This blog will be collection of all things Pebble Beach Golf.  It is my intention to become a collector of news, information and commentary for the courses that make up this area.  If you are anything like me, then you LOVE the game of golf.  But above that, I like to think of myself as a student of the game that I love.  Because of this, I have started this blog as kind of a clearing house for information that I find for Pebble Beach and the surrounding area.  When I find articles or videos (or any other media I see interesting) about the courses, I will post it here.  Also, I will do my best to credit the source where it is found.  Now on to a little history of the resort and courses.

When a golf enthusiast says “Pebble Beach”, it is often understood that he/she means the courses that comprise the area. Four of the courses in the coastal community of Pebble Beach, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, belong to the Pebble Beach Company, which also operates three hotels and a spa at the resort. The other courses are The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Del Monte Golf Course.

The one thing that draws golfers from all over the world is its stunning beauty. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of the ocean. In 2001 it became the first public course (i.e. open to the general public for play) to be selected as the No.1 Golf Course in America by Golf Digest. Greens fees are among the highest in the world, at $495 (plus $35 cart fee for non-resort guests) per round in 2008.  But IMHO, well worth every penny if you get a chance to play it!

If you want to see an outstanding collection of golf prints from Pebble Beach and the surrounding courses, check out GolfCoursePrints.Com.

Other than its striking beauty, Pebble Beach Golf Links are known for the US Open’s it has hosted in the past.  Pebble Beach Golf Links has hosted the U.S. Open four times and has an exceptionally distinguished set of Open Champions including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, and Tiger Woods. It is scheduled to host the U.S. Open again in 2010. It was also the venue of the 1977 PGA Championship, which was won by Lanny Wadkins.

This US Open is not the only tournament held at Pebble Beach.  It is host to the yearly AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. This was originally known as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am tournament, sometimes also known as the “Clam Bake”. Along with this, many other high profile championships have been staged on the course including several U.S. Amateur Championships.  This course is one of the premier courses of golf.

When one thinks of Pebble Beach, thoughts of several signature holes come to mind.  For me, it is the 18th finishing hole. The 18th hole is a medium length par 5 (over 550 yards) with Pacific Ocean all along the left. What may be the greatest closing hole in golf was originally an unremarkable par 4. In 1922, William Herbert Fowler added almost 200 yards to the hole. This unique hole also features a tree in the middle of the fairway and a long 100+ yard bunker running along the ocean from the green, guarding the left side.

In laying out the course, Jack Neville attempted to bring as many holes to the rocky coastline as possible. The first two holes are inland, the third runs toward the ocean, and the fourth and fifth holes run along the coast. This arrangement allowed Neville to make use of a peninsula which juts straight out into the Pacific Ocean.

Over the years, there have been some changes to the course. In addition to the lengthening of the 18th, the other most significant change in the course’s layout came in 1998. Early in the course’s history, a parcel of land along the ocean was sold off, forcing the 5th to run inland to where the tee of 6 now stands. As early as a year after that parcel was sold, the course tried to buy back the land but was unsuccessful until 1995. Jack Nicklaus designed a new par 3 on that land. Although it forces a long walk from the 5th green to the 6th tee, the course finally uses as much ocean real estate as possible, which was Neville’s original vision. Recent changes done in 2008 were to the third and sixth hole. This has changed the dynamics of play with new bunkers located on each fairway. These additions were integrated for the coming 2010 U.S. Open.

Well, I hoped you learned something today about Pebble Beach.  But this is only the tip of the iceberg.  There is so much storied tradition about the courses, tournaments, and players that we should have no problem filling this blog with great things to read and learn.

And also for those of you checking facts, most of this blog came from Wikipedia.  Look it up!

See you next time!

Trey