To Pebble Or Not To Pebble….

The U.S. Open is on deck and with it once again visiting Pebble Beach. Most golfers that watch even a minute of it will most likely be daydreaming of playing that lovely course. And while the owners of Pebble Beach incorrectly insist on calling it “Pebble Beach Golf Links” (it is not a links course) it doesn’t make Pebble any less appealing.

It certainly is an impressive looking course and the oceanside layout stirs many a wanting golfer. Pebble is always ranked as “the best public golf course” in America and Augusta National and Pebble are usually the response the majority of American hackers give when asked for their top bucket list course.

Well, unless you are friends with a Green Jacket of Augusta National, good luck getting on those verdant grounds. But Pebble Beach Golf Links is public so the dreams of millions of hackers live! Well, kind of.

When I think of “public golf” and “public greens fees” I am thinking something I can pay cash for, out of pocket and not have to take a mortgage out to cover it.

Pebble Beach’s greens fee is $550. That’s for a Resort Guest…it’s $550 plus $45 cart fee for Non-Resort guests. Nice of them to throw the cart in for someone who’s paying around a grand a night to stay there. OUCH! And forget getting on if you’re not staying there.

They list a package for two nights and two rounds, including Pebble for $2500 or another for three nights and three rounds (Pebble) for about $3900. There goes the kids college fund.

I live in New York State, two hours from Bethpage Black…I can play The Black about 33 times for the cost of a two night package. But still I am tempted.

I keep looking for a reason to NOT play Pebble. And the folks at Golf Magazine made it a bit easier. In this months issue (page 72) they give what they call “a famous old saw of golf architecture” when they claim that Pebble has “six great holes, six good holes and six, well, meh holes.” But really, that doesn’t make missing out on those views and history any easier.

The fact that I was gifted a wonderful book on Pebble just whets my appetite more. “The Ultimate Round – Pebble Beach Golf Links – An Illustrated Guide to America’s Majestic Dream Course” is as detailed a look at Pebble that you can get without spending a month walking that place. Joann Dost has made a living photographing Pebble and her photos are breathtaking. My single digit, golfing brother thought he’d tease me with it and it has worked.

I have a hankering for a bit of Pebble Beach golf, whether it’s a links or not. But I’ll have to do with leafing through the book for now while I wait for my Powerball numbers come in.