My Experience at Pebble Beach

[bjackson]

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to play Pebble Beach Golf Links for my first time. I've been to the course before to watch the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and it's obviously been on my "courses to play" list, so understandably I was very excited when I finally had the chance to get out there.

 

I got to the course about an hour and 15 minutes early, making sure I had enough time to warm up and prepare myself. The service the staff exhibited was extremely professional and helpful.The driving range is a little bit away, so there was a shuttle that took me and my friend there. Hit some balls on the range, then some pitches/bunker shots on the wedge green. I was still elated and not completely "in the zone". After the range, we took the shuttle back to the course, hit some putts, and were good to go. We had the option to take a cart or a caddie. Obviously we took the caddie! Jerry was VERY knowledgeable about the course having walked for 60,000 miles (that was his answer when I asked how long he had been caddying there) which equates to 400 rounds a year for 23 years. He'd give me yardages and I'd whip out my range finder, and he'd be ± 2 yards. Needless to say, I put the range finder away after the second hole.

 

I didn't play well (really bad honestly) but I didn't let it get to me at all, and to be honest I don't care. I had a GREAT time, and was in awe the entire round. Even at a sluggish 5.5 hour pace, it felt like the fastest round I've ever played. I took a ton of pictures, trying to soak it up as best I could. The thing that got me was how important the tee shots were. I hit 3 iron off the tee 3 times (all on the front 9), 3 wood 3 times, and driver 8 times. NOT a bomb and gouge type course IMO. The greens are small, fast, and very complex surfaces. Balls would break away from the ocean, even though the contours looked like they wouldn't. The grain was tricky too.

 

All said and done, I had a great time. It feels like a dream when I try to think about playing a specific shot or hole. I did hit some good shots, but was off for most all of the round. I played the blue tees at 6828 yards, and finished with an 83 - OUCH! (.9 index). It was ugly, but.... I did show SOME that I could play. I got through 8, 9, and 10 at even par. Great 3 iron 5 iron combo into 8 with a birdie putt that just missed. Big drive down in the right rough on 9, 8 iron into the green, and dropped my only putt of any length for birdie from ~50+ feet (my caddie said it was one of the better putts he'd ever seen on the hole). Hit my only bomb of a drive of the day at 10, and had about 120 yards in from the fairway. Hit my approach to 15 feet, then went ahead to 3 putt for bogey. Story of the day. I finished with 36 putts :russian_roulette:. I promise I'll be working on the flatstick more than I have been (I made 100 3 foot putts the day before in anticipation of lots of putts from that length). Looks like a time to switch out putters to a backup AND get to practicing with the new iPing app (which I need to go buy a cradle for).

 

Anywho, GREAT time. I'm not upset that I played like a hack, nor that I missed an 8 footer for birdie on 17 or hooked one into the ocean on 18. The course was different from anything else I'd played. It was fun, but to be honest, I prefer Spyglass as a course. Pebble gave the better experience though.

 

Sorry for the somewhat short recap, but I wanted to hit the main points without too much clutter. Please ask questions if you have any. As for pictures, I've included some of my favorites below (iPhone 4 camera was in use on every hole, which is probably part of the reason I didn't play well).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EnglishBob]

Green with envy, I love that place and will probably never have the kind of cash to play it LOL.

[jbrunone]

Sounds like a great time, did you play any othr courses in the area?

[djmohab2]

Very awesome story. Reminds me of when I got to play Bethpage Black as a 19 year old for $35 bucks (being a NYS resident rocked). Glad to see you enjoyed yourself!

[bjackson]

[quote name='jbrunone' timestamp='1309216882' post='3340154']
Sounds like a great time, did you play any othr courses in the area?
[/quote]

This was just a day trip. I've played Spyglass a few times, Poppy Hills a few times, will be playing both Monterrey Peninsula CC courses later this summer, and my dream is to play Cypress Point (which is fairly realistic, I know some people that know members that ought to be able to get me out).

I've played a fair bit of golf in the Monterrey area outside 17 mile drive too (Pacific Grove, Del Monte, Coral de Tierra, Rancho Canada east & west, and some others). I also have an NCGA qualifier at Bayonet in a couple weeks and an outstanding invitation to The Preserve that I need to take up.

[jasman29]

Dont forget about Pasatiempo. That is a great course and where Alister MacKenzie made he residence.

Pebble is great and I am going back for the 4th time this August for another couple of rounds.

[jswaykos]

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1309216445' post='3340125']
Jerry was VERY knowledgeable about the course having walked for 60,000 miles (that was his answer when I asked how long he had been caddying there) which equates to 400 rounds a year for 23 years. He'd give me yardages and I'd whip out my range finder, and he'd be ± 2 yards. Needless to say, I put the range finder away after the second hole.
[/quote]

Yeah, some of those older caddies could carry your bag and read yardages with their eyes closed. While I don't doubt that Jerry has been there a LONG time, 400 rounds a year is pretty lofty. It's tough to get more than one round in the winters because of daylight, although at some point he'd have such high priority that he'd be guaranteed the first job (that he wanted) of the day. I sense a classic caddy exaggeration there, though!!

[bjackson]

[quote name='jasman29' timestamp='1309383540' post='3346463']
Dont forget about Pasatiempo. That is a great course and where Alister MacKenzie made he residence.

