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The Global Golfer Top 100
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA · #22 in the World
Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA | Ranking: #22 — The Global Golfer Top 100
Type: Links-style Coastal | Partner Stay: The Lodge at Pebble Beach; The Inn at Spanish Bay
Editor’s Note: “If I only had one more round to play, I would choose Pebble Beach.” — Jack Nicklaus. Six US Opens, the AT&T Pro-Am and a century of iconic moments — Watson’s chip on 17 in 1982, Nicklaus’s closing birdie on 17 in 1972, Tiger’s 15-shot US Open win in 2000 — have made Pebble Beach the most storied public course on earth. The eight holes along Carmel Bay cliffs are collectively the most beautiful golf in the world.
Travel & Logistics
- How to Get There: On the 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, California. San Francisco (SFO) — 2h drive south on Highway 1. San Jose (SJC) — 1h 30m. Monterey (MRY) — 30 mins.
Contact & Booking
- Website: pebblebeach.com
- Green Fees: From $625 (Lodge guests priority access) | Rating / Slope: 75.5 / 145
Championship Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| Yards | 381 | 502 | 390 | 331 | 188 | 516 | 106 | 418 | 464 | 3,296 |
Par 4
Par 3
Par 5
Total
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 446 | 380 | 202 | 399 | 573 | 397 | 403 | 178 | 543 | 3,521 | 6,828 |
Key Strategy Notes
- Hole 7 — Par 3, 106 Yards: The most photographed hole on the Monterey Peninsula — a tiny, wedge-only par 3 directly above Carmel Bay with the Pacific crashing on three sides. The green is the size of a living room; the wind is perfectly unreadable.
- Hole 8 — Par 4, 418 Yards: The greatest second shot in golf — a long iron or fairway metal entirely across Carmel Bay cliffs to a green perched on the headland. The drop to the right is 100 feet into the Pacific.
- Hole 17 — Par 3, 178 Yards: Watson’s chip in 1982 — from the rough above the green, chipping in to deny Nicklaus a tie for the US Open title. Hit the green; anything above the hole on this violently fast surface is essentially unplayable.
- Hole 18 — Par 5, 543 Yards: Running along Carmel Bay back to the Lodge — the most beautiful and theatrical finishing hole in American golf. The Stillwater Cove comes into play on the second shot for the ambitious.
The 19th Hole
- The Lodge at Pebble Beach (5★): Overlooking the 18th green — the most famous golf hotel address in America. The Stillwater Bar and Grill for post-round drinks with Carmel Bay views. Book via Expedia →
- Carmel-by-the-Sea: 10 minutes — a completely unique village of galleries, restaurants and boutiques. Dinner at Aubergine in L’Auberge Carmel is exceptional.
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