GolfLink’s Guide to Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach is located on the end of California's Monterey Peninsula and features some of America’s most beautiful coastline. The best place to start any trip to Pebble Beach is on the famed 17-Mile Drive, a scenic drive hugging the rugged coastline. Pack a picnic and enjoy the sandy beaches at Spanish Bay, or visit Bird Rock, home to pelicans, cormorants and the ever-lively sea lions. There are many notable overlooks, but golfers might enjoy seeing the Lone Cypress, a landmark for two-and-a-half centuries and the logo of Pebble Beach.

After the relaxing drive, check in to one of the many hotels or resorts on the island. Just be sure you booked your reservation in advance--this is one of the most visited tourist towns in California. Popular places to stay include the Lodge at Pebble Beach, the Inn at Spanish Bay or Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. As for food, Pebble Beach and the surrounding communities provide an abundance of delicious options. The simply named Roy’s provides upscale Hawaiian and Japanese fusion dishes provided by chef Roy Yamaguchi. The restaurant’s patio is a favorite among visitors with its stunning views of the Pacific. Another favorite is The Bench, the restaurant at the Lodge at Pebble Beach. The restaurant overlooks Pebble Beach Golf Link's famous 18th hole and offers great meals like pan seared salmon with cranberry beans. Or head to nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea and enjoy Aubergine, a restaurant bursting with seasonal and local ingredients, such as mussels, crab and local strawberries. French restaurant L’Escargot, also in Carmel, provides the classics of French cuisine like veal medallions, duck confit and frog legs Provençal and is sure to leave you satisfied.

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There are so many great courses but the one everyone wants to play is of course Pebble Beach Golf Links, where the PGA Tour stops every year for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. While obviously not an option during the U.S. Open, all serious golfers should look to play this amazing course once in their lives. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant in 1919, this course offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and a stern test for any golfer. Golfers will be paying a premium, but that is the price to pay for playing one of the best courses in the world.

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While not as famous as Pebble Beach Golf Links, many golfers have conceded the views on the Links at Spanish Bay overlooking its namesake are the best in Pebble Beach. The course was designed by Tom Watson, Sandy Tatum and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. in 1987 and is located off the famous 17 Mile Drive. The course is a traditional Scottish Links course and remains one of the finest examples of this kind of course found in North America. The bagpiper who plays each night at sunset is another nice touch the will make you feel just like you’re an alternate reality where Scotland is a warm and sunny place.

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Spyglass Hill Golf Course is routined ranked in the top 10-15 public courses in America and it's easy to see why. The course features both oceanfront holes and a back 9 that plays through the Del Monte forest full of Monterey pines. The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed course is best known for the opening run of 5 holes that run parallel to the shoreline. The course is one of the most challenging on the peninsula, and uses the existing terrain to give a natural feeling to the course.

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While it is now overshadowed by the other courses on this list, the Del Monte golf Course is where it all started. It is the oldest American course west of the Mississippi still in operation. Founded in 1897, the course is also different in that it is not located on the coastline. It has a very vintage feel to it with narrow fairways and small, sloping and well-protected greens. For those looking for a slightly different experience while visiting Pebble Beach, the Del Monte is a perfect way to scratch that itch.

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The Peter Hay Golf Course, known simply as The Hay, is a 9-hole par-3 course (the only par-3 course in Pebble Beach) and is a perfect course for kids or casual players that recetnly got a redesign from none other than Tiger Woods, a shot in the arm that helped propel The Hay onto our list of the best under-18-hole courses in America.

RELATED: America's Best Golf Courses Under 18 Holes

The course features stunning views of the ocean and keeps it challenging with small, fast greens and intelligent bunkering.