A bucket-list golf experience on California’s spectacular Monterey Peninsula
Few golf experiences carry the anticipation of playing Pebble Beach Golf Links. For many golfers, it sits at the very top of the bucket list.
For us, the moment had finally arrived.
Marilyn and I were about to tee it up at Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay, two of the iconic courses that make the Pebble Beach Resorts area on California’s Monterey Peninsula one of the most famous golf destinations in the world.
And yes — there was plenty of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of nerves.
🏨 Staying at Pebble Beach Resort
Our casita sat right along the first fairway at Pebble Beach, roughly the distance of a good drive from the green. From our patio we could look back toward the tee and forward toward the green, watching golfers begin their rounds at one of the most famous courses in the world.
Standing there that morning, I found myself agonizing over a simple question:
What club should I hit on the first tee?
No one wants to embarrass themselves on the opening hole at Pebble Beach.
The first-hole nerves were reinforced when we found a golf ball sitting in our fenced-in jacuzzi just outside our sliding door — apparently someone else had already had a rough start!
One thing that immediately impressed us was the attention to detail from the resort staff. When I checked in at the pro shop, the staff wished us a Happy 45th Anniversary. The entire resort had made note of it, and everyone seemed to acknowledge it during the week. Pebble Beach is incredibly polished when it comes to hospitality.
🏌️ Pebble Beach Practice Facilities
The Pebble Beach practice facility sits some distance away from the first tee, so complimentary shuttles transport players between the practice area and the course.
The facility is exceptional and includes:
- A full driving range
- Chipping areas
- Large putting greens
- The Pebble Beach Golf Academy
We spent about 30 minutes warming up, working through the nerves and trying to make solid contact before the big moment. Every mishit on the range made me wonder what might happen once we reached the first tee.
⛳ Our Experience Playing Pebble Beach Golf Links
Soon enough we arrived at the first tee, where we met the other couple who would round out our foursome along with our caddie, David.
The starter called our group forward.
It was time.
The opening hole at Pebble Beach is a straightforward but demanding par 4, but there are no senior tees, so the white tees were going to stretch my distance a bit.
After all the anticipation, I decided to hit a four-iron. When I strike it well, I can still get about 180 yards from it.
Thankfully, I caught it solid.
Even better — I managed a par on the first hole at Pebble Beach.
That helped settle the nerves quickly.
The weather was cool but dry — good conditions for golf along the Monterey coast. The round was slow, which is fairly typical at Pebble, especially with golfers taking photos and soaking in the views.
We rode in a cart at times, which was helpful for carrying layers and equipment, while our for-caddie helped tremendously with green reading and strategy.
🏌️Pebble Beach Golf Experience
Second to None!
See the Pebble Beach golf experience course overview.
🌊 The Front Nine at Pebble Beach
The front nine at Pebble Beach is enjoyable, but the course truly begins to show its legendary personality around holes 6 through 9, where the Pacific Ocean suddenly becomes a dramatic backdrop.
Hole 3
A dog leg left, with a large bank of sand traps strategically placed if you hit it too straight and too far. Then a short iron to an elevated green. This is a fairly easy hole with a good drive, but get in the traps and you will pay a penalty.
Hole 5
A uphill par 3 along the ocean’s edge. Miss it right and you’re down the slope to the beach with little hope of finding the ball. Marilyn ended up just on the right edge, not down the slope but in very thick grass that was impossible to get out of.
Hole 6
A challenging par 5, where distance certainly helps. I struggled here and walked away with a double bogey.
Hole 7
One of the most photographed holes in golf.
It’s very short — only about 105 yards the day we played — but perched dramatically above the ocean cliffs. With the wind helping, I lobbed a gap wedge onto the slope behind the green and walked away with a bogey.
Hole 8 — My Favorite Hole
This became my new favorite hole on the course.
Players are advised to drive well left, aiming toward some of the large homes overlooking the Pacific near the 10th hole.
Looking back at Hole 8
Instead of my driver, I again chose the four-iron. I hit it well — maybe a little too well — as it rolled to within about ten yards of the cliff edge, which definitely got my attention.
The second shot is unforgettable: played from a bluff roughly 60–80 feet above the ocean, carrying across a dramatic ravine toward a well-protected green.
