If you have logged on to any thread dealing with Monterey area in the last month you would see my posting about my upcoming trip. (Sorry). I just got back and had a great time.
Hotel- Ramada Inn Limited
This hotel is just what I paid for. A place to stay. During the trip, I planned 36 holes a day, so the need for upscale rooms and views was not important to me. A real benefit for the hotel's location is that it is close to the highway. No more than 8 min. to 17 mile drive.
Course #1- Del Monte
I chose this course first becasue if was close to the hotel ( 2 min.). Also, it was a great way to start my year. I was coming from Chicago where I do not think a course will open for atleast a week or so. The course is OK, not long nor overly difficult. I was nice to knock some rust off and to try out new clubs. I will give major props to the staff there. My friend's clubs did not make the flight and they were really helpful.. even down to borrowing a pair of shoes from the starter.
Course #2- Spanish Bay
I like link style courses and this one was not exactly a true links, but pretty close. I enjoyed this cousre becuase you really needed to hit a lot of shots. You can play a 3 wood or hit driver. The greens where fair altough they were punched. I would like to have had a caddy or a GPS unit at this course because that would have helped a lot with yardage and hole layout. The real test of the course is the last few holes if the wind is up. We played the last 9 holes in 20-30 mph winds ( we checked)off the ocean and it was tough. Again, I like link style courses to it was a lot of fun for me. Also, the people we played with were fun too.
Day 2
Course #3- Poppy Hills
Awesome cousre all the way through! The course is the only one that we played that had a GPS unit and could drive 90*. The course's greens were punched a few weeks earlier than the other courses. They had grown back in, but they were still bumpy. When I make another trip, this will be one that I play again. I will have a better idea of what the course expects and what I need to do to play better
Course #4- Spyglass
Good course. I felt that the people there were really upitty and that wasn't a great way to start in my opinion. 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. Again, this course would have been better if there was a caddy for atleast GPS on the cart ot get an idea to hit this shot here or there. 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, but that is just my opinion.
Day #3
Course #5- Pebble Beach
What can I say, it's Pebble, expensive, but a must play atleast once. As for difficulty, I think that it was 4or5 out of 6, unless the winds pick up. I wish I would have taken a caddy here, becasue there knowledge would have proven helpful on a few te shots and reading a green or two. I enjoyed the course because the views and conditions. I will play this one again when I go back out. Just a fun course.
Course #6- Bayonet
HARD- That includes the greens and layout. If you have read any of the posts I would say this is harder than most of the courses out there. They are currently remodeling the course and when it is done and grown in it will be a great treat to play. As you can see by this post, it was a long 3 days and a lot of golf. After the first 9 greens being concrete, I was turned off from the course and frustrated. The back had softer greens but the conditions were worse. In the end, I was honestly tired and wanted to leave. In a few years once everything has softened I would like to play it again.
Golf out there is just like everything else in California, expensive. You need to figure out what is important to you. I do not know if I will get this chance again. I imagine I will, but I wanted to make the most of it. Bring money for food on the course. The prices at the Pebble courses are just silly. Hamburgers are 12.00 and are ok at best, but you there so you are stuck. For some of you this is cheap and nothing to worry about, but for me it seemed overkill. I mean I can go to Augusta and get 2 sandwiches and a coke for that. Also, for those of you looking to play out there in the next few months or year, join the Northern California Golf Association. It is $70 to join, but you can get discounts at other courses including Pebble, Spyglass, Poppy.
All in al, it was a great trip and one that I will remember. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me