Thinking of taking my Dad golfing at Pebble Beach (1 Viewer)

[JuniorGong]

So I would like to take my dad golfing at Pebble Beach, he is in his 70s but still very active for his age. He loves golf and I thought this could be a great father-son outing and a small way for me to pay him back for all that he has done for me over the years. Has anyone ever done this? Would welcome thoughts and suggestions.

From my brief research it sounds like in order to secure a tee time in advance you have to stay on the grounds. I’m seeing packages for a few nights stay and either two or three rounds of golf. At minimum will want to play Pebble and Spyglass. 

It seems like it is going to be a pricey trip but thinking I can use my miles for free flights and really this will be a once and a lifetime experience.

Does anyone know if they allow golf carts on the course?

 

[BassNBrew]

Should I take a caddie or a cart?

Because Pebble Beach Golf Links offers what is regarded as perhaps the greatest walk on Earth, we suggest a caddie. As course experts, Pebble Beach caddies can help you read greens and judge yardages, as well as share stories on the rich history of Pebble Beach. Pull carts are not permitted at Pebble Beach Golf Links, and golf carts must remain on the path at all times.

 

[Steeler]

No feedback regarding Pebble Beach - just wanted to say I think its great you want to do this for your dad 

 

[joffer]

I’m headed there Thursday.  My first time.  Will report back.

 

[JuniorGong]

I’m headed there Thursday.  My first time.  Will report back.

Thanks, would love to hear your experience 

 

[3 hour lunch]

Sounds awesome. Depends how much the money means to you, but you’d obviously enjoy it. If in the end it’s just too much money, you could do something similar at almost any other iconic course for less $. Not in the same category, but just golfed Wolf Creek with my dad last week. Unforgettable, but only $125 ?

 

[Quint]

Make sure you get that round in at Spyglass too. It’s a blast. 

 

[belljr]

While technically you don't need to stay on property to play, doing so guranteess tee times.

 

[The Captain]

My father and I stayed in Monterey 25 years ago and played Pebble, Spyglass and Spanish Bay. Went the week before Christmas and had no trouble getting tee times. The weather was perfect and I’ll never forget the experience. Only regret is that I didn’t love golf then the way I do now. 

Still plan to go back some day and plan to spread some of my fathers ashes there. 

If it’s something you really want to do you should do it. Absolutely beautiful there. 

 

[JuniorGong]

Sounds awesome. Depends how much the money means to you, but you’d obviously enjoy it. If in the end it’s just too much money, you could do something similar at almost any other iconic course for less $. Not in the same category, but just golfed Wolf Creek with my dad last week. Unforgettable, but only $125 ?

yeah, certainly an option but even though it is pricey something about telling my dad I'm taking him to Pebble Beach holds special appeal.

 

[Mr. Ected]

While technically you don't need to stay on property to play, doing so guranteess tee times.

Was just listening to Tony Kornheiser's Podcast and they were talking about playing at PB after talking about the tourney this weekend. Tony said it was wonderful, although (as noted) pricey but that if you stay onsite, you can also get a bit of a reduction in the greens fees.

 

[NutterButter]

At ~$1300 (includes room but who really cares about that) for a round of golf, it damn well better be wonderful.

 

[falguy]

At ~$1300 (includes room but who really cares about that) for a round of golf, it damn well better be wonderful.

Is that what it is? I was at PB in 2001, or thereabouts. Didn't play was just checking it out as we drove up the coast to San Francisco.  If memory serves it was about $400 then (just golf). Has it gone up that much? That's insane.

 

[JuniorGong]

Is that what it is? I was at PB in 2001, or thereabouts. Didn't play was just checking it out as we drove up the coast to San Francisco.  If memory serves it was about $400 then (just golf). Has it gone up that much? That's insane.

