Although overshadowed by its neighbors (Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill, etc.), which have hosted U.S. Opens, a PGA championship and the annual Pebble Beach Pro-am, Pacific Grove represents a sort of 'accessible' version of those other courses.
Here is my day at Pacific Grove:
The staff was friendly enough, and sent us off as scheduled at 7:30 A.M. As I was a junior, I played for $20 (Bargain!) dollars. The first nine winds out and back with a peculiar variety of holes: Pars 3-3-4-4-5-5-4-4-3 for the opening nine out and back through the pacific grove neighborhood.
3, looking back towards the second green.
The 3rd and 4th are short par fours, both theoretically drivable. Neither of us managed to pull off the feat; my tee shot came to rest just to the right of the greenside bunker. I pitched to 4 feet and made birdie however.
The two par 5's are mirror images of each other, at a little more than 500 yards a piece. The course winds back to the clubhouse, and you begin to wonder what all the hype is about. You then cross Pt. Pinos road to play the short par 3 tenth (after battling a 420 yd uphill par four (8) and a teeth-of-the-wind 230 yd par 3 (9))
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| And behold!
The green at 10 introduces you to a beautiful stretch of what is almost true links golf. Here follow some pictures of the spectacular back nine at P.G.G.L:
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This may be the most fun I've ever had on a golf course: A shot from off the ice plant blindly struck over the dune from 210 yds to find the green. Matt called it merely "The Shot."
This is the 17th, played over a pond which does not affect play too much. I was in the trees behind the green, however.
And lastly the magnificent 18th. A 350 yd par 4 playing uphill away from the ocean to close out the round. I shot an 82 on the day and more importantly spent an awesome day with Matt before he left off for college.
Pacific Grove final rating:
Playability: 8 -> A short course, not a hole on the layout is too challenging in distance except for 8, 9, 12, and perhaps 15.
Wow Factor: 9 -> the beauty of the second nine is only tarnished by a slight lack of charm on the first. I can play the first nine at just about anywhere, the second nine is half Scotland and half northern California**
Condition: 6 -> Detracting from the linksy feel is the abundance of bermuda grass. This creates more spongy turf and reduces the opportunities for bump and run shots otherwise available at a links type venue. Greens were a little bumpy
Amazing shot situation opportunity: 10! -> You hit drives over massive sand dunes twice. I hit 'the shot' from a sand dune. Foreboding cypress trees to go over around. Balls played from opposite fairways. This place begs you to let loose your inner Arnold Palmer.
Wild extra category: Locations to hit balls into ocean: 2 -> They exist. But always over a pretty well traveled road. Recommend a drive to a beach and a ceremonial shot from there.
PACIFIC GROVE: 9+
"That was amazing" -- Matt Isola
** -- The author has yet to play a golf course in Scotland and is speculating.
