How you can play Pebble Beach Golf Links

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Sentimental rounds at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- There are three courses every avid golfer should have on their bucket list: Augusta National, the Old Course at St. Andrews and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

These are the most recognized, iconic venues in the world. We know all the holes, they have great history and, in the case of Pebble Beach, it's located on one of the most spectacular landscapes and seascapes in the world.

The best part is that Pebble Beach -- as well as St. Andrews -- is accessible by anyone. You just have to have the money. Augusta National? Good luck.

Of course, many say Pebble Beach, which plays host to the U.S. Open for a sixth time in 2019, might as well be inaccessible as expensive as it is to play.

Which is why I'm going to break it down for you: It doesn't necessarily have to cost thousands of dollars to play Pebble, and you might be surprised to learn that the Pebble Beach green fee really isn't all that much higher than the Old Course (about $275 with a caddie), especially when you consider that you have to cross the pond (for our North American readers) or even courses like The Players Stadium Course at the TPC Sawgrass ($450 during peak season).

Pebble Beach green fee: $575

Yes, the green fee for Pebble is $575, which was just increased from $550 in 2019. There was a time, of course, that it was quite affordable. Back in the '70s, you could play it for less than $100, but that was then.

Of course, the caveat is that the five-bill green fee is just the beginning. There's a requirement that you stay two nights at one of the Pebble Beach properties to get on Pebble Beach if you book it in advance of two days or more. But what many don't know is that you can book a tee time a day out without staying at Pebble Beach.

There's risk to that strategy, of course. If you're planning a trip to Pebble Beach and don't book in advance, you could get there and not be able to get a tee time. But if you're a single, and there are no events the following day, chances are pretty good you're going to get on. If you have a foursome, it's a little more dicey but not impossible.

Your strategy, believe it or not, might be to look toward some holidays. The guys in the golf shop tell me that holidays are usually more open than non-holidays. One of the reasons may be that people assume that's a bad time to come to Pebble Beach. Another reason is that people tend to do non-golf stuff -- family gatherings, for example -- on holidays, which opens up the tee sheet. Plus, it's less likely that Pebble Beach Golf Links would stage tournaments or events on those days.

#AskGolfAdvisor: How you can play Pebble Beach for less

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To be safe, book the complete Pebble Beach experience

Of course, if money is no object, I like the stay-and-play options. Spend the money, stay at the resort and play a couple more courses. Spyglass Hill is one of my favorites in the world, so that makes a great 1-2 punch. Add in the Links at Spanish Bay and the new Poppy Hills Golf Course, and you've really got something.

There are four options for staying at Pebble Beach -- the Lodge at Pebble Beach, the Inn at Spanish Bay, Casa Palmero, and the Fairway One Guest Rooms and Cottages.

Fairway One is the newest of the lodging options at Pebble Beach. Located along the first fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, it features large guest rooms as well as the Palmer and Eastwood cottages. Prices start at $990, excluding taxes and resort fees, for a Garden View room. The cost escalates up to $6,940 for the aforementioned four-bedroom cottages per night.

Monterey Peninsula Championship Courses Stay & Play Package

FROM $1117 (USD)
MONTEREY, CA | Enjoy 3 nights' accommodations at The Lodge at Pebble Beach™ and 4 rounds of golf at Pebble Beach Golf Links™, Spyglass Hill™, Pasatiempo & Bayonet Golf Courses.

The most opulent option is Casa Palmero, which is former mansion acquired by the Pebble Beach Co., in 1994. Ranging from $1,100 to more than $3,000 per night, Casa Palmero is an intimate, Mediterranean-style estate that features 24 private rooms and suites, each with wood-burning fireplaces, over-sized tubs and mostly king beds. Overlooking the first and second fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links, Casa Palmero is just a few steps away from The Spa at Pebble Beach.

The next level is the Lodge, currently starting at less than $940 per night for a Garden View up to more well over $4,300 per night for the two-bedroom Sloat Suite, and those digs, located along the 18th hole, are pretty special, too. Or you can stay at the Inn at Spanish Bay starting at around $820 per night for a Garden View room.

But you might want to try a tour operator or agent as well. They don't get discounted tee times at Pebble, but apparently they work deals on the hotel rooms. They can often save you some money on packages that include multiple courses, sometimes saving close to $1,000.

As for booking your own reservations, call Pebble Beach at (866) 249-6232, even if you're just booking a round at Pebble beach a day out.

