Pacific Grove Golf Links

I had the good fortune to go down to Monterey and Pacific Grove back in August to play the 'unsung hero' of Monterey courses: Pacific Grove.

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.

The prominent feature of the first nine is tall Monterey cypress and parkland. The holes amble past a cemetery, and numerous houses and bed-and-breakfasts. Here we see my good friend Matt Isola on the tee at #

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))



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:

 

 

 

 

 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.