I often feel more comfortable with the poor man's version of things in life, rather than the real thing. Maybe it's just more approachable (and cheaper). Or may it's because I'm not a multimillionaire, or even just a single millionaire. I grew up in a blue-collar home the son of a city police officer and an administrative government worker. No, we weren't wealthy by any means, but just solidly middle class. Places like Pebble Beach seem to belong to professional golfers and celebrities, and those that can afford luxurious beach homes. It's something you see on television but not in real life. I've read that Brad Pitt has a home not far down the coast in Carmel, California that he purchased for $40 million. Known as "Seaward" the home is merely a little 3,000 square foot seaside retreat for the famous movie star.
As for me, I had arrived in the Pebble Beach area a few days prior as part of my golf excursion, fleeing from the cold weather in Missouri where I am from, that started with a 20-hour drive to Mesquite, Nevada to play the famous Wolf Creek Golf Course in Mesquite, Nevada. There will be a post on that for another day. On the Monterey Peninsula I had to bypass the $40 Million dollar seaside homes--just not my taste. Instead, I found a room at the Pacific Garden Inn in Pacific Grove, California. I was sold when the lady at the front desk told me the room is normally $160, but she would get me the room for $130 and waive the pet fee. I was greeted with a quaint check-in office, that oddly displayed a letter from Bill Clinton and photos and signatures from several other noteworthy people. Apparently, the owner of the Pacific Garden Inn used to work at the actual Pebble Beach golf course and acquired some noteworthy connections.
I had spent the earlier part of the day walking the boardwalk along Spanish Bay, encountering golfers on the luxurious Links at Spanish Bay Golf Course, and surfers catching a few waves. It was one of those walks that I sort of lost track of time and space. I'm really not sure how long the walk lasted or how far I went, but I could have spent hours more walking the coast.
For those that believe in an afterlife, they say in eternity there is no time. No sense of this limited resource that we quantify in minutes, seconds, days and years. A resource that we are all constantly running lower on minute by minute, and second by second. Perhaps that's part of my urgency to do something now. Somehow, I want to make this life count.
Certain places can give you a brief glimpse into that timeless reality where time can be paused for a moment. Inevitably, you come crashing back into reality of a world less than perfect. But you cherish those moments while they last. My walk along the coast that day ended when I reached a pathway with a sign indicating that it was private property. No trespassing. It's the feeling I'd imagine I would get to some to degree if I were to play the real Pebble Beach Golf Course. The one enjoyed by presidents and host site of major championship golf tournaments. In a way, the exclusivity makes it "special." On the other hand, it contributes another line of division among us. Those that are welcome, and those that are not.
When I finally got back to my quaint room at Pacific Garden Inn it was already about 3:00 p.m. However, I realized I could squeeze some golf in at a course 1 mile down the road known as Pacific Grove Golf Links. I didn't know anything about the course except that some people reviewing it had said it was the "poor man's" Pebble Beach. I booked a tee time online and I was off.
The cost? About $70 with cart, which I happily paid. I found a cart #7 with a few golf balls and items left behind from a previous golfer. I tried asking some gentlemen sitting at a table outside the clubhouse if it was their cart. They looked at me confused. "We are just drinkers and smokers." I threw the items in a different cart and I was off to the first tee. No warm-up necessary.
The course fits right in with the quaint town surrounding it (i.e., Pacific Grove). Literally. Charming little houses line many of the holes on the front side. I was a little surprised that the course from the back tees plays only 5,727 yards. In an era of golf where everything is getting bigger and longer, and further, with courses stretching well beyond 7,000 yards, I imagine Pacific Grove Golf Links will be the same ten, twenty, thirty, a hundred years from now. It seems unconcerned with keeping up with the Joneses, and confident in who and what it is. That's something I always want to be able to say about myself as well.
And what exactly is this course? It was founded in 1932, making it about 92 years old. The front nine holes feels like you're talking a pleasant stroll through town in a municipal park. Everything feels a bit condensed with homes that line the fairways in several spots, and signs reminding golfers that they are responsible for damage caused by their golf ball. One of the holes with homes down the right suggests laying up to 175 yards for the ideal second shot into the green. Nah, I hit driver. (Thankfully without damaging any homes).
