Fairway to Heaven | Pebble Beach is A Golfer’s Dream Destination

For more than one hundred years, Pebble Beach Resorts has served a distinctive coastal getaway, providing exceptional golf experiences and opulent lodging. Visitors can enjoy a serene atmosphere and outstanding hospitality at any of the property’s three distinct resorts: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero. The resort also boasts four-world class golf courses, each with its unique challenges and breathtaking views, plus The Hay, a reimagined short course experience. 

Photo credit: Kodiak Greenwood

Perhaps the most famous of the courses is the Pebble Beach Golf Links, known for its coastal views and demanding holes that have been designed to test even the most skilled golfers. The course was unanimously rated the No. 1 Public Course in the Country and has been a regular host of the annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am since 1947. During the Pro-Am some of the world’s top players compete alongside amateurs and celebrities with the view of a lifetime. It’s also been the stage for several major championships, including six U.S. Opens, with the most recent being in 2019, and one PGA Championship in 1977.

And Pebble Beach‘s association with the U.S. Open is set to continue for some time, with the course confirmed as the host for the tournament four more times by 2044, as well as the venue for the 2023 US Women’s Open this July. This exposure is part of what has made Pebble Beach one of the most recognizable courses in the world, but the 7th hole has also made quite the impression. The 7th hole at Pebble Beach is undoubtedly the most ICONIC short par-3s in all of golf, with the green appearing to be within throwing distance. However, even though it is the shortest hole on the PGA Tour, it is still quite challenging, requiring as much as a 5-iron on windy days. The hole is perched high on a cliff with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean’s waves below; some argue it’s too beautiful to be a golf hole.

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Photo credit: Pebble Beach Company

If Pebble Beach is the epitome of the merging of land and sea, then Spyglass Hill could be known as the epitome of the merging of sand and trees. The first five holes at Spyglass Hill contrast strikingly with the rest of the course. They offer sweeping views of the ocean with holes snaking through an audacious dunescape before transitioning to the subtle natural beauty and strength of the Del Monte Forest.  As Sports Illustrated has eloquently phrased it, Pine Valley-by-the-Sea meets Augusta National. 

Spyglass Hill’s championship credentials have been validated by some of the game’s most excellent players, as it is an annual co-host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a stroke-play venue for two U.S. Amateur Championships (1999 and 2018).

Photo credit: Noah Webb

The Links at Spanish Bay, another Pebble Beach golf course, is located on 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, offering stunning seaside views. The course winds through sweeping sand dunes, occasionally weaving between towering Monterey Pines before returning to the white sand of Spanish Bay Beach. The thrilling finish along the coast makes for a memorable round of golf. Adding to the experience, the famed Spanish Bay bagpiper serenades golfers as the course is put to bed every evening. Spanish Bay is highly regarded as one of the best public courses in California and the United States and also annually hosts the TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational for professional golfers.

Del Monte has been a landmark golf course that played a significant role in the growth of golf in the western region since its establishment in 1897. As the birthplace of the California State Amateur and the oldest continuously operating course west of the Mississippi, it still retains much of its classic charm today. With its small, sloping, old-school greens, the course challenges even the most skilled golfers. Initially, Del Monte was a nine-hole course designed by Charles E. Maud in 1897, which was later expanded to 18 holes in 1902. 

The course quickly became popular among the best golfers of that time, and its Del Monte Championship was highly regarded, with many considering the champion to be the best golfer in the state. Del Monte was the natural choice to host the California State Amateur when it was founded in 1912. It was also selected as the venue for the 1916 Western Amateur, marking the first time one of the biggest national amateur events of that era was held west of Colorado.

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In addition to its breathtaking championship courses, Pebble Beach also features a nine-hole par-3 course called The Hay. Since 1957, The Hay has been a permanent fixture at Pebble Beach. It was the brainchild of famous Head Professional Peter Hay, who changed the concept of a short course. His aim was to create a fun environment where golfers of all abilities, juniors, families, and friends, could come together around the game of golf.

In 2021, Tiger Woods took Hay’s vision to a new level with his exceptional redesign of the course. The result is an exciting course with an exact replica of Pebble Beach Golf Links’ famous 7th hole, in addition to holes designed for any club in the bag and a 100-yard putting course that stretches across 20,000 square feet, offering an endless variety of layouts.

Pebble Beach is also home to the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, which offers a variety of golf instruction programs for players of all skill levels. The academy features state-of-the-art technology, including video analysis and launch monitors, to help golfers improve their game.

For those who may not be as avid a golfer as others, Pebble Beach also offers a wide variety of amenities and activities that cater to different interests. The resort boasts over 20 restaurants and bars, spas, fitness centers, and water sports like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and surfing, making it an ideal destination for those who want to relax and rejuvenate. There are also hiking trails and nature walks in the nearby Del Monte Forest that offer breathtaking views of the ocean and wildlife. Pebble Beach is not just a golfer’s paradise, but a luxurious and relaxing getaway for everyone.