Green fees are $495-525 a round but the kicker is if you are going to plan ahead and book a tee time you need to stay at one of their resorts which on the low end run $700/night

 

[falguy]

Green fees are $495-525 a round but the kicker is if you are going to plan ahead and book a tee time you need to stay at one of their resorts which on the low end run $700/night

OK, that's reasonable I guess (as in reasonable that the green fee didn't go up 100% in 16 years). If you're going to spend $700 to stay somewhere might as well spend an extra $500 to play one of the nicest course on the planet.

 

[JuniorGong]

Just booked my trip, heading out on June 11th, playing SpyGlass on the 12th and Pebble Beach on the 13th. I got morning tee times each day which I’m pretty happy about and weather should be ideal in June. It happens to be the week leading up to Father’s Day which is perfect timing. My dad seems really excited so can’t wait to share the experience with him.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Played there many years ago.  I would recommend having a caddie.  It was a blast to just walk the holes of Pebble and not lug anything.  Plus, he read every putt and made my life on the greens much easier as a result.  I remember when I made my reservations that I was asked if I was celebrating something special and mentioned it was my wife's birthday.  I don't know if that affected the room they gave me, but we did get booked in the main lodge looking straight out on the 18th green.  

 

[JuniorGong]

I’m headed there Thursday.  My first time.  Will report back.

How was it?

 

[JuniorGong]

Played there many years ago.  I would recommend having a caddie.  It was a blast to just walk the holes of Pebble and not lug anything.  Plus, he read every putt and made my life on the greens much easier as a result.  I remember when I made my reservations that I was asked if I was celebrating something special and mentioned it was my wife's birthday.  I don't know if that affected the room they gave me, but we did get booked in the main lodge looking straight out on the 18th green.  

Yeah, thanks. Getting caddies for both days. It isn’t that much more and walking the course will be so much better I’m sure. I hadn’t even thought about them reading the greens but I’m sure that will save us both several stokes.

 

[Short Corner]

If you have time play Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz while you're out there.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

If you have time play Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz while you're out there.

+1  Absolutely love that course.

 

[Judge Smails]

+1  Absolutely love that course.

Never played there.  Alistir MacKenzie - same designer as Augusta National.  Supposed to be great.  To the OP - June is no guarantee of warm weather.  Should be nice but often June gloom.  Bring layers.  September/October is the better guarantee - Indian Summer.  No matter it will be an epic experience.  Soak it all in!

 

[JuniorGong]

Never played there.  Alistir MacKenzie - same designer as Augusta National.  Supposed to be great.  To the OP - June is no guarantee of warm weather.  Should be nice but often June gloom.  Bring layers.  September/October is the better guarantee - Indian Summer.  No matter it will be an epic experience.  Soak it all in!

Thanks for the heads up on the weather

 

[Gally]

Thanks for the heads up on the weather

Yes the coastal areas usually have heavy fog in May/June/July.  The better weather is typically in the fall. 

 

[Golden Gopher]

Just throwing this out there, in case anybody is interested in great stay-and-play options in the greater Bay area.  The Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay is awesome.  Two courses, both of which have holes where you are basically on top of the beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Not as scenic as Pebble, where almost every hole is like that, but easily one of the most beautiful golf experiences I have experienced.  I took my wife there for our 5th anniversary (which would have been 2009).  At that time, they had a "golf package" that included a round of golf for two on both the day of check-in and the day of check-out.  I don't recall, but I think it might have actually been unlimited golf, but I wasn't going to push my luck.  My wife likes to golf, but more than a round a day for her might have been too much.  Anyway, two great courses (we played both), and they normally cost about $200/round.  The package was about $500, so we got about $800 in golf, plus the night's stay at a very nice hotel, for that price.  