The backside morphs into a walk along the ocean, with grassy, sandy dunes, magnificent ocean views and holes that run alongside each other that makes it feel almost as if you've been transported to Scotland for links style golf.
The course encourages players "to experience golf as it should be." If golf is meant to be fun, challenging, thought-provoking, unpretentious, attainable and inspiring I think this course delivers in ways that few courses can accomplish.
For my first golf course review, and full review of the poor man's Pebble Beach, click here.
I had to come up with a way to rate golf courses that includes both objective elements (think yardage of the course) and subjective elements (feel of the location). I will grade each course that I play on a scale of 0 - 100, with a 100 being the perfect golf course known to man.
I reserve the right to adjust and modify the process as I move along. Here is the rating system I came up with. Let me know if you think I should adjust the rating system or I'm overlooking relevant factors. I have come up with ten factors that can receive a score of 0 - 10 for each factor.
Condition of the Course
This element analyzes the overall condition of the course. The quality of the fairways, tee boxes, greens, and bunkers. Other factors may include how well the course drains if it has rained, and whether there is standing water where there shouldn't be (for example a puddle in the middle of a fairway).
Yardages
This element analyzes whether the course has a variety of yardages to accommodate all skill levels. Generally, this means that the course should have yardages and tee boxes that can accommodate golfers from novice to a touring pro.
Course Design
This element considers the overall design and layout of the course. A course that has a series of straightforward, boring holes on flat ground with little unique elements such as water hazards and elevation changes will score lower here than a course with unique and iconic holes such as the island green at TPC Sawgrass. This element is inherently subjective to a degree, but a golf course should take you on a journey. A well-designed course leaves you with a memorable journey throughout each hole and keeps you interested the entire round.
Location & Scenery
This factor considers the overall location of the course, everything from the surrounding town and city, to where the course itself is located. Everything from weather to lodging accommodations available near the course are considered.
History, Prestige and Championship Pedigree
This element analyzes any special historical context of the course. A course that has hosted a memorable major championship (think Torrey Pines at the 2008 U.S. Open) will score higher than a course that is, well...just a golf course. Other considerations may include historical significance of the course, history of the designer, and whether the course has or perhaps will host major, notable golf tournaments in the future.
Fun and Excitement Factor
How fun and exciting is the course to play? This element answers that question, and fun and excitement can come from many different elements. Obviously, playing a historical course with great views along the ocean will have more fun and excitement than Rolling Hills Country Club in Versailles, Missouri. (No offense to Versailles, Missouri).
Pace of Play & Etiqutte
Nothing ruins fun and excitement faster than waiting 30 minutes between every shot because the golf course let too many golfers on the course at once and does not manage pace of play. A course that properly manages play and keeps the pace moving will score higher here. This may be somewhat subjective since I likely will only have played the course once. Pace of play more likely to be an issue at peak playing times.
Value
Value considers how much it costs to play the course, but also what you get in return. For example, playing a major championship course may be costly, but you also get a lot in return. Both those factors are considered in the overall value of the course.
Accessibility/Host
Accessibility factors in how accessible the course is to the average person. A more costly course will be less accessible even if you get great value in return. A very popular course that you must book months in advance is less accessible. A private course where you need to know a member to play is obviously less accessible and will score lower here.
Host can influence the score here as well. Snobby clubhouse or members will lower the score here (or conversely welcoming, friendly host will raise the score). Host will also take into account whether you get complimentary driving range balls before your round, condition of practice green (or whether the course even has a driving range and practice green).
The Benji Experience
This is the most subjective category of them all. This is my blog, so I make the rules. The Benji Experience factors in any whimsical adjustments that I wish to make. How much did I enjoy the course? How did I play that day? Did I have a good breakfast? Okay, so I got a little carried away, but really this category will be a catchall for the overall experience of playing the course and whether the course left me wanting to return again.
Now that we have the rating system sorted out. Here we go with the first ever golf course review and rating, none other than the poor man's Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove Golf Links. To read the rating click here.