pebble Beach, the Tiger Woods way! The Hay is a course overflowing with fun, including an exact replica of the famed No.
Who is the favorite for Pebble Beach? ›Matthew Fitzpatrick is currently listed as the 10-1 favorite in the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am odds at Caesars Sportsbook, with Spieth and Viktor Hovland are listed right behind him at 11-1.
What's the most expensive house on Pebble Beach Golf Course? ›The $31 million pad, fittingly christened Lucky Strike, comprises a four-bedroom main residence, a detached one-bedroom guest house and a two-car garage.
Why is Pebble Beach so expensive? ›The reason Pebble Beach, built in 1919, costs what it does is because that's the market for America's most beloved public course. “If I only had one round of golf left to play, I would want to play it at Pebble Beach,” Nicklaus once said. Pebble can be that magical.
How much does a round at Augusta cost? ›Single-day tickets were rough, too: a Wednesday practice round ticket was $1,616, and a Sunday tournament round was $1,160. There are also several companies that provide Masters experiences, where — for a hefty price — they'll take care of your tickets, lodging, transportation and more.
How much is a house on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach? ›The di Grazia family often saw their house, perched on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links, on television. "You'd be in Europe or Dubai and say, 'That's my house!" Peter di Grazia said of watching televised golf tournaments. Now the family is putting the home on the market for $25.75 million.
How much is a round at St Andrews? ›For a round, it costs about the same as your normal PGA Tour venue open to the public. Depending on the exchange rate, the fee for 2023 is 270 pounds (roughly 320 U.S. dollars) in the high season from mid-April to mid-October. During the shoulder season, it falls to a low of 135 pounds from November 1-March 31.
How much does it cost to play Sawgrass? ›| COURSE NAME | SEPTEMBER – MAY RATE | JUNE – AUGUST RATE |
|---|---|---|
| THE PLAYERS STADIUM COURSE | STARTING AT $650 PER PLAYER* | STARTING AT $450 PER PLAYER* |
| DYE'S VALLEY | STARTING AT $300 PER PLAYER* | STARTING AT $175 PER PLAYER |
Yes, caddies still get paid even if their player misses the cut. Typically, caddies and their players agree on their base pay for the week.
How much did Tiger Woods pay his caddie? ›Tiger Woods' caddie typically earns a five to 10 percent share of his golfer's earnings, according to Golf Week. A caddie can earn between $1,500 and $2,500 per week during golf tournaments, Forbes reports.
Who is the highest paid caddy on the PGA Tour? ›
Caddies for professional players could make up to $3,000 per tournament, but they also receive a percentage of the player's winnings. As of 2020, the highest paid caddy in golf was Justin Thomas' assistant Jimmy Johnson, who reportedly received as many as $502,851 on that year.
Can female golfers wear pants? ›Pants are fine for both men and women and one of the most common pieces of clothing worn on the golf course. The only advice is to make sure they don't have any cargo pockets or are very loose fitting. Capris are another good option and great for mild temperatures.
Is it hard to get a tee time at Pebble Beach? ›If you're planning a trip to Pebble Beach and don't book in advance, you could get there and not be able to get a tee time. But if you're a single, and there are no events the following day, chances are pretty good you're going to get on. If you have a foursome, it's a little more dicey but not impossible.
Can you walk on Pebble Beach Golf Course? ›start walking. All beaches in California are public, including the one that runs right alongside the ninth and 10th holes of Pebble Beach, even though the golf course itself is private property.
Can my wife walk Pebble Beach with me? ›Special touches that create lasting memories. The following photographs might better illustrate why the trip is so distinctive. One of the coolest things about playing Pebble Beach, which I never knew? Non-playing family members can walk the course with you.
How do you get into Pebble Beach without paying? ›Admission is complimentary for overnight guests of The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero. The 17-Mile Drive gates are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Motorcycles are prohibited.