Where is Pebble Beach golf course?

Pebble Beach Golf Links is located on California's Monterey Peninsula next to the Lodge at Pebble Beach off 17-Mile Drive. You can get there within a two-hour drive from the three San Francisco Bay Area international airports with the closest being San Jose (about 90 minutes). There is a smaller, commercial regional airport in Monterey (Airport code: MRY) serviced by United and American Airlines. The nearest town is Carmel-by-the-Sea, about an eight minute drive down the coastline to the south.

Editor's note: This story was updated on May 28, 2019.

GOLFPASS exclusive: Matt Ginella's 3- and 5-day Ultimate Itineraries to Pebble Beach
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Updated 2/6/20, 03:35 PM: Green fees updated for 2020
Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
34 Comments
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Hi i want to get my two great kids who
played on their high school golf team a round? Happy to get them a room too. Both were st champions

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do you know of a reputable company that can book a trip and guarantee t-times?

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John...booking is done directly with Pebble; no company is needed and no times are guaranteed.

We book packages to Pebble Beach that includes guaranteed tee times. Pebble isn't like St. Andrews, no lottery or anything. You can inquire about the package here: https://www.golfadvisor.com/golf-packages/california-golf-packages/monterey-peninsula-championship-courses-stay-play-package/

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I live in palo alto and have called the day before to get a tee time at pebble twice - once in february and once in october. No problem getting on as a single either time.

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A little dated but would you mind sharing with me the phone number you called for tee time?

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For a cheaper and somewhat easier booking experience.. AirBnb inside the Del Monte Forest gate (inside is important). Forest residents are allowed to book tee times up to 30 days in advance at any of the courses when it's not a peak time of year. Book a house/room and politely ask your host to set up some tee times for you in advance. The AirBnb saves you about $550 on the hotel cost per night, which covers your round I might add!

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We would love to take our 2 grandsons to play Pebble. Your comment was so helpful. I found 2 houses in the Forest inside the gate. 1st host said he can't because he doesn't live there. 2nd host told me to check the Pebble resort page. No help there. To take the 2 boys to golf and stay at Pebble we would have to have 2 rooms. Only 2 golfers to a room. So $$$$. Any other input would be great.

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Call their reservations line. I believe they have extended their booking window for non-hotel guests

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How do you know when booking an AirBnB if it's inside the gate or not?

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Do a google search of 17 mile drive, it’s pretty descriptive on where the gates are. Anything with the address of Del Monte Forest, Pebble Beach, or 93953 should be inside.

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I can't seem to find anything on Airbnb that shows that they can book these tee times and I've looked inside Del Monte Forest. Any other advice on how to find this within the Airbnb site?

Thanks

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Mark - they are not allowed to advertise the fact that they can. You have to dm the folks. The key is to find someone talking about golf more than the other stuff....or if they seem like golfers.

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Great info! I’m looking to get on as a single next year when I visit just and was worried I wouldn’t be able to get on. I’ll make sure to spend a couple of days in the area to ensure I can play one round and make sure to call in advance of booking my vacation to make sure there are no events scheduled. Thanks for breaking it down for us golfers who have never visited the area!

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Your comment saying it was more affordable in 1970 at $100 is comical and ridiculous. $100 in the 70’s is over $600 today, so it’s actually more affordable now. 🤣

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Hello, you might want to have someone update the article. The cost to stay at the Inn at Spanish Bay starts at $820, not $220 that the article shows.

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The article does say $820/Night for Spanish Bay.

My friend and I are from Canada travelling to the Monterrey area from July 17th to July 22nd 2019 and would love to play Pebble Beach. I would appreciate knowing if there was a possibility of us securing a tee time during our visit. Thanks

Try checking availability at this link. https://www.pebblebeach.com/plan-my-trip/preview-availability/Pebble%20Beach%20Golf%20Links/

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I was curious if you use a cart if there are any restrictions on driving on the course. Also, if you use a cart can you use a caddy?

Carts on paths at all times. Highly recommend walking. No push carts allowed so you have to carry or take a caddie.

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Back in the 70's I had three opportunities to play Pebble Beach for under $100.00. All three times it rained the entire weekend and I never got to play the course. I think it is ironic to call the course "public" because only the rich can afford to play Pebble Beach today. I am looking forward to watching the U.S. Open this week.

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How you can play Pebble Beach Golf Links