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When
the Pebble Beach Company decided to build The Links at Spanish Bay,
the golf world was abuzz at the addition of a third course to round
out the trio, alongside famous neighbours Pebble Beach and Spyglass
Hill. Because of the intense environmental scrutiny, both the choice
of designer as well as the plans for real estate had to be carefully
considered.
Robert
Trent Jones Jr. set out to create a course 16 years after his father
had laid out Spyglass, along the same stretch of the Monterey
Peninsula. Jones was the obvious choice to carry on his father's
legacy while respecting the area's environmental concerns. The
course's close proximity to the Pacific and the sand dunes along the
shoreline were of paramount importance to conservationists. Jones's
reputation for finding inventive ways to harmonize great golf with
the natural landscape made for a great partnership in the creation
of The Links at Spanish Bay.
While the golfer does not play over the ocean as at Pebble, most of
the front nine and the closing five holes are played among the sand
dunes in front of Spanish Bay's flagship resort, The Inn. There are
dramatic views of the Pacific throughout the round; nevertheless,
the breeze off the ocean can be distracting. Although the term
'links' has often been overused in American golf, The Links at
Spanish Bay name suits better than most. While the land has not been
actually recovered from the sea, in the traditional
sense of links golf, the sand dunes and oceanside setting provide a
comparable feel. With occasional mist and wind you will have a
unique golf experience at this resort.
The course gets off to an invigorating start with a long par five
that doglegs slightly right towards the ocean. Golfers gets a taste
of all that is to come, as the opener introduces abundant sand
dunes, heavy bunkering and false fronts to the wildly undulating
putting surfaces that define Spanish Bay. If that does not tempt
golfers to continue, then they'd best return to the clubhouse.
Two comes back from the ocean towards the inn, and plays to a
deceptively long 304 yards because of the uphill slope. If the slope
is not enough to convince even the longest hitters to lay up, the
multi-tiered green flanked by deep bunkers on either side should.
After a decent lay-up, the golfer will face a difficult pitch into
the green. The ball must be left below the hole for any chance for a
putt, as the green is too severely sloped to miss long and still get
down for par.
While the Pacific serves as a backdrop for most of the front nine,
it deserves special notice on the par-four seventh. Since marsh runs
along the left side of the hole, the drive is delicate and must set
up the second shot, which will also flirt with the marsh. Depth
perception on this hole is usually skewed, as the ocean behind the
green does not give the player a good sense of the distance.
The front nine closes with a beautiful par four that winds its way
through the white sand dunes to a green set back in the forest.
Measuring 394 yards and playing uphill, it requires more club than
you might imagine.
The
12th hole is the beginning of an exhilarating back nine. A narrow
landing sets up an approach with a ravine short of the large green,
which requires the golfer to place the ball in the proper section.
Any tee shot that does not find the fairway will make par difficult.
The best par three on the golf course - the 13th - is the last of
the forest holes at Spanish Bay. The green is an hourglass set on a
diagonal angle from the tee. Again, the ravine wreaks havoc for any
shots left short here, nor is the long bunker easily negotiated. The
centre of the green should be the target.
Following the best par three of the course is the best hole, also
arguably one of the better holes on the peninsula. The 576-yard
par-five 14th plays downhill towards the ocean. Emerging from the
trees, the golfer is confronted with a beautiful view and a hole,
which gets its teeth from severe bunkering, out-of-bounds left and a
hazard right. A well-played
lay-up shot is required, as the sloping green is not receptive to
long irons.
The course rounds out with a par-five finishing hole. Reachable only
under favourable wind conditions, the green is well protected and
better approached with a short third shot. A decent chance at birdie
awaits, but strategy will prevail over brawn.
While The Links at Spanish Bay will forever be compared to its
neighbours, the course can make a few claims the others cannot. With
more oceanfront vistas, the course provides little protection from
the wind, which is a key element of the course. The average golfer
will enjoy the playability and scenery, while the better golfer will
be tested by the demand for crisp iron shots and unique short game
challenges. Among Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s greatest courses, Spanish
Bay is a great venue in the Pebble Beach Resort
trio. |
