The second part of our 3-part 2020 Ultimate Golf Trip had us playing Spyglass Hill. Known around the world as the little brother to Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill has been around for a long time; opening in 1966. Spyglass Hill isn’t a stranger to the bright lights, annually ranked as a top 100 course, Spyglass is home to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and was Co-Host of the 1999 and 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship.
The bottom line, Spyglass Hill is legit and has all the credentials and a resume that other golf courses around the world could only dream of; there’s just one problem. Pebble Beach Golf Links casts a long shadow that usually leaves Spyglass Hill on the outside looking in. But we knew better; our 2020 Ultimate Golf Trip to Pebble Beach wouldn’t be complete without playing a round on Spyglass Hill.
Let’s start this article backward. Walking off the 18th, I felt like I had just played two different courses. The layout, surroundings, and atmosphere shift drastically as you make your way thru the front nine and onto the back nine.
The Fab Five
The opening five holes at Spyglass Hill are stunning, five sand-splashed holes fronted by sublime oceanfront scenery. The first hole sets the stage for what is going to be a great day. A par-5 called Treasure Island, on a clear day, you can stand on the tee and see the Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey Bay, and the canopy of the Del Monte forest. The 1st plays 595 from the back tee, but it’s downhill all the way and falls off left towards Monterey Bay.
The 2nd, Billy Bones, is a very short par-4 only 349 yards from the back tee. My first thought was to hit the driver and try to get it as close to the green as possible, big mistake. I ended up losing my ball; I strongly recommend hitting an iron over the waste area onto the fairway. From the fairway, you’ll have a short iron into an elevated green.
The Black Spot is the 3rd hole, a short Par-3 where the green is just a small spot amongst the beach dunes. This hole is very straightforward; you either hit the green or find yourself in the sand, either in a bunker or a dune. The view of the Pacific Ocean is stunning from this elevated tee box, be sure to snap a photo.
My favorite hole on the whole course, the 4th named “Blind Pew,” because unless you’re perfect off the tee, you’re going to have a blind shot into the green. To me, the 4th is an ideal combination of a demanding tee shot, a great 2nd shot, and a perfect green. The green, which is encircled by ice plant, is Spyglass Hill’s most photographed. Depending on the pin position, you’ll either love it or hate it. The long narrow green allows the 4th to be configured and played several different ways providing numerous options of attack.
Bird Rock is the aiming point for the par-3 5th aptly named “Bird Rock.” A straightforward par-3, the biggest issue is checking the wind direction and picking the appropriate club. Whatever you do, don’t be short. Three pot bunkers protect the front of the green and are among the deepest on the course.
The Tide Changes
The 6th hole marks your journey into the woods of Spyglass Hill. The character of the course changes from here on out. From the 6th tee, the Del Monte Forest is straight ahead as you play a drastically up-hill Par-4. I recommend playing the approach shot two clubs longer, but be careful. While the view from behind is one of the best, a chipshot from behind the green is nearly impossible.
Making the Turn
By the time you’ve played the 9th and make the turn, you’ll have memories of the Fab 5 burned into your mind and start to understand just how challenging the holes through the Del Monte forest are. Insider Tip, be sure to order a breakfast burrito on the 9th tee. We had a 7:30 tee time, and the breakfast burrito at the turn was delicious.
The Back Nine
On the back nine, you continue your journey into the woods, the holes vary drastically in shaping and length. There’s a short par-3, then a long par-3. It’s a 5-wood off the tee, a 3-wood off the tee, a 3-iron off the tee, and then you’ve got to bomb some drivers. The Del Monte forest holes are a mixed bag defined by their variety. While the forest scenery is static, Robert Trent Jones Sr. did a great job making sure the course wasn’t blah as you turn away from the ocean and into the forest.
The backside is sneaky brutal; walking off, you feel like most of the scoring opportunities are on the front side. The key to playing the back is staying in the fairway, on a tree-lined course that marches uphill the entire round; playing from the deep stuff to raised greens fortified by bunkers leaves you scrambling the rest of the hole.
Closing Thoughts
Spyglass Hill is one of the best golf courses in the world; the top 100 is an understatement. Having played Pebble Beach Golf Links the day prior, there was no letdown. Spyglass Hill is a championship course best known for its opening holes, but Spyglass is as thorough of an examination of your game as there is in golf. Insider Tip, be sure to bring a few extra golf balls. The holes through the Del Monte forest tend to eat errant golf shots.
To book your own Pebble Beach experience please visit their website to check out the latest special offers and getaway packages.