How much is a membership at Pebble Beach? ›Dining, swimming pool and private beach, fitness center, exercise classes, and tennis. Non-refundable fee of $47,500 required to open membership and monthly dues are $315. Memberships are non-transferable and non-divisible. Golf, tennis, 75-foot heated lap pool, fitness center, weight room and restaurant.
Can you swim in Pebble Beach? ›While you technically can swim at Pebble Beach, it is not something I would recommend on doing. Although they say the East River water is the cleanest it has been in years, that doesn't mean it is actually clean.
How much does it cost to play Spyglass? ›How Much Does It Cost to Play Torrey Pines Golf Course? While Spyglass Hill isn't nearly as expensive as Pebble Beach, it certainly isn't cheap. Greens fees are currently $465. There's also the matter of a $50 cart fee.
Why is Pebble Beach so popular? ›Regarded by Travel and Leisure blog as one of the most beautiful courses in the world, it hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of Carmel Bay, opening to the Pacific Ocean on the south side of the Monterey Peninsula.
What is the 7th hole at Pebble Beach? ›
“The seventh is a little gem of a mashie shot, only 106 yards and a drop of 40 feet from tee to green,” Neville wrote in Pacific Golf & Motor in 1917. “The latter is surrounded on three sides by the bay.
What hole is the famous tree on at Pebble Beach? ›As players made their way up the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links in May, the sight of a 67-foot cypress tree suspended above the ground by massive red steel beams simply added to the awe- some view of the Pacific Ocean on this, one of the most famous fin- ishing holes in all of golf.
Is all of Pebble Beach gated? ›Pebble Beach, CA is a gated, incorporated community located on the Monterey Peninsula between Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea. A community of over 4500 residents, the Pebble Beach real estate market can feature a variety of single-family homes, residences, and condominiums.
What is the famous drive in Pebble Beach? ›17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California, much of which hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses, mansions and scenic attractions, including the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees.
What large city is near Pebble Beach golf course? ›It is bordered by Carmel-by-the-Sea to the south, Pacific Grove to the north, the City of Monterey to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Where does Pebble Beach rank in the world? ›Pebble Beach Golf Links is unanimously ranked the No. 1 public course in the country, and in 2019 it will host its sixth U.S. Open — the most of any course in the last 50 years. The private Cypress Point Club ranks No. 3 on Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Courses list.
What celebrities are going to Pebble Beach in 2023? ›Moreover, Bill Murray, Josh Duhamel, Scott Eastwood, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Peña, Ray Romano, Alfonso Ribeiro, and former Miss America Kira Dixon all will be delighting the galleries as they mark their returns to the event.
What celebrities live at Pebble Beach? ›In 1999, Clint Eastwood and Arnold Palmer teamed up to purchase Pebble Beach Co. The Lodge at Pebble Beach is the only property that they own together. They also have a 17-Mile Drive home which they use for holidays and events. What is this?
Why are there no big names at Pebble Beach? ›Unfortunately, the strength of the field does not match the shine of the course. A trend of top players skipping this event in recent years has led to fewer and fewer big names showing up to play at Pebble Beach (Matt Fitzpatrick is the only OWGR Top-10 player in the field this week).
Who owns the house on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach? ›Owned by the di Grazia family, the property has panoramic views over the course to Carmel Bay and Point Lobos. The di Grazia family often saw their house, perched on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links, on television.
Who owns the house behind the 11th Green at Pebble Beach? ›
If you've watched coverage of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am throughout the years, you probably recognize the home. And you might even recognize the name of its owner, Cary Patterson. The lawyer represented the state of Texas in winning a huge civil case against the tobacco industry.
Who lives on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach? ›A luxury home that used to belong to Hollywood legend Gene Hackman which straddles the 10th hole of Pebble Beach golf course has gone on the market for a massive $79 million.
What is the average income at Pebble Beach? ›Overview for Pebble Beach, CA
4,966 people live in Pebble Beach, where the median age is 62.3 and the average individual income is $86,972.03. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Hence it's nickname to the locals who live in the Monterey Peninsula hamlet of Pacific Grove, they call Pacific Grove Golf Course the “poor man's Pebble Beach!” Though very catchy, that doesn't do Pacific Grove Golf Course justice in our opinion.
