Pebble Beach Golf Links

Opened in 1919, it is renowned for a string of oceanside holes perched above Carmel Bay and Stillwater Cove, and it consistently ranks among the finest courses anywhere. As a resort course open to the public, it offers everyday golfers the chance to walk the same fairways that have decided multiple U.S. Opens.

Course History

Pebble Beach Golf Links opened on February 22, 1919, as the centerpiece of Samuel F. B. Morse's Del Monte Forest development. It was designed by two accomplished amateur golfers, Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, who had never before designed a course but had the vision to route as many holes as possible along the Monterey coastline. In the years that followed, H. Chandler Egan reworked several holes, most notably in preparation for the 1929 U.S. Amateur, refining the bunkering and greens while preserving the original seaside routing.

Pebble Beach has since become one of golf's great championship venues. It has hosted the U.S. Open six times, with victories by Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tom Watson (1982), Tom Kite (1992), Tiger Woods (2000, by a record 15 strokes), Graeme McDowell (2010), and Gary Woodland (2019). In 2023 it staged its first U.S. Women's Open, won by Allisen Corpuz, and it is scheduled to host the U.S. Open again in 2027. The course is also the marquee venue of the annual PGA Tour event long known as the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The Design & Architecture

Neville and Grant laid out Pebble Beach as a rough figure-eight, sending the golfer out toward the sea and back, so that the most dramatic holes cling directly to the cliff edge above the Pacific. The greens are famously small, firm Poa annua surfaces that demand precise approach play, and the ocean wind is a constant factor that can transform the course from day to day. Rather than heavy earthmoving, the design relies on the natural drama of the coastline, letting bays, coves, and rocky headlands supply much of the challenge.

Playing the Course

The stretch of holes from the 4th through the 10th, running along the bluffs, is among the most photographed in golf. The short par-3 7th plays barely more than 100 yards straight toward the crashing surf, while the cliff-hugging par-4 8th, 9th, and 10th form a brutal, exhilarating trio. The round closes with the iconic par-5 18th, which curves along the seawall of Carmel Bay to a green beside the historic lodge. From the championship tees the course measures 6,828 yards to a par of 72, with a course rating of 74.3 and a slope of 144, but the wind and the small greens make it play far tougher than the yardage suggests.

Know Before You Go

• Access & booking: Pebble Beach is open to the public, but tee times are in extremely high demand. Priority is given to guests of the Pebble Beach Resorts, and resort guests can typically book while non-guests are limited to reservations made only a short window in advance.

• Location: 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA, on the Monterey Peninsula about two hours south of the San Francisco Bay Area.

• Amenities & contact: A full practice facility (including a driving range), caddies, pro shop, and the adjacent Lodge at Pebble Beach with dining and lodging. For tee times and reservations, call (831) 622-8723.

• Tip: Book a caddie for green-reading on the small Poa annua putting surfaces, dress in layers for the coastal wind and fog, and aim conservatively away from the cliff edges on the oceanside holes.