Pebble Beach Course
Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Pebble Beach Golf Links, a monument forged from the dramatic meeting of land and Pacific, doesn’t just command attention – it demands reverence. Carved into the rugged Monterey Peninsula coastline, its legacy began in the Golden Age, an era where visionaries dared to sculpt courses from nature’s raw beauty. The original design, largely attributed to H. Chandler Egan and Jack Neville, uses the land's natural contours, a characteristic that has defined its challenging layout for over a century. The smallish, sloping greens, often exposed to the elements, are the course's primary defense. Pebble Beach has hosted six U.S. Opens, including Tiger Woods’s record-setting performance in 2000 and Gary Woodland's memorable triumph in 2019. It is also the regular host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a tournament known as much for its celebrity participants as for the serious golf on display. Its iconic holes like the par-3 seventh, perched precariously above the crashing waves, are instantly recognizable, indelibly etched in the memories of players and viewers alike. Beyond its championship pedigree, Pebble Beach offers a golfing experience as exhilarating as it is demanding. The course offers a series of dramatic doglegs that favor golfers capable of shaping the ball. The club's membership, a diverse mix of avid golfers and influential figures, adds another layer of depth to its storied reputation. And the view: from the 18th green, looking back up the fairway towards the lodge, is like no other in golf.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #11
Best in USA
Public: #2
Best in CA
Public: #1
Golfers say Pebble Beach lives up to its iconic reputation, with most praising the oceanfront stretch from holes 4 through 10 as among the best in golf and calling the overall experience unforgettable and bucket-list worthy. Reviewers consistently note that the coastal holes—especially 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18—are spectacular and worth the premium price, though several find the inland holes (particularly 11–16) less memorable by comparison. Most recommend walking the course with a caddie to fully appreciate the history and scenery, and many mention the greens are smaller and trickier than expected with subtle breaks. Some golfers feel the course could benefit from restoration work on the greens, and a few cite slow pace of play as a drawback, though nearly all agree the experience justifies the cost on a good weather day.
9.3
641 players
awesome
Six amazing holes but otherwise super overrated. But I found Tom Brady’s golf ball on 18.
If someone says to you, “Play Pebble at least once but it’s not Cypress Point or MPCC,” they’re either a) underselling it or b) a snob. It doesn’t exist to be compared to either of those courses and is its own thing entirely. Pebble is just as special as what you’ve heard and even exceeds the hype. While it’s true it isn’t the most difficult test of a golfer’s skill, it’s challenging enough and everything that happens while you’re on the course is memorable. Walk. Do not take a cart. And ask for a caddie who can and will take pictures during your round. You won’t regret it.
Such a solid course. 18th hole is so hard but fun
I mean, it’s Pebble Beach. Great caddies that enhanced the experience. The walk is special, there’s just nothing better than walking a major championship course with a caddy. We had alittle bit of everything in this round. Some things working against us, they had torn up the rough around the 7th green that day. Our caddies were shocked even, stunk cause I stuck one within 5 feet and the video is almost laughable cause there’s an excavator in between the tee box and the hole. Also the 18th tee box had a tarp on it. We had an amazing room rate, so we couldn’t be mad about the course and it was still the best golf course I’ve ever played. We had insane wind on 17, the caddies had us hit 40 yds further, absolutely spot on. The stretch from 4-8, I won’t ever forget, just absolutely insane. I hit my ball almost identically to where Spieth hit from on 8, probably the coolest shot I’ve hit in my life. I mean, you have to play it once…
On a good weather day, I don’t think any course can top Pebble Beach. Can get away with a lot off the tee but challenging mentally when you see ocean running along most of the fairways. Greens are smaller than you think with subtle breaks making them hard to read. I know people like to complain about the price but you get what you pay for and some.
I finally cross this one off the bucket list and it didn’t disappoint. I thought I might be let down by the cost to get to play it but it’s just such a special place with a lot of history. Unfortunately I think it’s ranked as high as it is based on where it could and should be but based on my experience it should be ranked lower than it is. I was surprised how much the greens broke for as flat as they look. Greens are tiny which imo is a draw back. With such great land, they should be bigger and more interesting. There are a bunch of really good holes, all time elite holes and some average to meh holes. The second shot on 8 is all time. I think the stretch from 1-9 is where the course is made and then you get a bit of a lull with 11-15. It starts picking up again with 16-18. In my opinion a hole like 16 for example would be so much better if that green was more interesting. The land and setting is amazing and I understand why it’s rated so high but I do hope they start making some changes to make it even better. I definitely recommend playing it to anyone who’s on the fence.
As good as it gets. You know the holes before you play but it’s not until you’re standing on property that you can fully appreciate it. From the excellent practice facility (a short shuttle up the hill) to the iconic 6-10 stretch, it exceeded my high expectations. Just don’t let a playing partner hitting it long on 7 change which club you take or else you’ll end up in the bunker short. I think hole 6 is my favorite golf hole of all time.
Great course but could use a restoration, the greens have really shrunk over the years
From playing Pebble on video games as a kid to finally playing it in perfect weather! Amazing
Public courses closest to Pebble Beach.
The journey to Pebble Beach Resorts most often begins at either San Francisco International or San Jose International, followed by a mesmerizing two-hour drive south down California's iconic Highway 1. Private arrivals flow through Monterey Regional Airport, a discreet gateway just fifteen minutes from the resort gates. The final miles trace the dramatic arc of Carmel Bay, where cypress-studded cliffs give way to the manicured entrance of 17-Mile Drive - a toll road that transforms arrival into ceremony, winding past white-sand coves and windswept fairways before delivering guests to the storied lodges perched above the Pacific's endless blue horizon.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Pebble Beach has a Course Vaults score of 9.3 out of 10 based on 274 explicit golfer ratings.
Pebble Beach was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant.
Yes. Pebble Beach is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Pebble Beach is 72.
Pebble Beach plays 7,075 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Pebble Beach is 145.
