Thinking about playing Pebble Beach feels like a far-off dream, but the truth is, it’s absolutely possible for any golfer to play. Yes, you - anyone with a passion for the game and a set of clubs - can walk the same fairways as the legends. This guide will give you the complete, step-by-step game plan for booking your tee time, managing the costs, and making the most of your day at America’s greatest public golf course.
The short answer is a resounding yes. Pebble Beach Golf Links is a public golf course, which means it’s open to everyone. Unlike Augusta National or Pine Valley, you don’t need a member invitation to get on the grounds. However, "public" doesn't mean "easy to access." There’s a specific process you need to follow, and it primarily revolves around one thing: becoming a guest of the resort.
There are two main paths to securing one of golf's most coveted tee times:
Let’s break down exactly what each of these options involves, because how you approach it will make all the difference between teeing it up at the eighth hole and just watching it on TV.
This is the most reliable way to guarantee your round at Pebble Beach. The resort gives booking priority to its hotel guests, allowing you to secure your tee time well in advance. Think of the hotel stay as your golden ticket. Here’s how to do it, step by step.
Pebble Beach Resorts is made up of three distinct properties. You’ll need to book a minimum stay at one of them to get that priority access. The typical requirement is two nights, which allows you to book one round at Pebble Beach and one round at another of their courses.
This is the part that requires an honest self-assessment. Playing Pebble Beach is a significant investment, and it's important to know all the associated costs upfront to avoid any surprises. There are three main expenses to account for.
As of late 2023, the greens fee for a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links is $675 per person for resort guests. This fee doesn't include a cart or a caddie. It's simply the price for the privilege of walking on the hallowed ground.
You’re not just playing a golf course, you’re experiencing it. And the best way to do that is by walking with a caddie. Caddies at Pebble Beach are more than just bag carriers - they are navigators, coaches, and historians. They know every impossible putt on Pebble's poa annua greens. Trust me, listening to your caddie is the best advice I can give.
So, plan for about $200+ per player for your caddie. You can request a golf cart, but walking the course, especially on a beautiful day, is the definitive experience.
This will be your largest expense. The rooms aren't cheap, but they are spectacular. Rates fluctuate based on the season, room type, and day of the week, but you can generally expect to pay in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 per night.
A typical two-night minimum stay will put the lodging cost between $2,000 and $3,000. When you combine this with the greens fee and caddie, a single golfer on a two-night stay is looking at an investment in the ballpark of $3,000+ before food, drinks, or travel.
Once you are ready to commit, call the resort directly. Their reservations team is incredibly helpful and will guide you through booking both your room and your tee times. Remember, you can book Pebble Beach up to 18 months out, and the other resorts courses (Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay) up to 12 months out.
For the best weather and course conditions, consider late spring (April-May) or early fall (September-October). Summer can often be foggy, and winter brings a higher chance of rain.
What if you can’t shoulder the cost of a resort stay? Technically, non-resort guests can still play. But this path is fraught with uncertainty and requires a tremendous amount of luck.
The process is this: non-resort guests can call the Pebble Beach pro shop exactly one day (24 hours) in advance to inquire about any available slots. These slots only open up due to last-minute cancellations from resort guests. You’ll be offered a time, if one exists, and you must accept it on the spot.
Let's set your expectations: the chance of this succeeding is extremely low. During peak season, tee sheets are filled months, if not a year or more, in advance. This option is really only feasible for someone who lives locally or happens to be visiting the Monterey area for a while and can be incredibly flexible. Do not plan a special trip around this strategy, it’s an exciting long shot, not a reliable plan.
While Pebble Beach gets all the headlines, staying at the resort gives you access to a stable of other world-class courses that are magnificent in their own right. If you’re there for a required two-night stay, you’ll need to play a second round anyway. Here are your options:
When you finally step on that first tee, the feeling is electrifying. To help you manage the day and truly enjoy it, here is my best coaching advice:
✓ Trust your caddie completely. I can't say this enough. They know the greens better than you know your own home. If they say a putt breaks two cups right, and it looks dead straight to you, believe them. Putting on poa annua grass in the afternoon is an art, and they are the artists.
✓ Embrace the pace of play. A round at Pebble can take 5+ hours. Don't fight it. Accept that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Use the extra moments to take pictures, chat with your caddie, and soak in the views. No one is in a hurry there, so you shouldn't be either.
✓ Manage your expectations. This isn't the day to try and shoot your career low. The course is challenging, the views are distracting, and the pressure is real. Your goal should be to hit a few memorable shots, enjoy the walk, and create a story you can tell for years. A great shot on #7 or a pure strike on #18 is far more important than what you write on the scorecard.
✓ Dress in layers. The weather on the Monterey Peninsula can turn on a dime. It can be sunny one moment and then cold, windy, and shrouded in fog the next. A windbreaker and beanie are your best friends, even if the forecast looks perfect.
Playing Pebble Beach Golf Links is an incredible experience that is absolutely attainable for the average golfer. While it requires significant financial planning and advance booking through a resort stay, the doors are open to anyone who wants to walk its famous fairways.
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