Pebble Beach Resort: The Definitive Trip Guide

Pebble Beach Resort: The Definitive Trip Guide

July 10, 2021 Off By BBF

Pebble Beach is undoubtedly the crown jewel of public golf in the jewel festooned necklace that comprises the public golf scene on the Monterey Peninsula. For many, this once in a lifetime trip to Pebble Beach Resort will create memories for years to come. 

It is one of the special places that serves as a bucket list trip, but also as a buddies golf trip. Pebble Beach Golf Resort area is compact, there are fantastic accommodations, there is a shuttle, and you won’t waste your time driving endlessly from golf course to golf course. It’s a very high calorie snack in a very small package!

In fact, this article could be very short, because there IS a RIGHT WAY to do Pebble Beach!

  • Book 3 nights in the Lodge at Pebble Beach
  • Play Pebble the day you arrive, have a late lunch or early dinner at The Bench watching golfers come in on 18.
  • Play Spyglass the next day. Afterward play “The Hay” short course, then go for drinks at Spanish Bay and watch the bagpiper at sunset
  • Head back over to the lodge, clean up and go for dinner at the Tap Room. 
  • Have breakfast the next morning at The Gallery Cafe patio overlooking the Pebble #1 tee, then play Pebble again. Head back to “The Hay” and play 18 holes of just putting for dollar skins. Afterward, clean up and head over to Roys at Spanish Bay for dinner. 
  • Play Spyglass again, head back to the lodge and have late lunch in Stillwater Cove
  • Head out of town. 

The only thing standing between you and that itinerary is money, and quite a bit of it. Rounds at Pebble cost $600 a piece, and nights at The Lodge are over $1,000 a night, and the new Fairway One Cottages can be over $7k a night. Plus the dinners will set you back a pretty penny. If you can swing it though, there is an argument that it is worth it. It can be trimmed down to be a little more affordable, but the main issue is that you don’t get access to Pebble Beach Golf Links without staying at a Pebble Beach Resort, but more on that later. 

Location

Concentrated on a peninsula in the Del Monte Forest between Monterey and Carmel, California sits the Pebble Beach Golf resorts spanning 18k acres and includes four golf courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Spanish Bay Golf Links and Del Monte Golf course. 

History surrounds you at Pebble Beach Golf Links

This land is magical, and has been a vacation destination since the 1800s, and a golf destination since the very early 1900’s. If bucket list golf were a theme park, Pebble Beach would be Disney World. And if Pebble Beach is Disney World, The Lodge is Cinderella’s Castle. 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the lodge, and the shops in front of it, the practice green and the first tee is just as magical as the 18th green of Pebble Beach Golf Links itself. For golf mystics, this area will send tingles down the spine. Part of the reason is that the history in this place is palpable — from all of the professional tournaments that have been held here since Pebble Beach Golf Links opened — along with the “Del Monte Lodge” in 1919. This area has evolved since, but the aura has likely not changed. 

Getting there and Getting Around Pebble Beach Resort

The closest airport to the Pebble Beach properties is the Monterey Regional Airport. It’s a somewhat small airport, but it services regional flights from a couple of hubs depending on your airline. In fact, if you’re not familiar with JSX Airline, they operate out of private terminals and have two flights to MRY airport from both Burbank and Orange County. 

However, if you are forced to take a lengthy layover in order to fly into Monterey, investigate direct flights from your home airport to the Bay Area. San Jose Airport is only an hour and 20 minutes away (without traffic) and San Francisco Airport is only 40 minutes further than that. 

Shuttle Bus at Pebble Beach Resort
Shuttle at the practice facility at Pebble Beach Golf Links

The big decision to make with getting to the property is whether you would like to be mobile to see the surrounding area of Carmel and Monterey. If you’re only heading out to the Pebble Beach property, you can take an airport transfer from MRY, SJC or SFO. And while on property there are shuttles that will take you from place to place. There is an argument for not being encumbered by a car while on your bucket list trip. Remember half the magic of a trip to Pebble is having time to wander around the property, take in nature, walk the golf courses, and head up the road to the lookout where you can see the Lone Cypress tree out on the water. 

We recommend getting a car — if for no other reason than to drive the nearby 17 mile drive and experience the breathtaking views and magnificent houses. If you get super ambitious you can jet out to Monterey or Carmel, or if this is your only time in the area you could even do an afternoon trip down the coast to Big Sur. 

Staying at Pebble Beach Resort

There are a few options to stay at that will get you access to Pebble Beach itself. 

  • The Lodge at Pebble Beach
  • The Inn at Spanish Bay 
  • Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach
  • Fairway One Cottages
The Inn at Spanish Bay and the Lodge at Pebble Beach

This is actually a difficult decision/recommendation: The rooms at The Lodge are super nice. Also, some of them are situated looking directly at the golf course, as The Lodge has several buildings that meander between the 1st and 18th Fairways. However, they start at $980 a night in the off season and rapidly rise from there. The rooms are very well appointed, the beds are comfortable, each room has a fireplace with actual firewood, and you will have a deck. If you plan it right, you can get a room on the first floor by a fairway or green and you can sneak out in the middle of the night and have a chipping contest with your friends. The other advantage is that you have steady access to the Lodge, if you stay at Casa Palmer or Spanish Bay you are further from the heart of the action. 

