Golf Travel Tips - Pebble Beach

How to do the Pebble Beach bit for $2000 Canadian for two weeks. Yes it is possible even with that $295 US green fees!!! All you have to do is know what you are doing.

18th hole Pebble Beach from the clubhouse

With the possible exception of Ireland, Pebble Beach is, if you are a golfer, a must do before you leave this earth. The whole area is one of the most beautiful sites in the world - rolling breakers, spectacular vistas, tall pines, abound from everywhere- golf at its absolute best.

Here are some tips that will help you on your way:

The Pebble Beach area includes three small towns - Carmel. Pacific Grove, and Monterey. Carmel is the most expensive but has the best restaurants and the best beach. The best time of year to go is November, the weather is still good. Seat sales to San Francisco with Air Canada and Canadian - $399 Can . Hotels $49 everywhere in Monterey, about $69 in Carmel. Towns and golf courses are only 5/15 mins apart. November is not busy apart from Thanksgiving weekend.

Golf at Pebble Beach, forget the cost, it's worth it. $295. Book tee times well in advance. If you are a single, just walk up and they will fit you in with a cancellation. The staff are very helpful and friendly. Bring balls! Shop at the pro shop. You may want to try the short course at Pebble, it is deserted and reasonable - around $60

Golf at Poppy Hills, special in November $80 includes cart. Beautiful course amongst the pines.

Golf at the municipal course at Pacific Grove. Green fees $30/36, or $16 twilight!

Super back nine along the coast.

Golf at Del Monte, owned by the Pebble Beach lot - green fees $25-$85.

Golf at Monterey Pines Golf Club -municipal, formerly US Navy course. green fees $9!!!! - yes that's right.

My friend Joan Dupuis says Spanish Bay is a super course, pricey at around $165, Spyglass at around $225 is also pricey. Unless you want to go overboard, play lots of those municipal courses, they have quality and value.

Golf at Cypress Point.--- you must be joking!

Look up www.ncga.org - click on course directory - Monterey Bay area. It lists all the courses with green fees and finer details.

Bob Murray from Ottawa on the 18th tee at Pebble feeling very
pleased with himself- came with 14 balls still has 2 left

Flying into San Francisco is a bit of a nightmare, the airport is a construction war zone. I suggest you stay for 3 nights in that super city and see the sights. There are several municipal golf courses around, cheap. I tried to get in to see the Olympic Club, but was politely turned away at the gate (shades of Cypress Point).

Look up www.hoteldiscounts.com - good deals on hotels. A good one is the Tuscan Inn at Fisherman's Wharf, $119 plus taxes. Attached is an excellent restaurant Cafe Pescatore. There are so many good restaurants in the area.

As far as car rentals are concerned try and book on the Internet, you could save around 30% as I did. $326 for 2 weeks.

Time of year to go is important. The weather is unreliable from mid December to mid March. May - October is peak season, the summer months are very busy. Rates go down everywhere Nov 1st. So the ideal time is November, I played Pebble at around 70 c. April may be ok as well, but probably more expensive and crowded than November.

Pebble is about a relaxing 2 hours south of San Francisco, I hear the new course at Half Moon Bay is spectacular, you may want to try it on the way down.

A side trip up the Napa Valley is a suggestion. The Chardonnay Golf Club has a November special on the Vineyards course - $35 including cart, a super course, winding through the vines, not busy late in the day during the week.

Well that's about it for now, enjoy what is probably the best golf trip in the world! Golf, food, hospitality, the ocean, weather - a total package.

Below are some useful links that should help you on your way.

If you are going this November I may even bump into you on the links, that will be on MY fairway of course!!

8th hole second shot - Pebble Beach

Got a good golf trip to share with us?

e mail Judy at jc@judycollins.net

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