The carry was in the 150-yard range, but realistically closer to 170 to land safely. I hit the shot solidly enough to clear the water, but it pulled slightly left and landed in the front bunker.
Another bogey, but a thrilling one.
🌅 The Back Nine at Pebble Beach
The back nine at Pebble Beach delivers some of the most iconic golf holes anywhere in the world.
Hole 10
A long par 4 along the ocean before heading back and inland for a bit. This one was tough with the ocean wind in our face, but the scenery of Carmel beach below us was amazing.
Hole 11
Brings you back towards the club house along mansion row. the entire right side is lined with enormous homes or the rich and famous. Marilyn said she wouldn’t want to clean them.
Gene Hackman’s Old House #9
This hole was well protect with a elevated green and large frontal bunkers where I made a home in on my approach shot.
All the other back nine holes were enjoyable but not epic as the last two would be.
Hole 17
A beautiful hole where your tee shot plays toward the Pacific Ocean. Marilyn and I both played it well and enjoyed the moment.
Hole 18 — One of Golf’s Most Famous Finishing Holes
The closing hole at Pebble Beach is unforgettable.
The fairway runs along the Pacific with water down the entire left side. Both of us managed to keep our drives safely in play, avoiding the ocean and the famous tree in the fairway.
On most holes we used the cart, but on 18 the caddie drove the cart while the golfers walked, allowing us to enjoy the traditional walk along one of golf’s most celebrated finishing holes.
I hit a solid second shot and had an 8-iron into the green with a chance to reach it in regulation. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite carry the right-side bunker.
I failed to get up and down for par — but the experience of finishing Pebble Beach more than made up for it.
My final score: 89 from the white tees.
Considering the circumstances, I was thrilled.
💡 Pebble Beach Golf Takeaways
• Cart paths sit well away from the fairways, so expect a good amount of walking
• Layers are essential — coastal weather changes quickly
• Marshals do their best to keep play moving, but rounds often exceed five hours
• Deer roam the course freely
• Watch your snacks — a squirrel actually stole an energy bar from our cart
• Logo golf balls are only sold by the sleeve — making them quite expensive!
And the big question:
Was Pebble Beach worth the price?
For a bucket-list golf experience, the answer is a resounding yes.
🌬️ Playing Spanish Bay Links
A few days later we headed to The Links at Spanish Bay, another course within Pebble Beach Resorts.
Spanish Bay sits on the northern edge of the Monterey Peninsula overlooking the Pacific.
We arrived around 7:00 AM, greeted by strong coastal winds and cool temperatures. The wind was easily 15–20 mph, which made for a challenging round.
Spanish Bay is designed in the style of a Scottish links course, with rolling fairways, dunes, and dramatic coastal scenery.
Despite our familiarity with windy golf from years in Oklahoma and Kansas, the conditions proved challenging. Our scores climbed higher than we hoped, and the cold wind made the round tougher.
Still, the setting was spectacular.
After finishing, we warmed up with coffee and hot chocolate in the clubhouse café, overlooking the course and planning the rest of the day.
🏌️ Round Two at Pebble Beach
Our stay-and-play package included a second round at Pebble Beach.
This time we teed off at 6:10 AM, paired with another couple. The gentleman was a strong golfer playing deeper tees, while his partner was newer to the game.
Their parents walked the course, which slowed things a bit. The marshals kept encouraging us to move along — slightly frustrating since we weren’t the slow group.
Eventually things picked up, and the marshals relaxed once we caught the group ahead.
By now we had learned the course better.
On hole 7, I took one less club and dropped the ball within ten feet of the hole. Marilyn also hit the green, and we both walked away with pars.
I hit a poor drive on 18, but a friendly mulligan suggestion helped salvage the hole with a bogey.
🍽️ Finishing the Experience
One of the joys of Pebble Beach is finishing your round and heading directly to the clubhouse grille overlooking the 18th green.
We wrapped up the morning with lunch there — excellent food, beautiful views, and time to reflect on an unforgettable golf experience.
The golf was outstanding.
The service throughout the resort was exceptional.
And the memories will last a lifetime.
If you ever have the opportunity to play Pebble Beach Golf Links, take it.
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