The Dream 18: The best holes of Pebble Beach Resorts on California's spectacular Monterey Peninsula
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Apologies are in order.
By creating a "Dream 18" collection of the best holes at Pebble Beach Resorts, I had to ignore some world-class holes on the Monterey Peninsula.
The hole-by-hole breakdown ended up being eight holes from Pebble Beach Golf Links, six from Spyglass Hill Golf Course, three from The Links at Spanish Bay and one from Del Monte Golf Club.
I left off two holes at Pebble Beach that follow the rocky cliffs above Monterey Bay -- the par-4 fourth and par-3 fifth -- and a handful of holes on Spanish Bay with spectacular views of the water. Several inland holes I passed over on Spyglass Hill rank among the toughest on the PGA Tour every year. Del Monte, the oldest continuously operated course west of the Mississippi River, also had a couple other solid candidates.
The holes that made the cut would, no doubt, combine to be the greatest course in the world. Pebble Beach's run of coastal holes -- no. 6 through no. 11 -- are simply majestic. The finishing holes, the par-3 17th and par-5 18th, have delivered so much history in five U.S. Opens and countless PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events. Pebble Beach will host the U.S. Amateur in 2018 and the U.S. Open in 2019, its centennial year.
The opening five holes of Spyglass Hill might be the best starting stretch in golf. Once the par-5 first hole sweeps left, the dunes of gnarly ice plants and views take over on the Robert Trent Jones Sr. design.
Picking the best of the Spanish Bay was tough. The linksy course features a pair of short, tricky par 3s that are buffeted by winds -- the 158-yard eighth and 126-yard 13th holes -- and plenty of interesting features, such as three pot bunkers in the middle of the fifth fairway and a wild, semi-blind ninth green hidden behind mounding.
I guess the point is this: Golfers who visit Pebble Beach Resorts should play all 72 holes. There's great variety and beauty at every turn of the fairway.
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The elevated second green reveals the beauty of Spyglass Hill, one of three AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am host courses. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The par-5 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the world's most recognizable holes. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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It's a scary approach over a hazard to the 12th green on The Links at Spanish Bay. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The 172-yard, par-3 third hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course plays downhill directly into the ocean's breeze. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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An AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am participant takes on the ocean cliffs of the par-5 sixth hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
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A tree in the middle of the fairway makes the seventh hole the no. 1 handicap -- and the most interesting and memorable hole -- at Del Monte Golf Course. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The waves come crashing into the famous par-3 seventh green at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
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It's a treacherous road to reach the fourth green at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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No. 8 at Pebble Beach Golf Links, playing along cliffs the entire way, makes for an intimidating hole tee-to-green. Courtesy of Getty Images
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The par-5 14th hole on The Links at Spanish Bay is called "To The Sea. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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A look back from the ninth green reveals the beauty of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
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There isn't really a bad time to visit Spyglass Hill on Monterey Peninsula for golf, and summer months are as pleasant as any destination. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The view from the 10th tee is just one of many reasons why Pebble Beach is a must-play. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor
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The par-3 fifth at Spyglass Hill Golf Course is the last adventure in the dunes before the course heads into the Del Monte Forest. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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There are hazards galore lining the 18th fairway on The Links at Spanish Bay. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The 17th green on the Pebble Beach Golf Links was renovated in 2016 to take it back to its original shape. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The par-3 12th hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course is tucked below a set of elevated tees. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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This menacing bunker guards the 14th green, the end of a strong par 5 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