I lived in the Bay for seven years, and had the pleasure of playing a bunch of great courses.  Never played Pebble, but I did attend Sunday's round of the 2010 U.S. Open (won by McDowell).  Side note:  My wife was with me then as well, and was 6 mos pregnant with our first child.  She was quite the trooper that day.  What can I say about Pebble Beach.  Just walking the course as a spectator that day is something I'll never forget.  Playing there is certainly on my bucket list of things to do sometime in my lifetime, and I definitely get the appeal of telling somebody special that you're taking them to Pebble, as opposed to taking them to play golf some where else.  Just not the same.  But, if you're ever looking for a less-expensive option with fantastic golf/atmosphere, I would highly recommend HMB.  

 

[Quint]

Yeah, thanks. Getting caddies for both days. It isn’t that much more and walking the course will be so much better I’m sure. I hadn’t even thought about them reading the greens but I’m sure that will save us both several stokes.

Spyglass has more up & down than you might think. Caddie will be essential in reading putts and giving you targets on some blind shots. You’ll have a blast. 

 

[JuniorGong]

For anyone that has stayed on the property, any suggestions on which restaurants to go during our stay? As of right now, that is the only thing left to plan.

 

[Quint]

For anyone that has stayed on the property, any suggestions on which restaurants to go during our stay? As of right now, that is the only thing left to plan.

gotta get a pint of Guinness at the Tap Room. 

and if you don't mind a 15 minute drive to Pacific Grove, Passionfish is a remarkable meal. the wine list is top-notch, and the markups are more than reasonable. 

 

[JuniorGong]

So update here, my dad has been dealing with some heart issues and I ended up having to cancel the trip. Pebble Beach has a 14 day cancellation policy and I was  less than 14 days from the trip when I cancelled but they were really cool about it. Deal was that I had to rebook the trip before the end of the year. 

Good news is my Dad is feeling better so we are now going the first week of November. Our flights were booked with my airline points so I was able to switch the flights at no cost. Hopefully nothing else pops up with my Dad because can’t switch this trip. Able to get morning tee times for Spyglass and Pebble Beach again. Only issue is I haven’t played in close to a month and work is a ##### right now so not sure how we’ll practiced I will be but more about just sharing the experience with my old man 

 

[shadrap]

Just throwing this out there, in case anybody is interested in great stay-and-play options in the greater Bay area.  The Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay is awesome.  Two courses, both of which have holes where you are basically on top of the beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Not as scenic as Pebble, where almost every hole is like that, but easily one of the most beautiful golf experiences I have experienced.  I took my wife there for our 5th anniversary (which would have been 2009).  At that time, they had a "golf package" that included a round of golf for two on both the day of check-in and the day of check-out.  I don't recall, but I think it might have actually been unlimited golf, but I wasn't going to push my luck.  My wife likes to golf, but more than a round a day for her might have been too much.  Anyway, two great courses (we played both), and they normally cost about $200/round.  The package was about $500, so we got about $800 in golf, plus the night's stay at a very nice hotel, for that price.  

I lived in the Bay for seven years, and had the pleasure of playing a bunch of great courses.  Never played Pebble, but I did attend Sunday's round of the 2010 U.S. Open (won by McDowell).  Side note:  My wife was with me then as well, and was 6 mos pregnant with our first child.  She was quite the trooper that day.  What can I say about Pebble Beach.  Just walking the course as a spectator that day is something I'll never forget.  Playing there is certainly on my bucket list of things to do sometime in my lifetime, and I definitely get the appeal of telling somebody special that you're taking them to Pebble, as opposed to taking them to play golf some where else.  Just not the same.  But, if you're ever looking for a less-expensive option with fantastic golf/atmosphere, I would highly recommend HMB.  

Stayed & played there on honeymoon some years ago.   Activities for both of us in the morning & I played golf in the afternoon-wife doesn't play golf.  Oceanside(some holes) golf course,  acres & acres of flowers,  great cozy eateries.  Stayed on the course in a condo unit so probably wasn't the Ritz.  Boz Skaggs played in foursome in front of me two days in a row.  Nice guy & loves golf.  A wonderful place that at the time was very reasonable.