Pebble Beach ranks among the world’s most coveted golf destinations, alongside Pine Valley and the Old Course at St. Andrews. I’ve been fortunate to play there three times: twice as a guest of Malaysia Airlines about 20 years ago and most recently through the Chase United MileagePlus Club Card Inside Access program.
Inside Access gives select Chase cardmembers opportunities to attend unique events—celebrity meet-and-greets, private golf outings on exceptional courses, and chef-hosted dinners. Each experience has limited availability; members can visit insideaccess.com to browse upcoming offers and book with an eligible Chase card.
Pebble Beach’s story began in 1919, when Samuel Finley Brown Morse—related to the inventor of Morse code—persuaded the Pacific Improvement Company that a seaside golf course would spur development and land sales. That vision launched one of the most renowned courses in golf.
After Morse’s death in 1969, Pebble Beach remained both a golfer’s sanctuary and an attractive asset for investors. In 1979 Twentieth Century Fox used profits from Star Wars to acquire the property. Later, when Marvin Davis took over Fox, he developed The Inn at Spanish Bay, which many visitors praise for its warm service.
In 1990 Japanese businessman Minoru Isutani purchased the resort during Japan’s economic boom, but legal and financial troubles led to its sale in 1992 to The Lone Cypress Co., a consortium that included Sumitomo Bank and Taiheiyo Club.
In 1999 a group of American owners—Arnold Palmer, Richard Ferris, Peter Ueberroth and Clint Eastwood, along with William Perocchi and the GE Pension Fund—acquired Pebble Beach, pledging to keep the property under American ownership.
Mike Abbott, Softcard; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher/CEO, Global Traveler; Andrew Marler, Facebook; David Gold, JPMorgan Chase; Arthur Bernier, Access Sports Limited; Herb Karlitz, Karlitz & Company © Francis X. Gallagher
Pebble operates like a finely tuned enterprise: demand is constant and fees are high. Only Pebble Beach Resorts guests can reserve tee times at least 24 hours in advance, and a two-night minimum stay is required. With greens fees around $495 and caddie fees starting at $80, a typical day of golf—counting hotel and meals—can approach $1,500. Add pro-shop purchases and that figure can easily hit $2,000. That’s why the Chase Inside Access package was so appealing: a two-night stay with two rounds at roughly one-third of normal rates.
The package included instruction at Pebble’s new practice facility led by Laird Small, a highly regarded instructor. Laird and his team guided us through driving, putting and chipping, and Laird delivered a special presentation that added real value to the experience.
One persistent challenge at Pebble is pace of play. Our round took more than five hours, and I’m told slow play is an ongoing issue. Pebble could improve the experience with fewer tee times and more active marshals to keep groups moving. Regardless of cost, slow play undermines the game, and it would be better to limit rounds to preserve the course experience.
We played as a threesome—myself, Andrew Marler from Facebook and Mike Abbott from Softcard—guided by our caddie and resident stand-up comedian John. On the back nine, David Gold, general manager of partnerships at JPMorgan Chase, joined us.
Hole 1 | 377 yards, par 4
Hole 1 sets the tone. Nerves, spectators and the weight of the moment can rattle even skilled players. I pulled my tee shot left into the rough while Mike and Andrew found the left fairway. The hole bends slightly right, so favoring the left is smart. From the rough I lofted a wood toward the green and nearly made birdie—an encouraging start for the day. Mike and Andrew posted a 6 and a 4 respectively.
Hole 3 | 390 yards, par 4
Hole 3 is a tough dogleg left flanked by pines that block a shortcut. I hit a fading drive that landed center fairway about 140 yards out. My partners got tangled in the trees and needed to work their way back toward play. I overhit an approach and found a bunker, but chipped in for par—an unexpected highlight.
Hole 5 | 192 yards, par 3
Hole 5, redesigned in 1999 by Jack Nicklaus, restored flow and beauty to the course. Previously the hole turned inland, breaking the seaside rhythm. Today’s par-3 is one of Pebble’s most picturesque and strategically challenging holes. Mike and Andrew reached the green; I missed left and scrapped together pars.
Hole 6 | 506 yards, par 5
Hole 6 can be difficult, and we agreed to favor the left to avoid the cliffs on the right. Andrew—later nicknamed “Wonder Boy”—placed a superb drive left-center. I followed with a careful layup and managed to reach the top of the hill for an easy chip and two-putt par. Mike’s aggressive line right lost him to the beach below.
Hole 7 © Francis X. Gallagher
Hole 7 | 106 yards, par 3
Hole 7 is perhaps the most famous at Pebble, known for its beauty and fickle winds that can drastically change club selection. The left bunker sees more shots than most anywhere in the country. With Laird Small providing insight, Mike and I misjudged the wind and found the ocean; Andrew landed safely for par.
Hole 8 | 427 yards, par 4
Hole 8 is a dogleg right cut by a deep chasm at the landing zone, forcing many players to lay up. I misread my line and lost a drive to the cliff—an expensive mistake. The hole’s dramatic topography and ocean backdrop make it memorable, even when it claims a ball.
Hole 17 | 177 yards, par 3
Late in the day we joined another group and played holes 17 and 18 as an eightsome, which added to the chaos. I hit right, chipped and two-putted for bogey. Mike struggled amid the confusion, while Andrew managed a birdie. We took a moment to take in the Pacific before finishing.
Hole 18 | 543 yards, par 5
We finished under lights as staff brought large carts to illuminate the green. The 18th runs along the ocean, and my second shot found a long sand trap left of the green. We hurried through the closing holes, exchanged handshakes, and celebrated a day on one of golf’s most iconic stages at a closing Inside Access dinner at The Inn at Spanish Bay.
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Resorts
17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
tel 800 877 0597
pebblebeach.com
The Inn at Spanish Bay
1700 17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
tel 831 647 7500