AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Grandstands Are a Great Place to Watch the Action
The PGA Tour makes a stop in Monterey County this week for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Known for its celebrity studded fields, the tournament has a lot to offer.
The event tees off Thursday with three rounds on three different courses, including Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course and the host course Pebble Beach.
The Grandstands at the 18th
There's no denying that Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the world's most spectacular courses. Whether you're sitting on the edge of the first hole in a neighboring home or strolling along the ropes on the course, it's hard not to be dazzled by the scenery. And the grandstands are a great place to watch the action.
But what's missing this year are the celebrities that usually crowd the galleries. Aside from the usual PGA Tour stars like Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth, this is the first time since the event's inception that the grandstands will be empty.
Spectators can still take in the action at other nearby golf courses, such as Spyglass Hill and Del Monte Golf Course, which close for the tournament on Monday and reopen the following Monday. You can also catch the final rounds of the tournament, which are expected to be a bit noisier because workers will be tearing down the grandstands.
If you want to get closer to the action, a great option is the grandstand that overlooks the 18th hole. There's no better place to see the sun rise over the ocean, and this spot also affords a view of several key areas where golfers swing.
In fact, you can even see players hit their tee shots on the 18th. It's not quite as picturesque as some of the other spots in front of the Grandstand, but it's worth it to see some of the best moments in golf.
Another area that's popular is the rough that borders holes 6 and 8. Fans can get some great views of the fairway and green on these holes.
This section is also great for seeing the tee shots from the grandstands, as well. It's a long, flat portion between the rough and the tee that provides an excellent view of the tee shot and the green.
The grandstands are great and are definitely worth the price. But if you're looking for something more affordable, there are other places to see the action, such as the grandstands at the Links at Spanish Bay or Del Monte Golf Course.
The Rough on Holes 6 and 8
Pebble Beach, a course that dates back to 1919, has some of the most iconic holes in golf. Its first five holes tee off with spectacular ocean views and sand dunes. But once you get inland, the scenery changes a bit and the holes become much more challenging.
One of the most famous is Hole 6, a par 5 that requires an incredibly long drive to avoid an 80-yard long bunker left and Stillwater Cove right. But even that can be difficult if the wind blows, which can make it all the more important to hit a perfect shot.
The second hole, a short par 4, is also very famous, with the green situated over the Pacific Ocean and offering some of the most stunning views on the course. The fairway is almost serpentine from tee to green, so it sets up interesting angles into the green depending on the pin position.
While the course isn’t always playable, it does offer some of the most exciting scoring opportunities on the tour. Holes 6 and 8 have long been ranked among the best golf holes in the world, and it’s no wonder that some of the best players in the game play these two holes every year.
If you’re a golfer and want to watch the action on these famous holes, a good option is to hang out in the rough that borders the holes. The view takes in several key spots where golfers swing and putt, and it’s often easier to spot celebrities who attend the tournament.
But even if you’re not watching the action in person, this is one of the most beautiful courses in the world, and it’s worth a visit to see it for yourself. The Pebble Beach Resort has many great options for golfers to relax and enjoy the scenery, including The Lodge at Pebble Beach and The Tap Room.
The course is also home to the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is in its sixth year and features some of the biggest names in the game. It’s a big draw for golf fans and celebrities alike, and it’s always a great time to take in some of the history of this legendary golf course.
The Rough on Holes 9 and 10
Located on the scenic Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach is one of the most popular destinations in the world for golfers. It is also a staple on the PGA Tour schedule, hosting the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am each year.
The course was first used by the professional game in 1926 for a $5,000 purse. It has hosted seven men's major championships, including six U.S. Opens and the 1988 PGA Championship. It is considered one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world.
Since 2010, the course has undergone a number of renovations. Some of the work was done in-house, while others were redesigned by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, both legendary designers who helped create some of the best golf courses in the world.
Many of the course's greens were redesigned in the last decade, but they are still a long way from being USGA-standard. This is especially true on holes 9, 11, 13, 14 and 17.
Another of the course's most famous shots, Tom Watson hit his tee shot on the par-3 17th into a massive puddle of water that left him a few feet from the pin. That shot helped him win the 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am by four shots over Matt Gogel, who was seven strokes behind after seven holes.
It has a reputation as one of the most difficult and windy courses in the world, but it isn't a bad place to watch a tournament if you can get there. There are a few spots to catch the action, although some of them are expensive.
If you want to watch from a less-expensive spot, there are several areas around the course that offer great views of the action. Some people even like to hang out in the Tap Room at The Lodge at Pebble Beach or at the Sardine Factory in Carmel after the day's rounds have finished.
The putting greens here aren't the fastest on the tour, but that won't stop players from using them to their advantage. Rose gained 5.4 strokes on approach in two measured rounds at Torrey Pines last week, and that should be enough to help him finish well here.
The Rough on Holes 11 and 12
Pebble Beach is an incredible golf course. It has been host to many major championships and is considered one of the best courses in the world, and is a must-play for any serious golfer. However, there are a few holes on the course that don’t live up to the high standards that Pebble Beach sets.
The first six holes are really gettable (especially on a good day), but once the course routes inland it can become a lot more difficult. Holes 9, 10 and 12 are especially tough along the ocean. They can be a real risk-reward for righties and can be extremely difficult to find the green with the wind.
Hole 11 is a long dogleg that has a small green that slopes from front to back. If your tee shot is a little bit off center it can roll all the way to the front of the green or even out to sea!
Thankfully, the green has been redone recently. Steve Wenzloff of PGA Tour Design Services did some in-house work to change the size of the green, and it’s now a drivable par 4.
Another thing that made this hole fun was that it was a little different from other holes on the course. There was a large mound on the left side of the green that helped to define the green.
This was a huge improvement from the old green that wasn’t very long or sloped too much from front to back. It’s a nice change from what you might see on TV, and it definitely makes the hole a little more interesting.
The green on the 12th was also remodeled in recent years. A lot of pines were chopped down to the left, and more bunkers were put in place. The result is a more exciting and challenging golf course, and it should be a great test for any player.
While the course is not perfect, it’s a fun and unique layout that will never go out of style. So if you are looking for an event to play this year, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am should be a great choice!
