“The Hay” at Pebble Beach Resort

May 1, 2021 Off By BBF

One of our favorite recent trends in golf resorts is the addition of golf playing areas that are not a full 18 hole course. Maybe a short course or a putting course.Think of the Preserve and PunchBowl at Bandon Dunes as well as the Sand Box at Sand Valley. These challenging “featurettes” give golfers a place to socialize, compete and have a fun time after playing 18 without having to do a full 36. Sometimes, the best memories of a golf trip can be had in these “real golf” adjacent areas.

Pebble Beach Golf Resorts has jumped into the fray with their own version called “The Hay”, California’s newest golf course. Now, to be fair, characterizing this golf area as a novel idea for Pebble Beach is really unfair. Fact is, this area has existed as a 9 hole course since 1957 when Golf Pro Peter Hay revolutionized the concept of a 9 hole short course in this area (The Peter Hay Golf Course)- with the goal of having an area that juniors and family can join in the golf fun on a Pebble Beach trip. It brought joy to many Pebble Beach attendees for many years.

In 2019 this short course was covered almost entirely with temporary buildings, raised walkways and a parking lot that supported the 2019 US Open. If you have never been to a Major, you know these buildings are ”temporary” but they are up for many months, and as a result the golf course underneath was laid to rest.

Number 2 green at "The Hay" an exact replica of number 7 on Pebble Beach Golf Links — *Number 2 green at “The Hay” an exact replica of number 7 on Pebble Beach Golf Links*

In this case they had a plan. They had already contracted with Tiger Woods to reimagine this area in a more modern and challenging context to make it… well… “The Hay”. Raising it from the almost literal ashes of its former self–something more akin to the incredibly challenging short and putting courses that are popping up at golf resorts across the country. Let’s not just rebuild it… let’s reincarnate this puppy, and turn it up to 11…

This golf course is an homage to Peter Hay, wrapped in a tribute to great golf history, bundled up in a very challenging burst of fun- even the logo is an nod to an early 1900’s publicity photo for Pebble Beach in which they took photos of a seal with a flagstick in its mouth on a green of nearby Del Monte golf course (also a Pebble Beach property). You can’t walk 10 feet in the Pebble complex without being confronted with the magnitude of the historical significance of this land… and in “The Hay” they’ve continued this tradition with spades… like literally.

First of all, you have to give them credit for the land it sits on. This might be the most valuable par 3 golf course (measured by dollars per square foot) than any other in the world. Situated in between The Lodge and the practice facility with views of the ocean from every hole, we can imagine the inclination to plow this under and make more hotel rooms must have been overwhelming. The views of the ocean in the distance alone rival many bucket list golf courses in the world.

When you arrive you check in at the driving range and practice facility for the Pebble Beach courses. The golf shop is small, but reasonably well equipped. Maybe the best bag tag in existence is available for $12. Not only is it a bag tag with the awesome seal logo on it, it doubles as a putting hole you can put down on any surface… we swooned. From there you walk across the street to the course.

Bag tag, check in, clock and marker at “The Hay”

The course has a starter who will give you the lay of the land, just like any other course at Pebble Beach. He will hand you a scorecard, and encourage you to take a divot fixer, tees, and a scorecard. He will point out the distances should be pre-lasered to the flag and posted on a stake at your tee markers. Then he will hand you a metal ball marker with “The Hay” logo on it. Like the bag tags you get at the “full sized Pebble courses” this is your memento for playing “The Hay”. Lastly he should give you a nugget of gold… Be sure to read the plaques that they place at every tee box. They will provide context and history that will enrich this experience fully.

Number 1 Teebox at "The Hay" — *Number 1 tee marker at “The Hay”*

The first thing that will occur to you on number 1 tee is that maybe you should putt the shot. It looks so short. Don’t putt, the grass is grabby and unreadable. The thing you are about to realize is that this course is no joke. It will test your wedge skill ability around 100, 70, 60, 40 yards in, and bring you some mind bending putts. Bring your spin skills, or else.

When you walk up to number 2 tee box this hole will strike you as so familiar, it will just nag at you…. Then when you read the plaque you realize it is an exact replica of the famed number 7 at Pebble Beach Golf Links… not an homage, a replica. The only thing that’s missing is the sound of the waves, and if you try hard you can pretend the nearby traffic noise passing by might fit the bill of a crashing wave. This hole alone is worth the $65 dollar price of admission and is a slice of brilliance, but the surprises and fun are only just beginning. If you make a hole in one here, it’s as good as making it on Pebble, and you will owe many people drinks. Hey, any hole in one on “The Hay” would also classify in our book…

#3 will evidence to you that the greens on this course are crazy… The landing spots are tiny, and you have to be on the right level. If you leave it short on number 3 you will not be able to stop the ball on your downhill putt.

#4 is an uphill blind shot with a false front and lots of trouble in the back… (said nobody about a 40 yard par 3 ever)! Yet somehow Tiger envisioned this one. Clearly we will all suffer because he took his remarkable short game skills into account while crafting this petite yet dangerous course. Maybe you don’t have to stop it on a dime like Tiger, but for sure you have to stop it on a sawbuck to not be embarrassed in front of your crew.

If you have ever played the very challenging “PunchBowl” putting course at Bandon Dunes, you will soon realize that this could actually be described as a “full sized” PunchBowl- complete with full wedge shots. It has a lot of the same swale structures and crazy putts that make that course a challenging and fun diversion from the 18 hole courses nearby. It’s kind of like Goldilocks. Not too big, not too small…

The fun of this little course keeps giving on each hole. You only need your putter and a couple wedges, but maybe empty out your bag and bring it so it’s easier to manage the accoutrement. Bring a little extra club though… if the wind is in your face on number 9 against a back pin, it’s a real challenge to get it on the right tier.

When you are done with “The Hay” you’re not exactly done… Beyond the fact you can do a replay for half price, there is also an 18 hole putting course that is a must play. You don’t have to play the 9 hole and the putting course back-to-back. In fact, we encourage you not to because the putting course is free. After dinner, you can come up with your putter, a cocktail and your buddies and have a very fun skins game. They are building a restaurant right by The Hay, however, in the meantime, they do have a drink cart on the fringe for you to acquire libations for yourself and your friends.

This putting course is a horse of a different color. Some long putts, some short puts, but none that will make any sense to you, yet they do give you a scorecard. Don’t let this course let you get too comfortable with a 3 putt, because they can come in clumps. This is no putt putt golf course, no need for windmills or clowns mouths. The swales, breaks, and infinity edges will drive you crazy. Be creative, and rest assured you will be rewarded. Remember backstops and ball returns can be your friend. It will stretch your putting skills for sure…

The Hay with ocean and marine layer in the background — *“The Hay” with the ocean and marine layer in the background*

All-in-all these “new courses” at the Pebble Beach Complex are a masterful addition to an already magical kingdom. It would be difficult to classify “The Hay” as a crown jewel.. However, it is a little gem that most certainly belongs in the jewel festooned crown we call Pebble Beach golf resorts, and in its supporting role makes the whole experience just that much more magical…

Best Buddies Golf Trip Rankings

Bucket list rank (from 1 to 5 buckets): 4 buckets
Caddies: NA
Location: 9
Spectacle/ visual: 9
History: 10
New/ancient: modern
Playability : 8
Memorability : 9
Buddy-a-bility : 10
Service/etc: 10
Value: 8
Shopping: 7
Warm up facilities/Range: NA
Food & Drink: too early to tell, restaurant not open yet.

CategoryFour Buckets

About The Author

BBF

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.