John Wood (Kuchar's caddie) on Pebble Beach

Some of you may know John Wood occasionally participates in a weekly online discussion for Golf Magazine (I know others have completely given up on this publication). I thought his comments on Pebble were worth sharing.

" Every time I’m at Pebble, at some point during the week I look around and say to myself, My god this is beautiful. This may be a milquetoast response, but that’s a story to me. Other than Augusta, it’s my favorite course to look around and think about the history of the place. Jack hitting the stick on 17 with a one-iron in ‘72. Tom holing the chip on 17 to edge Jack in ‘82, then turning to our old friend Bruce Edwards with that Huckleberry Finn grin, pointing and saying, “I told you!” Tiger playing golf at the highest level it’s ever been played for four days, and the look on his face when he was already leading by a hundred on Sunday, making a 12-footer for par on 16 like he’d just taken a one-shot lead. This is a Special place."

So Kuchar pays John so little that he needs a side line...sad.

He's worth every penny....

I'm tired of Kuchar and his caddies.

For some reason I read that in the voice of Webb Simpson’s caddie. Hmmm.

Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> @MountainGoat said:

> Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

>

You can be regular wealthy and play it too

Moochers caddie getting shortchanged again as the complete interview isn't being reported.

John Wood went on to say "I love everything about Pebble but the accommodations. It has the worst Best Western in the US."

> @kcsf said:

> Moochers caddie getting shortchanged again as the complete interview isn't being reported.

> John Wood went on to say "I love everything about Pebble but the accommodations. It has the worst Best Western in the US."

>

There is a Best Western there (actually in Seaside) that while not the greatest can be a base for an inexpensive Monterey golf weekend. You could stay there and play Pacific Grove, Del Monte, and both Bayonet and Blackhorse for less than a round at Pebble and still feel like a million bucks.

> @MtlJeff said:

> > @MountainGoat said:

> > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> >

>

> You can be regular wealthy and play it too

Or just a regular guy who has a bucket list.

BTW, is the Par 3 course across the street from Pebble still there? I remember playing it when on my honeymoon many years ago. Wanted to play the big course, but no use getting in trouble with wifey on Day 5 of our marriage. 21 years later...still haven't played the big course. Still married though.

> @JohnnyCashForever said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > >

> >

> > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

>

> Or just a regular guy who has a bucket list.

>

> BTW, is the Par 3 course across the street from Pebble still there? I remember playing it when on my honeymoon many years ago. Wanted to play the big course, but no use getting in trouble with wifey on Day 5 of our marriage. 21 years later...still haven't played the big course. Still married though.

Marriage is give and take. You can't have everything.

I'm so glad Rory got his life in order.

I was cheering for the field vs Kuchar ystdy at the Cdn Open

Word was out he wanted to pay his caddie in Canadian funds and apply our full tax rates

> @JohnnyCashForever said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > >

> >

> > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

>

> Or just a regular guy who has a bucket list.

>

> BTW, is the Par 3 course across the street from Pebble still there? I remember playing it when on my honeymoon many years ago. Wanted to play the big course, but no use getting in trouble with wifey on Day 5 of our marriage. 21 years later...still haven't played the big course. Still married though.

The last time I was in Monterey (2015/2016 I forget) it was still there.

> @Ferguson said:

> > @JohnnyCashForever said:

> > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > > >

> > >

> > > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

> >

> > Or just a regular guy who has a bucket list.

> >

> > BTW, is the Par 3 course across the street from Pebble still there? I remember playing it when on my honeymoon many years ago. Wanted to play the big course, but no use getting in trouble with wifey on Day 5 of our marriage. 21 years later...still haven't played the big course. Still married though.

>

> Marriage is give and take. You can't have everything.

> I'm so glad Rory got his life in order.

Marriage is give and take. I give, she takes.

> @MtlJeff said:

> > @MountainGoat said:

> > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> >

>

> You can be regular wealthy and play it too

Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy. That said, my favorite track on the peninsula, that I've played, is Spyglass. Came within a whisker of playing Cypress back in the 90's, but my "host" got called out of town on a business thing before I got the chance....and sadly never got another.

I've been to Pebble a couple of times, unfortunately I haven't played it yet, and get the same feeling. The course, the surrounding area, 17 mile Drive and Carmel are all some of the most picturesque areas in the country. Stillwater Cove is remarkably beautiful. Just driving around 17 mile Drive is worth it alone. If you're a golf nut then it's a must see. Also check out EAL's recent video on this very subject.

