Spyglass' fourth culminates with this slim, seaside green.© Joann Dost (www.joanndost.com)
No Pebble Beach golf vacation is complete without at least one round at Spyglass Hill, a 6,862-yard, par-72 brute of a golf course, and the most intimidating layout at Pebble Beach resort.
Not even the Pebble Beach Golf Course can match Spyglass’ opening quintet of holes that tumble over Spyglass Hill in full view of the Pacific. The 1st and 4th appear on every list of the world’s best holes.
The 1st, a 600-yard, par-5, comes out of a chute of pine trees and rushes to the sea like a charging bull. This is one of many places on your Pebble Beach golf vacation where you’ll want to keep the ball in the fairway.
This hole is best played if you favor the left portion of the fairway, but beware the strategically placed trees standing sentry 150 yards from the green.
The 370-yard 4th at Spyglass Hill, a treeless dogleg left that slants toward the ocean, is a great links hole. Sand, ice plant and thick scrub line the fairway and defend a sliver-like green that stands exposed to the ocean’s fickle furies.
After the 5th, Spyglass Hill plays through secluded, wooded terrain, continuing through pines, dunes and forest, before returning back to ocean.
Spyglass Hill is guaranteed to make your Pebble Beach golf vacation as delightful as the course is difficult.
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