Stephen Szurlej
Sherman Chu
Evan Schiller
Getty Images
Photo by Joann Dost
Keyur Khamar
Stephen Szurlej
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, CA•Public
Awards
Panelists Score
Pebble Beach Golf Links
2700 17 Mile Dr
Pebble Beach, CA 93953-2668
United States
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Overview
Not just the greatest meeting of land and sea in American golf, but the most extensive one, too, with nine holes perched immediately above the crashing Pacific surf—the fourth through 10th plus the 17th and 18th. Pebble’s sixth through eighth are golf’s real Amen Corner, with a few Hail Marys thrown in over an ocean cove on the eighth from atop a 75-foot-high bluff. Pebble hosted a successful U.S. Amateur in 2018 and a sixth U.S. Open in 2019. Recent improvements include the redesign of the once-treacherous 14th green and reshaping the par-3 17th green, both planned by Arnold Palmer’s Design Company a few years back, and modifications to the green at the famous eighth hole, which we deemed the second Greatest Hole in America. Green modifications have continued, and Pebble re-enters our top 10 after a brief time out the last two years.
About
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Golf Digest Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 Greatest / Best In State Scores
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“An iconic golf course laid out along the most stunning real estate in the world. A real honor to play the course for a second time. The small greens place a premium on approach shots. It is a great experience to walk the course with a caddie so you can take it all in. Each hole is both unique and memorable with the ocean vistas breathtaking. The conditioning is impeccable."
Read More2026
Review
“Holes 6 through 10 have excellent layout variety. up and downhill and doglegs. Holes 17 and 18 have amazing Aesthetics with Ocean views and the day I played created a strong challenge because of the Ocean winds 30 + mile an hour. Overall, a Special Golf Course any serious golfer should have on their bucket list."
Read More2026
Review
“* Par 5's run in 4 directions. while the 3's in three directions. Favors right doglegs and outside bunkering slightly. Evenly distributed uphill vs. downhill approach holes. * The course played perfectly on a bluebird early morning. Greens were quick, pure and firm with hardly a ball mark. Was pleasantly surprised with the firmness. * I've never used the "I want to go right back out for another 18" phrase ever, but here it was impossible not to with it's history and the shots one faces. Pebble Beach offers the public golfer the most thrilling golf shots a person can hit on this planet."
Read More2025
Review
“A cathedral for American Golf, Pebble is a special place. Was very impressed with the green complexes- small but full of character. Close to a perfect golf course- hit just about every club in my bag."
Read More2025
Review
“Nothing that hasn't been said before. Tiny greens make the variety of approach shots challenging, whether a bump and run or dropping it in. Weather can be a huge factor on the coast, I had the pleasure to play it on a calm day. Those greens still made it quite a challenge for all skill levels. The aesthetics are world class, but the challenge is the conditioning with the number of rounds played on this world class course. Such a variety of hole designs, and distances, makes you bring and use every club in the bag. A whole lot of fun!"
Read More2025
Review
“Pebble Beach is must play on any bucket-list. Pebble Beach shot options off the tee are limited but good options for the greens as some holes allow a run up on approach. Fun factor is very high due to history and views combined with varied golf holes. Challenge for a scratch golfer from the tee is more limited but around the greens is very high - greens are very small and challenging to putt. Layout varety is high, great mix of left and right doglegs, a some short Par 4s and reachable par 5s, holes 9 and 10 are the only two that seem similar to me. Aesthetics are super high, for views and backdrops. Conditioning was very good and greens quite fast. In terms of character, very high for uniqueness with high variety and ingenuity to fit holes on the cliffs....newish Par 3 5th hole is a great addition."
Read More2025
Review
“Pebble Beach shot options off the tee are limited but good options for the greens as some holes allow a run up on approach. Fun factor is very high due to history and views combined with varied golf holes. Challenge for a scratch golfer from the tee is more limited but around the greens is very high - greens are very small and challenging to putt. Layout varety is high, great mix of left and right doglegs, and some short Par 4s and reachable par 5s, holes 9 and 10 are the only two that seem similar to me. Aesthetics are super high, for views and backdrops. Conditioning was very good and greens quite fast. In terms of character, very high for uniqueness with high variety and ingenuity to fit holes on the cliffs....newish Par 3 5th hole is a great addition."
Read More2025
Review
“One of the gems in American golf. A challenge for every player, but aggressive play can reward with low scores. Great layout and scenery reflecting a walk through a historic museum of golf. Birdies are available on the opening holes, with a tough stretch from 8-14. One of the best in America."
Read More2025
Review
“An outstanding course which has a variety of holes that require different shots throughout the round. The greens have a good mixture of front to back sloping and back to front. The stretch of holes 4-10 are some of the aesthetically pleasing golf around."
Read More2024
Review
“The course was in tremendous shape when I was able to play it. The green sizes surprised me, as well as the some of the shot making that was needed. It is easy to imagine a course that you see so often on TV, but being there really showed some challenges that you need to experience yourself like the elevation rise on 6. The shot making ability needed to hit smaller greens on holes surrounded by ocean and the ability to lag putt on others showed a great variety in the way the course defended itself. The views and condition were hard to beat which shows in how much fun everyone had that day ranging in all skill levels. This golf course was a great example of layout variety and shot options that you will rarely see. The course was firm and fast even when playing before 7am. The final few holes once wind had gotten to us most day showed some of its potential teeth. I believe if played slightly later in the same day the challenge it presents would have intensified."
Read More2024