Is Pebble Beach man made? ›So although the pebbles are in fact natural, the beach itself has been substantially altered by human action.
How much do you tip a caddy at Pebble Beach? ›The expected tip for a caddie at Pebble Beach varies depending on the number of bags the caddie is responsible for, as well as if they are a regular caddie or a forecaddie. The expected tips are $35-$60 per bag for a double caddie, $55-$80 per bag for a single caddie, and $25-$40 for a forecaddie.
Can you wear jeans to the Masters? ›To help you, I've put together some guidelines of what to wear to the Masters Golf Tournament. The official Masters dress code states that appropriate clothing and shoes should be worn at all times. Jeans are not allowed. Golf shoes with spikes are also not allowed.
How much is a ticket to Augusta Masters? ›Daily grounds passes for The Masters cost $140 while practice round tickets for Monday-Wednesday are just $100, which is wholly reasonable. A weekly badge if you're lucky enough to get one would cost $450.
What is the proper tip for a caddie? ›According to Whidden, a caddie should be tipped about 40 to 50 percent of the green fee. And the group should split the forecaddie tip evenly, usually between $50 and $100 in total.
How much does a greenskeeper get paid in Pebble Beach? ›How much does a Golf Greenskeeper make in Pebble Beach, CA? The average Golf Greenskeeper salary in Pebble Beach, CA is $32,399 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $31,426 and $34,471.
How much do you tip a caddie at a resort? ›
Many clubs and resorts offer different levels of caddie service: forecaddies, junior caddies, single or double-baggers, etc. Fees tend to vary accordingly, and, very often, so do expectations for gratuities. But it's usually safe to go by the restaurant rule: a 20 percent tip for a job well done.
How much do PGA players tip their caddies? ›Based on a player's finish, a typical caddie rate is around 5% of the winnings for any finish outside the top 10. Players breaking into the top 10, but not winning, will share 6-8% of their prize with their caddies. Winning players may share up to 10% of the prize money with their caddy.
Who did not tip their caddies? ›Matt Kuchar concedes he made a mistake last year when he didn't reward David Giral Ortiz, his fill-in caddie during his victory at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, with a fitting tip for a job well done.
Are you supposed to tip the cart girl? ›If you're playing at a public course where you pick up and return carts yourself there is obviously no need to tip anyone. Just make sure to take care of anyone who goes out of there way to attend to your cart or bag.
How much does the superintendent at Pebble Beach make? ›Golf Superintendent Salary in Pebble Beach, California
How much does a Golf Superintendent make in Pebble Beach, CA? The average Golf Superintendent salary in Pebble Beach, CA is $85,333 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $71,528 and $102,752.
Head Golf Professional Salary in Pebble Beach, California
How much does a Head Golf Professional make in Pebble Beach, CA? The average Head Golf Professional salary in Pebble Beach, CA is $64,020 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $53,260 and $76,901.
For a tour that only lasts a few hours, tip your guide 10 percent to 20 percent the cost of the tour. How much you tip also depends on the size of your tour, so you should tip more for a more personalized experience. For a multi-day tour, you should tip your guide $5 to $10 per day on the last day.
Do you tip slot attendants? ›Tipping Your Slots Attendant
Tipping here starts at about $20 and goes up to between 3-10 percent of the jackpot, depending on the customer.
: a golf caddie who is stationed in the fairway and who indicates the position of balls on the course.
Do caddies get paid if their golfer misses the cut? ›Yes, caddies still get paid even if their player misses the cut. Typically, caddies and their players agree on their base pay for the week.
How much did Liv pay Dustin Johnson? ›
Johnson, a two-time major champion, won 24 times on the PGA Tour before signing a deal with LIV Golf, which reportedly guaranteed him as much as $150 million. He won LIV Golf's tournament outside Boston in September and earned another $35.6 million in purses and bonuses in the circuit's inaugural season.