That's Some
COLIN SIMPSON
THE eyes of the golfing world were on the famous Pebble Beach course in California last summer as Gary Woodland won the US Open, his first major. But what’s it like to visit this famous course south of San Francisco and San Jose? And does it live up to its billing as one of the most beautiful in the world? Afaranwide stopped off to take a look.
The coastal setting overlooking Carmel Bay certainly is impressive. It was very welcoming, unlike some golf clubs I could name. I was free to wander around the clubhouse and have a beer on the terrace while admiring the views.
Pebble Beach Golf Links is – unusually for a major venue – a public course rather than a private club. But that doesn’t mean it’s cheap, as at $550 the green fees are among the dearest anywhere. The course celebrated its centenary last year. It’s been rated the country’s top public course since rankings began in 2003.
The last winner of the US Open at Pebble Beach, in 2010, was Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland. His achievement is recalled in a display of memorabilia in the clubhouse. Other former champions include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods.
Courses that host the US Open are entitled to display a replica of the trophy. Pebble Beach has staged the event six times, more than any other venue over the last 50 years. The tournament is due to return in 2027.
The community of Pebble Beach, next to Monterey and Carmel, has several other famous golf courses. It is reached by a toll road, the picturesque 17-mile drive.
Pebble Beach is in Monterey County, the setting for HBO’s smash hit Big Little Lies. The show’s starry cast included Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and, in the second series, Meryl Streep.
This part of the world is a magnet for celebrities – Bing Crosby lived in Carmel, as did Doris Day, who died this year. Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, and also owned the town’s Hog’s Breath Inn.
MORE INFO
THE COURSE’S official site has all the information you’ll if you decide to take up its invitation to “Enjoy the round of a lifetime at Pebble Beach”. READ MORE
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PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA
That's Some
Water Hazard!
COLIN SIMPSON
THE eyes of the golfing world were on the famous Pebble Beach course in California last summer as Gary Woodland won the US Open, his first major. But what’s it like to visit this famous course south of San Francisco and San Jose? And does it live up to its billing as one of the most beautiful in the world? Afaranwide stopped off to take a look.
The coastal setting overlooking Carmel Bay certainly is impressive. It was very welcoming, unlike some golf clubs I could name. I was free to wander around the clubhouse and have a beer on the terrace while admiring the views.
Pebble Beach Golf Links is – unusually for a major venue – a public course rather than a private club. But that doesn’t mean it’s cheap, as at $550 the green fees are among the dearest anywhere. The course celebrated its centenary last year. It’s been rated the country’s top public course since rankings began in 2003.
The last winner of the US Open at Pebble Beach, in 2010, was Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland. His achievement is recalled in a display of memorabilia in the clubhouse. Other former champions include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods.
Courses that host the US Open are entitled to display a replica of the trophy. Pebble Beach has staged the event six times, more than any other venue over the last 50 years. The tournament is due to return in 2027.
The community of Pebble Beach, next to Monterey and Carmel, has several other famous golf courses. It is reached by a toll road, the picturesque 17-mile drive.
Pebble Beach is in Monterey County, the setting for HBO’s smash hit Big Little Lies. The show’s starry cast included Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and, in the second series, Meryl Streep.
This part of the world is a magnet for celebrities – Bing Crosby lived in Carmel, as did Doris Day, who died this year. Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, and also owned the town’s Hog’s Breath Inn.
Carry on south on Route 1 and you come to Bixby Bridge, then Big Sur. Everywhere around here is so darned FAMOUS.
Updated June 2020
MORE INFO
THE COURSE’S official site has all the information you’ll if you decide to take up its invitation to “Enjoy the round of a lifetime at Pebble Beach”. READ MORE
RELATED
FERRARI-PRICE GOLF CART: You’re in the market for a new ride and have $250,000 to spend? How about a gleaming new Ferrari Portofino, which costs from $214,000 in the US? Or a fresh-from-the-factory Lamborghini Huracan – they start at $203,000… READ MORE
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WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our detailed guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE