Spyglass Hill is a bold, championship course that dazzles with ocean dunes then tests you through forest corridors. Its scenery, challenge, and strategic brilliance draw serious golfers from around the world for a destination round that rivals its legendary neighbors.
Pay attention to the hole names — nearly every hole is a character or place from Treasure Island, inspired by the connection between Robert Louis Stevenson and the Monterey Peninsula.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course is a triumph of dramatic variety—Robert Trent Jones Sr. seized a rare combination of sandy coastal dunes and dense forest to map out a round that feels like two distinct courses in one. The opening five holes unfurl across cinematic dunes above the ocean, demanding precise carries and punishing wayward drives with wind, sand, and natural hazards. From there, the routing plunges into Del Monte Forest, where tight corridors, elevated greens, bold bunkering, and ever-present Monterey pines test every shot in your bag. Strategic choices abound, and no two holes ever feel the same, with Jones blending challenge, beauty, and storytelling all the way home.
Jones was given nearly free reign to sculpt a tournament course from coast to forest, blending Pine Valley inspiration with Augusta elements—Spyglass is his west-coast masterpiece.
A spectacular opening tee shot drops toward the Pacific, doglegging left between dunes, with the ocean in constant view. Approach angles matter—lay back for safety or attack to set up a rare birdie chance.
Position your tee shot left for the best angle and decide whether to gamble for reach in two or lay up short of hazards.
Wayward drives find sand, and the long approach can be blocked by tricky bunkers and uneven lies.
Pristine, tournament-level with impeccable tees, fairways, and challenging bunkers; forest holes stay lush year-round.
Resort pace—4.5 to 5 hours is common due to tee sheet demand and photo stops.
Serious but not stuffy; Pebble Beach hospitality with a shotmaker’s focus.
Standard high-end golf attire (collared shirt, no denim); Pebble Beach Resort expectations apply.
The par-3s and many approaches demand precise distances with wind and elevation changes in play.
Bring comfortable shoes and consider a caddie; the round covers hills and long green-to-tee transitions.
Strategic and deep bunkers flank most greens, making recovery ability vital.
Spyglass offers a sense of place—explore the opening dunes and quiet forest setting before your tee time.
NCGA proposes a championship course at Pebble Beach
Spyglass Hill Golf Course opens on March 11
Joins Bing Crosby National Pro-Am tournament rotation
Drainage and fairway softening project completed
Hosts US Amateur rounds as Pebble Beach co-course
Bing Crosby was so confident in Spyglass Hill's difficulty that he bet Jack Nicklaus would not break par in his first round. The tale became legend, with Nicklaus himself referencing this story in interviews, proof of the course's demanding early stretch.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. crafted the first five holes to evoke Pine Valley—wind-whipped, sandy, and open—while the rest plunges players into towering Monterey pines and tight doglegs. The distinct change in setting creates a vivid narrative as the round unfolds.
Originally planned as Pebble Beach Pines, S.F.B. Morse renamed the course 'Spyglass Hill' in homage to Robert Louis Stevenson and Treasure Island lore, linking the course to one of literature’s classic tales and local peninsula myth.
Conceived as a stage for both NCGA championships and high-level professional play, Spyglass Hill delivered on its promise immediately—hosting a dozen amateur events yearly and becoming part of the iconic Pro-Am after just one season.
Every hole name is drawn from Treasure Island lore.
The U.S. Golf Association used Spyglass as a key venue for the 2018 U.S. Amateur.
NCGA members helped fund construction, not just the Pebble Beach Company.
The first five holes are widely considered among the best opening stretches in golf.
Jones claimed its forest holes were inspired by Augusta National.
The worldwide icon—play the famous cliffs and signature finish.
Wind-swept, scenic, and the next-best big-league public-access in the area.
Classic Alister MacKenzie gem within an hour’s drive; essential architecture pilgrimage.
Affordable, wind-exposed challenge just down the road; a great value add-on.
Stay in Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, or Monterey for a seamless experience and quick access to all rounds.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Sand Ridge Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: Bayonne Golf Club is a natural next stop after Spyglass Hill Golf Course: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: If Spyglass Hill Golf Course is your kind of course, Ballyhack Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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