Pebble Beach US Open

Pebble Beach is 100 years old this year, established in 1919. It celebrates with the hosting of the 119th US Open 2019, one of the most celebrated golf events at the Golf Capital of the World. Tournament play starts today, Thursday, June 13 and runs thru to Fathers Day, Sunday, June 16. If you were looking to avoid the crowds and enjoy the record warm weather, practice rounds earlier in the week were the way to go. However, Wednesday brought in pea-thick fog, showing how the difficulty can change on the golf course and a typical month of June can be, dropping temperatures from 80 degrees to 60 degrees. Now the course can change to a totally different play from a few days ago with the heatwave, the cooler weather making the golfball not carry as far and the greens will roll differently. Let’s hope the wind stays down too.

Make sure to get the US Open App (downloaded from the App Store) which is extremely helpful offering a map of the course, where each player is currently playing, player tee time schedule, text notifications of things to know, fan services help, and much more. They also have the US Open WIFI at the course to use as typically there is no cell range at Pebble Beach. Security check-in is tight but moves well (avoid taking any drinks or backpacks). Gate 2 at the Carmel Gate is a very easy walk-in; try to either walk or take a shuttle. Parking is tough or non-existence.

“Harper Grill” dedicated to RJ Harper, “Mr. Pebble Beach”, who passed away from his battle with cancer in 2018, offers outside seating and views of the 9th fairway and Carmel Beach.

Pebble Beach US Open - 6th fairway — US Open 6th fairway ©TheDigitalTraveler.com

Pebble Beach spent two years getting ready for this event which they say will have over 250,000 visitors during the week of June 10-14. The Wells Fargo bank site was torn down – constructed in its place an 8,000 sq. ft. Pebble Beach Visitor Center with parking for tour buses.

The Visitor Center has over two dozen exhibits to tell the story of Pebble Beach including Historical timeline of Pebble Beach; Story of Founder Samuel F.B.Morse; Historical videos of the Del Monte Hotel; Other world-class events held at Pebble Beach; Full-size wall live video; Replica golf trophies; Interactive map with places of interest along 17-mile drive; Celebrities and US Presidents who have visited; current owner group Lone Cypress Partners

Adjoining the Visitor Center, is a small merchandise center next to The Market, where you can grab a sandwich, sit outside under umbrellas, looking out at the beautiful views of Stillwater Cove.

Pebble Beach US Open - Peter Hays Closed

Also demolished was the gas station to add additional parking across from the golf bag drop. Peter Hay’s 9th hole golf course was taken out to make room for 40,000 square feet of merchandising tents. Streets were paved and fixed around Carmel and 17-mile drive (a delight to the local residents), new directional signs were installed and guard gates were improved with landscaping and paint.

Tuesdays Practice Round was one of the most amazing days seen at Pebble Beach in June – 80-degree weather, no breeze, no waves on the ocean below. Rarely do we see these days in June, typically in October – June tends to be overcast or foggy. We thought the warm weather would be an indication of what the week might be, but Mother Nature changed everything when the fog cloud cover rolled on Wednesday. So it will be interesting to see how the weather affects play the next few days.

The best spot to watch the US Open was the 10th green bleachers – you can see 5 holes from this location (11th tee box, 10th green and in the distance 8, 9 and 12 fairways). The sun, Carmel dog beach, and the location removed from most of the people traffic being the farthest bleacher on the course.