> @BobMorris said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > >

> >

> > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

>

> Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy. That said, my favorite track on the peninsula, that I've played, is Spyglass. Came within a whisker of playing Cypress back in the 90's, but my "host" got called out of town on a business thing before I got the chance....and sadly never got another.

Yeah as someone else pointed out if it'sa bucket list thing it's expensive but not THAT crazy. 4 of my friends just got back from playing it actually

> @BobMorris said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > >

> >

> > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

>

> Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy.

I’m happy for you. Each to his own. In my case, a single round at Pebble plus the cost of the required stay at the resort exceeds my annual club dues. And that doesn’t include the costs of travel and meals. I could never in a million years indulge myself that much.

> @MountainGoat said:

> > @BobMorris said:

> > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > > >

> > >

> > > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

> >

> > Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy.

>

> I’m happy for you. Each to his own. In my case, a single round at Pebble plus the cost of the required stay at the resort exceeds my annual club dues. And that doesn’t include the costs of travel and meals. I could never in a million years indulge myself that much.

>

>

alrighty then, I' ll be taking you off my rich and famous list...

> @MountainGoat said:

> > @BobMorris said:

> > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > > >

> > >

> > > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

> >

> > Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy.

>

> I’m happy for you. Each to his own. In my case, a single round at Pebble plus the cost of the required stay at the resort exceeds my annual club dues. And that doesn’t include the costs of travel and meals. I could never in a million years indulge myself that much.

>

>

Looks like poor man's pebble is right up your alley!

> @MountainGoat said:

> > @BobMorris said:

> > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > > >

> > >

> > > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

> >

> > Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy.

>

> I’m happy for you. Each to his own. In my case, a single round at Pebble plus the cost of the required stay at the resort exceeds my annual club dues. And that doesn’t include the costs of travel and meals. I could never in a million years indulge myself that much.

>

>

Just for full disclosures sake, the majority of my rounds @ Pebble were played before the greens fees began to inch up in the stratosphere. I believe the first time I played there in the mid '80s, it cost $60 or so to play. My have times changed.

> @Krt22 said:

> > @MountainGoat said:

> > > @BobMorris said:

> > > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

> > >

> > > Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy.

> >

> > I’m happy for you. Each to his own. In my case, a single round at Pebble plus the cost of the required stay at the resort exceeds my annual club dues. And that doesn’t include the costs of travel and meals. I could never in a million years indulge myself that much.

> >

> >

>

> Looks like poor man's pebble is right up your alley!

Yup....late afternoon back 9 at Pac Grove is one of the best deals anywhere.

> @BobMorris said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > >

> >

> > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

>

> Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy. That said, my favorite track on the peninsula, that I've played, is Spyglass.

Same. Pebble is something special that transcends golf ... but as a course, Spyglass is definitely my favorite.

> @BobMorris said:

> > @Krt22 said:

> > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > @BobMorris said:

> > > > > @MtlJeff said:

> > > > > > @MountainGoat said:

> > > > > > Pebble Beach is a playground for the uber-wealthy. I refuse to be impressed.

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > You can be regular wealthy and play it too

> > > >

> > > > Exactly....I've played there at least a dozen times, and I'm far from anything NEAR wealthy.

> > >

> > > I’m happy for you. Each to his own. In my case, a single round at Pebble plus the cost of the required stay at the resort exceeds my annual club dues. And that doesn’t include the costs of travel and meals. I could never in a million years indulge myself that much.

> > >

> > >

> >

> > Looks like poor man's pebble is right up your alley!

>

> Yup....late afternoon back 9 at Pac Grove is one of the best deals anywhere.

Last time we played we had one of the 2 for 1 certs from Costco, minus a first tee encounter with some crackheads, it was phenomenal in views/value

> @cardoustie said:

> I was cheering for the field vs Kuchar ystdy at the Cdn Open

> Word was out he wanted to pay his caddie in Canadian funds and apply our full tax rates

>

No need, he folds like a tent anytime a few good golfers show up nearby. He's no threat to take any win that's not given to him.

So just what IS the current fee to play Pebble?

$550, but if you want to book an advanced tee time you need to book 2 nights at the resort.

> @MattyO1984 said:

> So Kuchar pays John so little that he needs a side line...sad.

This made me laugh, but it would not surprise me

that John needs a side gig.

> @puttingmatt said:

> > @MattyO1984 said:

> > So Kuchar pays John so little that he needs a side line...sad.

>

> This made me laugh, but it would not surprise me

> that John needs a side gig.

Yeah, he is a few pesos short at the end of each month. Got to do what you got to do though!