Spyglass Hill Golf Course, CA
After getting around the front 9 on a great pace and even having time to recharge my camera a little while I grabbed a delicious brat at the turn snack shop, I headed up to the 10th tee to find more tree, lots of length and a tough 9 holes ahead of me. You really need to hit the driver straight on this 9 to have any chance at scoring. If you are playing from the tips, like i did, you better hit it long too, many holes will challenge your accuracy and distance. The hilly terrain also requires adjustments for yardages either up or down depending on the hole. The closing stretch of 14-19 are a great collection of short and long holes. The par 5 14th is all about ball placement on each shot, the dogleg, hills, narrow fairway and small pond fronting the green, you simply must be able to lay-up properly. The 15th is a short par 3 so just hit a short iron or wedge down to this green. The par 4 16th might be one of the hardest par 4s I’ve played that doesn’t have any water. It is long, plays as a slight dogleg right and is very demanding. The hills on this hole require really good shots for a look at par. The 17th lets you ease up on this short par 4 only to finish with a strong straight away par 4.
This is a very different experience from Pebble Beach in terms of scenery and popularity, but I think it is actually a harder course to score low on. (even though I shot lower at Spyglass than I did at Pebble). It certainly is beautiful and the first 5 holes are spectacular. The other 13 holes don’t scream that your only a couple drivers away from the ocean, but the coastal pines challenge your accuracy and distance as you attempt to conquer these beastly holes.
The conditions are equal to, if not better than Pebble Beach simply because there is less play. You could walk this course if you want, but the hills would get very tiresome. It was cart path only, but the walk from the path to the ball was still easier than walking all the hills. But if you love to walk you can and from green to tee it wasn’t bad; just lots of hills throughout the course.
If you make your way to the Monterrey Peninsula for golf, obviously Pebble Beach is a must, but I’d set aside some coin for Spyglass Hill too which is a Beautiful Beast.
For more information: www.pebblebeach.com
Quick Hits
+Tough layout
+Best first 5 holes
+Tree lined scenery for 13 holes
+Uses every club in the bag
+Excellent conditions
–Expensive