I grew up across from the 9th hole. As soon as I could hold a spoon, my Dad placed a tiny golf club in my hands. Now you think I’d play pro with a story like that but my only claim to fame is a fairly graceful swing. Where the ball ends up going is an entirely different story. As Hank Aaron said: “It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” Or as I say: “If you don’t play often – you swing more often”
I had a wonderful opportunity to attend the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM Golf Tournament during the practice session yesterday. This was also called the “Crosby Clambake”, established by Bing Crosby out of his love for golf and his personal interest in helping young people. Due to my most excellent “tour-guide” I learned quite a bit about the tournament and golf. The combination of great company, stunning views, good food/drinks and some fun celebrity sightings made for a fabulous time. There is still time to watch the tournament as it runs from February 4-10, 2013. Monday – Wednesday they practiced (and the celebrities, aka amateurs, rubbed clubs with the pros.) Thursday – Sunday is the actual tournament. If you love golf, views, the ocean and good wine – this is for you.
Quick terms you really must know
- BIRDIE – A tiny flying animal or a score of 1 under par for a hole. (i.e. a score of 3 on a par 4 hole)
- BOGEY – A score of 1 over par on a hole. (i.e. a score of 5 on a par 4 hole)
- BITE – What you should do when you see a piece of bacon, and a term used for the action of the backspin on the ball stopping it very quickly on the green
- BUNKER – Another name for a sand trap or a hill in some battle
- CADDIE – The guy carrying the really big bag
- CHIP SHOT – A short approach shot with a low trajectory usually hit from close to the green
- DRIVER – The person who got you to the PRO-AM and the club known as the 1 wood. It is usually the club that hits the ball the farthest
- FAT SHOT – An XL shot of alcohol after a bad game of golf, or a bad shot where the club hits the ground behind the ball and results in a poorly struck shot that usually doesn’t go very far
- MULLIGAN – An extra shot which your opponent may allow you to take if you hit a really bad first shot
Quick facts about Pebble Beach
- The longest hole at Pebble Beach is 14 (572 yards) That’s over 5 football fields long!
- The shortest hole at Pebble Beach is 7 which was also my favorite hole (photo below, note all the people practicing their shots out of the bunkers)
Where to eat
- The Bench: There are a number of places to eat, but I would recommend The Bench. This is a hip and trendy bar/restaurant located by the 18th hole. You can sit by the fire, sip a glass of wine, have lunch and people watch. But that’s not all, if you’re looking for a good cigar; they have a fairly impressive menu (With one priced at almost $100. I think I’d try to find a way to wear it at that price). Quick tip – They’ll give you a bar menu but if you want to eat a great bacon burger, ask for their lunch or dinner menu.
- Gallery Café: If you eat outside at the Gallery you can watch the Pros practice their putting. You’ll also have a birds-eye view as they hit off the first tee.
So you can start planning early, here’s a map of Pebble Beach. (#7 is my favorite hole. It’s a tough par 3 as the green is perched out on a ledge, overlooking the water.) No worries if you decide to do this by yourself. Believe me, you won’t be alone!
As I sign off I’ll leave you with this last quote: “Golf is a game in which you yell ‘fore’, shoot six and write down five.” -Paul Harvey
Quick note for 2014: If you think you might go next year and you’re trying to decide between the practice tournament or the pro event (you can’t go to the entire event), I really enjoyed the practice tournament. There were no crowds, easy parking, you can take photos and meet celebrities. Many things are closed Monday – Tuesday so if you’re only going one day next year, try Wednesday)
Would you like a print? Please click on “Contact”. My photography is printed on aluminum. Utilizing an advanced process which infuses dyes directly into the metal, the colors and saturation are really amazing. In addition, your print will be displayed using mount blocks which float the image ½ inch off the wall.
©2013 Shelley D Spray – No content on this site (including all photography) may be reused in any fashion without written permission from the author.
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