Taming Spyglass Hill requires more than just good golf shots, it demands a smart, adaptable game plan. This is a course of two wildly different personalities, and knowing how to navigate both its sandy, seaside dunes and its tight, towering pines is the difference between a memorable round and a long list of lost balls. This guide will walk you through a clear, hole-by-hole strategy for playing one of the world's truly great and challenging golf courses.
Spyglass Hill is famously described as having two nines squeezed into one round, and a better description doesn't exist. The first five holes are pure, raw, links-style golf played along the Pacific coastline. You'll hear the barking of sea lions as you battle the wind across sand dunes and firm fairways. It's exhilarating and brutally exposes any weakness in your long game. Your round starts out feeling like a trip to the shores of Ireland.
Then, you cross the road after the 5th green, and everything changes. The ocean sounds vanish, replaced by a profound, cathedral-like quiet. You're suddenly transported into a forest of Monterey Pines and Cypress trees, playing holes that feel like they were borrowed from Augusta National or Pine Valley. The game shifts from managing wind and ground bounces to demanding pinpoint accuracy through narrow corridors to well-protected, undulating greens. To score well here, you have to be two different golfers in one day.
Success at Spyglass is about brains over brawn. It’s about knowing when to attack, when to play safely, and where the non-negotiable misses are. Let's walk through the course.
This stretch is your introduction to the Pacific. Wind is the primary defense. Your main goal here is survival. Leave these holes around even par, and you’re way ahead of the game.
As you cross the 17-Mile Drive, the course changes character. The fairways narrow, the trees tower, and precision a premium. This is target golf.
The back nine continues its journey through the Del Monte Forest. You’ll be faced with ponds, elevation changes, and some of the most demanding greens you'll ever putt on.
Playing Spyglass Hill is about respectful course management and strategic execution. You must embrace its dual nature - first battling the elements on the coast, then threading needles through the forest - to post a score you can be proud of.
For a course with this much strategic depth and so many potential pitfalls, sometimes an expert second opinion is just what you need to play with confidence. Our app, Caddie AI, acts precisely as that trusted partner. When you're standing on the 4th tee wondering whether to lay up, or looking at a downhill lie on your approach into the 16th, I can give you shot-by-shot strategic advice to help you avoid the big numbers and make smarter decisions on every hole.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
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