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From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(800) 654-9300
Pricing: $200+
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Spyglass Hill Golf Course is part of the Pebble Beach rota for the annual PGA tournament, and is available for public play even if you aren't staying at the resort. The course plays to a par 72, almost 7000 yards, 75.5 handicap rating, and slope of 147 from the back tees, and has some of the toughest holes as registered by the PGA tour. The course takes its name from the Stevenson's novel, Treasure Island, since it's rumored that Stevenson once roamed the area. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and opened in 1966. It has two types of holes, the first five running through rolling sand dunes along the Pacific, and are kind of Pine Valley-ish. The following 13 through dense stands of pines with elevated greens, heavy bunkering and a few water hazards, and did I mention it's long. Greens are small, with heavy undulation, and quick. The course is a must play if you staying in the area and playing Pebble Beach.
Published by: edb
Posted by: SavPar
Dec 25th, 2010
Played this weekend, beautiful course that was in great condition, with a lot of deer wandering the course. Like Spanish Bay, the course was pretty uncrowded and our round took about 4 ½ hours. The fairways were pristine, better than most courses’ greens, and the greens were in great shape, although a bit slower than Spanish Bay. The first 5 holes play down towards the water and along the dunes, all requiring good shot placement. Hole #4 was a blast, requiring a well placed tee shot to avoid a blind shot to the narrowest green I’ve ever seen. Starting on #6, the holes come up into the forest, giving a very different feel. Although a tough course, it played very fair – it punished you for bad shots, but gave an opportunity to make it up if you’re feeling heroic. Every hole was memorable with the exception of #13 and #14; to me they felt a bit ordinary, with average homes lining one side of the fairway and not a lot of visual interest My biggest impression of Spyglass is it is a very sensual course, not just visual but a course that appeals to all the senses. The sounds of a tee shot reverberating through the trees. The scents of the ocean mixed in with the forest. The feel of the terrain under foot, the smoothness of the fairway grass. I felt the course overall more than any other course I've played. Overall, I loved the course very much, and shot an 82 from the gold tees. I played it pretty well, so I can see how it could be brutal from the tips if the winds are up.
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Posted by: MCallaghan
Sep 26th, 2010
I had the great fortune to play Spyglass Hill yesterday with my son and a couple of buddies. It was a beautiful warm clear sunny afternoon, and we never faced more than a one club wind. The highest handicap in the group had to be 12. Yet the lowest gross score (if all shots were really counted) could not have been less than 95. Three of us had Xs on the card. Oh we did get very very tough hole placements yesterday.. and the greens were very firm and very fast. So why is it that this course plays so gosh-darn tough? I mean the course rating says enough.. that is very high... but it's not so high that 4 decent low handicappers all struggle to break 95 on a nice day. One answer is we just suck. I can live with that. But there has to be more to it.
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Posted by: GeorgeM
Jul 23rd, 2010
Play it if you get the chance. I don't understand why it gets no love around here, loved the first 4 holes. Yes, they're good, they go through the dunes, out to the ocean... #4 is one of the most unique greens you will see on the planet. #2 is cool, but nowhere near the best par 4 out there. #3 IMhO is the weakest of the par 3's. The whole course is awesome...and it's TOUGH!
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Posted by: JeremyN
Nov 7th, 2009
I think that it's a better course. I know that's heresy but Spyglass is cheaper also. On everyone's list of top layouts in the world and among the toughest. It's a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. course completed in 1966 and the course is in the top ten of Golf Magazine's "Top 100 You Can Play". Amesome golf course and experience, bring your best here.
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Posted by: jbass
Sep 30th, 2009
The course was tough because the afternoon winds were picking up and that made the course a lot tougher. And the greens are small!! We played the course from the tips and it is long. A lot of undulation changes, and for me, hanging lies. I do not think that this will be on my list to play again. I would spend less to play Poppy Hills or a little more to play Pebble
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Posted by: bobbyj
Sep 27th, 2008
The view of the bay from the second green is as good as you'll find anywhere, with the clubhouse at Cypress Point visible on your left. Overall, the hole has everything a great hole should have - dramatic scenery, great risk-reward characteristics, multiple options for low and high handicapper alike and a superb use of the terrain.
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