I must confess that I am mesmerized by the Monterey Peninsula and Pebble Beach, even when I see them on television. The area is spectacular and sensational.
Surely, the Creator modeled it after the “Garden of Eden.” I have seen mountain landscapes that boggle the mind, harbors and inlets so beautiful that Monet would have difficulty holding his palette steady to give us one of his patented impressions, and verdant valleys that reek of nature’s most splendorous offerings.
Walking the golf course and feeling the spray of the Pacific is inspirational and creates a glorious rapport with nature. Playing it no matter the score you post — leaves you transfixed and eternally grateful.
Jack Nicklaus once said that if he had one round of golf left to play, he would play it at Pebble Beach. Robert Louis Stevenson is credited for this most poignant quote, saying that the Monterey Peninsula is the “greatest meeting of land and sea.” Still, Australian-born artist Francis McComas authored that appraisal of this spectacular piece of land.
Entering the domain of the Del Monte Lodge, which is the centerpiece of the golf course complex, makes you consider that you have enjoyed a brush with royalty, and spending time on the golf course is a heavenly experience.
Then add to the experience playing a round at Cypress Point, which is better than winning the daily double at the racetrack. It was my good fortune to enjoy all this as a guest.
The windswept trees take your breath away as seagulls flit about as if they owned the place, and I reckon that they do. You might be lining up an approach shot into a picturesque green and see a whitetail deer dart across the fairway. All the time, on most holes, you hear the Pacific crashing against the shore.
The place's history, ambiance, and its image are as uplifting as those of any picturesque enclave in the world: Honfleur, Giverny, Cliffs of Moher, Santorini, Mount Saint-Michel, Victoria Falls, Big Sur, Lapland, and the Chattahoochee.
Monterey’s ethereal beauty is unmatched. We all need soul-cleansing moments in our lives, and there is no better place to seek that inspirational high than on this magical strip of land.
Pebble Beach is a place where you might need to put another log on the fire and don your most substantial windcheater, as the Brits might say, or you might find yourself walking about in short sleeves and saturation of sunscreen. You could even experience those conditions on back-to-back days. Bing Crosby, the man with the golden voice, brought about Pebble Beach’s love affair with the PGA tour. It all began at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego when the crooner invited some of his friends to play golf, enjoy a clambake, and raise a little money for charity.
It then moved to Pebble Beach, elevated to the highest social level. Bing invited his Hollywood friends and turned the tournament into a classy pro-am, where the golfers and movie stars rubbed shoulders and enjoyed a good time.
You might see Lionel Hebert, whose ultimate victory was the PGA Championship, taking out his horn and making music with Bing, Phil Harris, and the stars you saw on the silver screen at your local movie house.
The success brought about by Bing’s clambake inspired other Hollywood types to host golf tournaments: Bob Hope at Palm Springs, Andy Williams at Torrey Pines at LaJolla, Jackie Gleason at the Inverary Classic, Glen Campbell at Rivera in Los Angeles, Danny Thomas at Memphis, and Sammy Davis Jr. at Hartford.
Any fan who is passionate about nature’s best handiwork can enjoy the game of golf, even if their expertise is not up to the occasion.
To attempt to associate with Jack Nicklaus’ regard for Pebble Beach: If I had one last golf course to walk, it would be Pebble Beach.
That, however, needs a disclaimer. To walk the most sensational of golf courses and enjoy its overpowering beauty, you must take care of business before you are too long in the tooth.