Pebble is great and I am going back for the 4th time this August for another couple of rounds.
[/quote]

I've played Pasatiempo a few times too

As you go up towards the Peninsula, I've played just about them all.

[b]Nicer Courses[/b]
-Cordevalle
-Coyote Creek Tournament/Valley
-San Jose CC
-Almaden
-La Riconada
-Los Altos CC
-Stanford GC
-Sharon Heights CC
-Menlo CC
-Green Hills CC
-Peninsula CC
-Burlingame CC
-California GC
-Lake Merced CC
-Olympic Lake
-Harding Park
-Half Moon Bay Old

[b]Meh Courses[/b]
-Lincoln Park
-Sharp Park
-Poplar Creek
-Crystal Springs
-Mariners Point
-Emerald Hills
-Palo Alto Muni
-Shoreline
-Blackberry Farm
-Deep Cliff
-Santa Clara

I'm sure there are some in there I'm forgetting too...

[bjackson]

[quote name='jswaykos' timestamp='1309387878' post='3346664']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1309216445' post='3340125']
Jerry was VERY knowledgeable about the course having walked for 60,000 miles (that was his answer when I asked how long he had been caddying there) which equates to 400 rounds a year for 23 years. He'd give me yardages and I'd whip out my range finder, and he'd be ± 2 yards. Needless to say, I put the range finder away after the second hole.
[/quote]

Yeah, some of those older caddies could carry your bag and read yardages with their eyes closed. While I don't doubt that Jerry has been there a LONG time, 400 rounds a year is pretty lofty. It's tough to get more than one round in the winters because of daylight, although at some point he'd have such high priority that he'd be guaranteed the first job (that he wanted) of the day. I sense a classic caddy exaggeration there, though!!
[/quote]

Maybe slightly high, but I'm not going to argue with the guy! haha. All those numbers (60,000 miles, 400 rounds/year, 340 working days a year, 23 years) are figures he told me.

[scully]

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1309218535' post='3340246']
[quote name='jbrunone' timestamp='1309216882' post='3340154']
Sounds like a great time, did you play any othr courses in the area?
[/quote]

This was just a day trip. I've played Spyglass a few times, Poppy Hills a few times, will be playing both Monterrey Peninsula CC courses later this summer, and my dream is to play Cypress Point (which is fairly realistic, I know some people that know members that ought to be able to get me out).

I've played a fair bit of golf in the Monterrey area outside 17 mile drive too (Pacific Grove, Del Monte, Coral de Tierra, Rancho Canada east & west, and some others). I also have an NCGA qualifier at Bayonet in a couple weeks and an outstanding invitation to The Preserve that I need to take up.
[/quote]


Take up that invitation to play The Preserve, you will be very happy you did.

[jswaykos]

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1309396654' post='3347039']
[quote name='jswaykos' timestamp='1309387878' post='3346664']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1309216445' post='3340125']
Jerry was VERY knowledgeable about the course having walked for 60,000 miles (that was his answer when I asked how long he had been caddying there) which equates to 400 rounds a year for 23 years. He'd give me yardages and I'd whip out my range finder, and he'd be ± 2 yards. Needless to say, I put the range finder away after the second hole.
[/quote]

Yeah, some of those older caddies could carry your bag and read yardages with their eyes closed. While I don't doubt that Jerry has been there a LONG time, 400 rounds a year is pretty lofty. It's tough to get more than one round in the winters because of daylight, although at some point he'd have such high priority that he'd be guaranteed the first job (that he wanted) of the day. I sense a classic caddy exaggeration there, though!!
[/quote]

Maybe slightly high, but I'm not going to argue with the guy! haha. All those numbers (60,000 miles, 400 rounds/year, 340 working days a year, 23 years) are figures he told me.
[/quote]


The real number, be it 60,000 miles or something lower, is most likely staggering. Those lifer caddies are a different breed.

[kekoa]

Tks much for sharing. A few questions tho:

What time did you play and were you able to secure a tee time?

Pebble and spyglass are on my to do list nxt year for sure.

[cmrl1986]

So jelious...living in the Midwest it would be hard to convince the wife to let me fly to Cali for a $500 round of golf! Awesome write up!

[bjackson]

[quote name='kekoa' timestamp='1309411003' post='3348408']
Tks much for sharing. A few questions tho:

What time did you play and were you able to secure a tee time?

Pebble and spyglass are on my to do list nxt year for sure.
[/quote]

Tee time was at 11am and yes, my tee time was reserved.

[cmrl1986]

So jelious...living in the Midwest it would be hard to convince the wife to let me fly to Cali for a $500 round of golf! Awesome write up!

[ninothing]

i am going to be in SF in mid Aug. with a couple free days for golf. Pasatiempo is on my list. Wife actually OK'd a round at Pebble. Just trying to justify the cost in my mind. For that price I could play Bayonet, Poppy, HMB and still come out ahead. Also trying to budget for other rounds at Cog Hill later that month.

[bbslurp413]

[quote name='ninothing' timestamp='1309484024' post='3353658']
i am going to be in SF in mid Aug. with a couple free days for golf. Pasatiempo is on my list. Wife actually OK'd a round at Pebble. Just trying to justify the cost in my mind. For that price I could play Bayonet, Poppy, HMB and still come out ahead. Also trying to budget for other rounds at Cog Hill later that month.
[/quote]

Most enjoyable round of my life. There is no justification needed

[The GreekGrind]

Thanks for sharing, this is awesome.