The Inn at Spanish Bay is also a very nice hotel, although it’s hard to call it a “budget” option as it starts at $860 a night in the off season, but it is your least expensive access to Pebble, and sometimes they offer packages that can make it a more affordable option. The Inn is very nice, but feels more like a hotel than the Lodge does. It’s also about a 10 minute shuttle ride from the Lodge so that is something to consider. But looking for deals as this hotel is probably your best bet to get access to tee times at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Perhaps your best bet for a buddies trip is to Investigate Casa Palmero, as they have some more apartment type rooms that may work better for you and your buddies. Casa Palmero is removed from The Lodge but still on the Pebble Beach Golf Links property itself. 

The newest and best accommodations for a buddies bucket list golf trip are arguably the Fairway one Cottages. Thoughtfully put together for groups of golfers along with patios that face the first fairway these could be ideal. However, the one you are going to want is the 4 bedroom cottage so each buddy gets their own room. That will set you back over $7k a night… We suggest you call them and tell them what you are looking for.

When to go and Weather

The rainy season in Northern California starts in November and can last until April. The price discounts you get during these times are genuinely not worth risking playing your bucket list round in a deluge. The other thing to avoid is the AT&T Pro-AM (the old Bing Crosby Clam Bake) in February. If you play around it the course will be in difficult condition, and likely crowded. 

It’s tempting to point people to the summer months with warmer weather, however, the thing to think about is fog, or as the locals call it the Marine Layer. Fog regularly rolls into the coast as inland California heats up. You may luck out, but it would be disappointing to play Pebble in such bad fog you need a caddie to lay a towel on the ground for aim. That would be a heartbreaker on holes 4 through 11 and the finishing holes. 

So our recommendation would be to go in late Spring, early Summer or September/ October before daylight savings time kicks in. Early November also works, but even during these times you do need to be prepared for fog. Generally it’s in the morning and burns off around 11 or 12 then rolls back in at around 3. This means you’re going to want to look at tee times around 10am if you can get them. 

The advice on clothing is to layer. Have shorts with you in case it heats up. Wear a quarter zip or two, and bring a wind shirt. Also, if you are playing in winter months bring your rain gear, and rain gloves, just in case. 

It can get cold at night as well (even in the summer), so bring some warm sweaters, and a jacket. If not, you can always find plenty of clothes to buy at the Shops at Pebble Beach and the various golf shops. 

Eating and shopping at Pebble Beach Resort

Coming home with souvenirs of Spyglass and Pebble Beach is so important that it should be a line item in your vacation budget. As for where to shop, there is no shortage of places that will take your money in exchange for a nice memento. Want Pebble Beach Half Zip, no problem. Want an antique putter? no problem. Want a souvenir ball mark? No problem.

Between all the golf shops and the mall off of the central Pebble putting green, you can shop until your heats content at Pebble Beach

Each of the golf courses have great golf pro shops, however, it’s the shops across from The Lodge situated around the putting green at Pebble that you should set aside some time to really dig into. You will need at least an hour, and should probably set aside two to make sure you get a good lay of this land. 

There are some unbelievable dining options at Pebble Beach. Be sure not to miss: Roys, The Patio at Spanish Bay, The Tap Room, The Bench and Stillwater Cove

Practice Facility at Pebble Beach Resort

The practice facility is second to none. It has a large grass range along with extensive practice greens, and a comprehensive short game area. If you are playing Spyglass, they offer a range as well. Not quite as nice as the main facility, but it’s nice not to have to make a trip to the range when you are playing Spyglass. Spanish and Del Monte don’t have range facilities, and are not close to the practice facility. In fact, none of them are walkable from the range. 

Money

Money is straightforward. Anywhere on property will take cash, but they also take all credit cards. Having some small greenbacks on hand is always advisable to take care of the staff, particularly club washers, and shuttle bus drivers. 

Booking your trip Pebble Beach Resort

You need to call them to book the trip. The website will give you some information including rates and some availability, but ultimately it’s best you call.

Sculpture outside the Practice Facility at Pebble Beach Resort
Sculpture outside the Practice Facility at Pebble Beach Golf Links

To sum it all up

Pebble Beach is THE bucket list trip to top all bucket list golf trips. Done this way, it’s not cheap however, if you absolutely can’t swing it keep an eye on the blog in the coming weeks for tips on how to hit the Monterey Peninsula and get some other golf in to sprinkle in with some fantastic, but more affordable venues. 

Playing there (in order of importance)

Best Buddies Golf Trip Rankings

  • Bucket list rank (from 1 to 5 buckets):5 buckets
  • Caddies: 9
  • Location: 10
  • Spectacle/ visual: 10
  • History: 9
  • New/ancient: Middle Aged
  • Playability : 9
  • Memorability : 10
  • Buddy-a-bility : 7
  • Service/etc: 10
  • Value: 6 depends on if you get a deal. Sign up for email list for sure. 
  • Shopping: 10
  • Warm up facilities/Range: 9 (it’s just far from some of the courses)
  • Food & Drink: 9
CategoryFive Buckets Pebble Beach United States: California

About The Author

BBF or “Big Ball First” comes from a golf saying for hitting a shot fat. Or hitting the “big ball first” in that you hit the ground (the big ball) before hitting the golf ball. In the BBF blog, it’s a metaphor for traveling the planet, soaking in exclusive experiences, and pointing people to the Awesome, the Great, the Good, and the not so good out there. We’re hitting the big ball running with tales from international golf courses, with fine wine, fine food, did I mention golf…well, especially the ‘buddies bucket list golf trips’. The hope is that like minded people will enjoy the stories, and hopefully use it as a reference point. If this blog helps people prioritize the experiences they want to have on our planet then we will have succeeded on our mission. We only have so many go’s at “bucket list” travel experiences. Especially the bucket list buddies golf experiences. My hope is you can refine your experience based upon my learning, and take your “big ball first” experiences to the next level.