Spyglass Hill™ Golf Course
About
"If it were human, Spyglass would have a knife in its teeth, a patch on its eye, a ring in its ear, tobacco in its beard and blunderbuss in its hand . . ." -- Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times
With a name inspired by the Robert Louis Stevenson novel Treasure Island, Spyglass Hill is the toughest golf course in Northern California and among the most difficult in the world (ratings are from the championship tees). Designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1966, the course was immediately recognized as a true test of golf skills and an opportunity to utilize every club in the bag. "The Glass" hosts the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, as well as qualifying rounds for the California State Amateur.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue | 72 | 6960 yards | 75.1 | 145 |
Gold | 72 | 6538 yards | 73.3 | 140 |
Gold (W) | 73 | 6538 yards | 78.8 | 145 |
White | 72 | 6123 yards | 71.6 | 133 |
White (W) | 73 | 6123 yards | 76.5 | 138 |
Red (W) | 73 | 5381 yards | 72.6 | 130 |
Red | 72 | 5381 yards | 68.2 | 123 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue M: 75.4/145 | 597 | 349 | 171 | 376 | 203 | 441 | 545 | 398 | 430 | 3510 | 409 | 562 | 177 | 458 | 558 | 132 | 469 | 323 | 427 | 3515 | 7025 |
Gold M: 73.3/140 W: 78.8/145 | 565 | 321 | 147 | 369 | 173 | 408 | 520 | 372 | 414 | 3289 | 376 | 490 | 159 | 430 | 525 | 122 | 447 | 313 | 401 | 3263 | 6552 |
White M: 71.6/133 W: 76.5/138 | 531 | 298 | 126 | 357 | 135 | 372 | 476 | 356 | 393 | 3044 | 366 | 457 | 143 | 393 | 514 | 99 | 433 | 299 | 370 | 3074 | 6118 |
Green M: 70.0/128 W: 74.4/134 | 527 | 294 | 122 | 353 | 131 | 326 | 466 | 309 | 355 | 2883 | 321 | 453 | 125 | 363 | 488 | 95 | 408 | 295 | 335 | 2883 | 5766 |
Red M: 68.2/123 W: 72.6/130 | 488 | 241 | 83 | 302 | 94 | 322 | 462 | 305 | 351 | 2648 | 317 | 420 | 95 | 322 | 484 | 83 | 404 | 266 | 332 | 2723 | 5371 |
Handicap | 3 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 8 | |||
Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 1 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 12 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Snacks, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
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TennisAccolades
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by arlene on 12/07/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 07/18/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 07/18/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 07/18/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 07/18/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 07/18/2019
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Photo submitted by sorenj on 07/18/2019
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view from 2nd hole at Spyglass. Photo submitted by AlexByrd on 11/28/2018
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The par-3 15th. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 05/22/2018
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Short par 4 17th. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 05/22/2018
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The par-3 third hole might be the prettiest at the entire resort Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 05/22/2018
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Par-4 17th hole approach Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 08/12/2017
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From behind the par-5 14th green Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 08/12/2017
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Approach on the par-5 14th hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 08/12/2017
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Par-3 fifth green Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 08/12/2017
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Par-5 11th hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 08/12/2017
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Par-3 third green Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 08/12/2017
Tough, tough, tough
The front 9 is spectacular and made for picture taking. The back 9 felt like a mountain course. Some holes on the back 9 looked like Augusta and some looked like the best courses in Lake Tahoe. The condition was excellent.
All of that said, no way I would ever come back to play this course again. As pretty as that front 9 was, it simply wasn't fun to play overall. Brutal elevated greens on virtually every hole. I was surprised too because RTJ is one of my favorite course designers. Paying $400 for punishment is not my idea of a fine investment. Additionally, they charged me $80 for a cart that I shared with my wife (who did not play). Only when I was at the first tee I was told that it was cart-path only (not good). If you have an extra $500 go play Pebble. That is difficult too but at least you'll enjoy yourself.
Tough Challenge but Worth it
Leave your ego in the car and embrace the challenge. Toughest course you can play in Pebble Beach. The whole course is a visual treat but intimidating. Awesome Greens, fun challenge
More Pines than Ocean
The 1st 5 holes are some of the best you'll ever play. Unfortunately, the course is rather forgettable from that point in. Not that it's a bad course (cuz it's FAR from that), it just opens so strong, there's nowhere to go from there.
Spyglass Hill - Treasure the experience
If you can't get on or afford Pebble Beach, try to get out to Spyglass Hill (Legend has it that Robert Louis Stevenson roamed these hills and sandy dunes of Pebble Beach for inspiration while writing his classic 'Treasure Island.') While nothing can duplicate the topography of Pebble, Spyglass is a pretty good consolation with some pretty good ocean views of its own on the front nine. And even though the back nine is inland, it's pretty special in its own right. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the course got a much-needed renovation a few years ago, drastically improving drainage and the speed of the fairways.
Masterpiece
In the two AT&T's I was able to play in back in the early 90's, I found Spyglass to be one of the top 2 or 3 designs that I've ever seen. Granted, if you're planning a trip to the Monterey Peninsula, you're first choice is likely to be Pebble Beach. However, if you have the time and the resources, so yourself a favor and play Spyglass...you'll be very glad you did.
While it's not exactly oceanside, the views on the first 4 holes are stunning. But more than that, it has 18 holes that you will remember for as long as your able to not hide your own Easter eggs. Spyglass is old-school, traditional, challenging golf at its finest. Small greens that are typically in excellent shape, sloping fairways, swirling breezes, and a timeless design will keep you on your toes the entire time.
One word of advice: leave the rangefinder in the bag and play it by feel. The approach shots almost always play longer than the yardage, and you can't afford to be off by much.