The Loop

Packages at Pebble Beach

December 09, 2008
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Need last minute plans for the holidays? Let me invade my little brain and see if I can come up with some ideas. There's no way you could be pulling gap wedge on a windless day on the seventh, convincing yourself to release the club on your over-the-canyon-approach at eight, trying to chip-in from the thick rough just left of 17, or hitting it so hard and far off the tee at 18 you'd consider going for it in two at one of the most famous walks in all of golf. Pebble Beach is out of the question. Maybe, if you call today, you could wrestle a spot (one, not two) for a day in 2020. Pebble Beach has been sold out, as my friend Jack McCallum likes to say, since Christ was a sophomore. And, regardless of the state of the economic affairs, will be until further notice.

Wrong! Wrap your limbs around this information:

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A Tournament Golf Experience at Pebble Beach to Celebrate the Season __*

For that special golfer on your gift list, consider a tournament package outing at Pebble Beach Resorts. Choose from two packages each with a challenging golf tournament, luxury overnight accommodations, special holiday rates, shopping and spa discounts. The New Year's package includes a New Year's Eve party.

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PRE-CHRISTMAS__

Pebble Beach Annual Team Championship Dec. 19-21 includes:

-    Accommodations for two nights at The Lodge at Pebble Beach or The Inn at Spanish Bay

-    One championship round at Pebble Beach Golf Links

-    One championship round at The Links at Spanish Bay.

-    One complimentary practice round (either The Links at Spanish Bay or Del Monte Golf Course)

-    Welcome reception  (golfer and one guest)

-    Cocktail reception  (golfer and one guest)

-    Tee gifts and awards

-    20% retail shop discount

-    10% discount at The Spa at Pebble Beach

-    Package rates from  $1,350 per player includes all of the above

CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR

Pebble Beach New Year's Tournament Dec. 30-Jan. 1, 2009

-    Accommodations for two nights at The Inn at Spanish Bay

-    One championship round at Pebble Beach Golf Links

-    One championship round at The Links at Spanish Bay.

-    One complimentary practice round at either The Links at Spanish Bay or Del Monte Golf Course.

-    Reduced rate practice rounds at Spyglass Hill Golf Course ($200 per player) on space available basis.  -    Welcome reception  (golfer and one guest)

-    Cocktail reception  (golfer and one guest)

-    Tee gifts and awards

-    10% discount at The Spa at Pebble Beach

-    New Year's Eve Blast Party at The Inn at Spanish Bay December 31 (golfer and one guest)

-    Package rates from  $1,550 per player includes all of the above

RESERVATIONS

Call Brittany Cooley 831-625-8575 or Margo Daniels 831-625-8556 at Pebble Beach Resorts.

So, what's the catch? You get tee times, lodging, receptions and reduced rates (by several hundreds of dollars) at the number one public course in the country. I called Pieter Ruig, Vice President of Murphy O'Brien (the PR firm that represents Pebble Beach) and asked him how long these deals have been going on and if offering these packages had anything to do the slumping economy. "Stay and play packages are completely normal at Pebble Beach," says Ruig. "It might be a better time now than a year ago to try and get a tee time but I still think the hardcore golfer, who has Pebble on the top of their list, is still coming out to play."

Ruig told me the New Years party was originally designed for their VIP guests, but this will be the third year it has been open to the public. This is the first year they've offered a pre-Christmas tournament. Ruig says the course is in good shape but that they're already making some adjustments in preparation for the 2010 U.S. Open.

If you're still searching for plans and have a little extra money in the mattress, Pebble isn't a bad option for a holiday bailout plan. Other than you and me, who's not taking advantage of one of those these days?

--Matty G.