Spectacular Monterey Peninsula golf on a budget? Try Pacific Grove Golf Links
PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. -- Not everyone can afford a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links. But every golfer should at some point tee it up on the Monterey Peninsula. That's where Pacific Grove Golf Links comes in: one of golf's great sand saves.
(based on 2 reviews) For a lot of golfers, the thought of spending $100 on a round of golf sounds crazy enough, not to mention $495. Thankfully, the northernmost town on the peninsula lets any golfer get a taste of golf in perhaps the game's most famous zip code.
Pacific Grove Golf Links: The course
Locals here are proud of their remarkable little course that plays just less than 6,000 yards. I teed it up with three residents (who all admit they rarely play Pebble), and they were quick to point out the many landmarks: the rich history behind the Point Pinon lighthouse, the location of the old clubhouse and how the Coast Guard gets to play here free whenever they want. (The Coast Guard deeded the land to the city in 2006.)
Opened in 1932 and designed by Chandler Egan, the routing of the front nine is a traditional out-and-back. But when the land was acquired to build the oceanfront back side, the clubhouse location moved to the opposite side of the nine closer to the ocean. So instead of a par-5 first and ninth hole, the course begins oddly with back-to-back par 3s, then after a par 4, back-to-back par 5s.
While certainly a different experience than the backside, there are some noteworthy holes on this Cypress tree-lined side. The two par 5s are narrow doglegs that require solid ball striking, especially in a stiff breeze. Holes No. 8 and No. 9, a long par 4 and long par 3, respectively, are the front's sternest tests that complement the course's many shorter par 4s and par 3s.
But it's the backside, added in 1960, that is the showstopper. After a chip-shot, par-3 10th hole, the par-4 11th plays straight towards the ocean, and in all likelihood, a stiff breeze. No. 12 may be the finest on the course: a long par 5 that plays parallel to the ocean.
The firm, rolling and sandy turf makes it one of the best links-style holes on the peninsula. No. 13-No. 17 are also top-notch holes before a short, uphill closing hole wedged between the driving range and access road.
Pacific Grove Golf Links: The verdict
Pacific Grove may be the best value in oceanfront golf on mainland North America: Weekend rates for non-residents top out at $52 walking.
Greens, while small, are in smooth, consistent shape, which is a testament considering the amount of rounds played here each year. In the peak tourist months, it can be tough to score a prime starting time, though tee times can be booked up to 60 days in advance.
Other affordable options near Monterey to consider in the area are Monterey Pines Golf Course, Salinas Golf & Country Club and Laguna Seca Golf Ranch.
After golf: Lots to offer in Pacific Grove and Monterey
Each town on the peninsula is stocked with storybook-like inns and bed & breakfasts in Victorian buildings, not to mention five-star resorts and hotels. But budget-conscious travelers can find options, too, with plenty of motor inns and motels. I found one in Pacific Grove, steps from the golf course, for $78 a night, and there were plenty more in the neighborhood of similar, albeit basic standard.
For casual dining, Vivolo's Chowder House has delicious fish 'n chips to go with a seafood-centric menu in a small space in downtown Pacific Grove. The clubhouse at Pacific Grove, rebuilt a few years back, has its own restaurant with a full breakfast and lunch menu (open for dinner until 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat.)
For activities, rather than paying a green fee at Pebble Beach or the other high-end courses in Pebble Beach, pay the $9.75 per car fare for 17-Mile Drive, which is as scenic of a drive as there is in the world of golf.
It takes you past Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, not to mention a brief glimpse of Cypress Point Club. Other sights, such as the Lone Cypress, are spectacular.
Eventually, you'll arrive at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, where you're welcome to walk down to the 18th green, have a bite in the Tap Room or grab a coffee and be on your way back to Pacific Grove. Cyclists can enter the Pebble Beach gate free, and there are many places in Pacific Grove to rent one.
June 28, 2013
Brandon Tucker, Managing Editor
Brandon Tucker is the Managing Editor for Golf Advisor. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and over 500 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at BrandonTuckerGC.