The Links at Spanish Bay is located in Pebble Beach, California. Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill form the trifecta of world-famous golfing.
Read my post about how to book accommodation and tee-time in Pebble Beach, one of the world’s most beautiful and challenging courses.
Where is Pebble Beach?
Pebble Beach Golf Links is located on California’s Monterey Peninsula next to the Lodge at Pebble Beach off 17-Mile Drive. The best airport to fly into is San Francisco as it’s a major airport with many direct flights. The drive from SFO to Pebble Beach is around two hours. Or you can consider San Jose Airport which is 90 minutes drive away. Another option is the smaller regional airport in Monterey (Airport code: MRY) serviced by United and American Airline
What is Spanish Bay?
Spanish Bay is named for the Spanish explorations of this area. During the winter of 1769, a group lead by Gaspar de Portola, governor of Lower (Baja) California, camped in the vicinity, in search of Monterey Bay, but never found it. They returned the following year and discovered their mistake.
The Inn at Spanish Bay
In order to book a tee-time in Pebble Beach, you must stay a minimum of 2 nights at one of the resort’s hotel. Actually, you can try to get a tee-time for the next day if you don’t stay in the resort, but the chances are very slim.
We are staying at the Inn at Spanish Bay. The room is comfortable and well appointed with a fire place. The best feature is the first fairway and sweeping ocean views from our ground-floor patio.
Everyday, at 6 pm, a Bagpiper would walk along the first fairway, in honor of the Scottish heritage, and to mark the end of that day’s play.
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The Links at Spanish Bay
The bagpiper is not the only reminder of Scotland. The Links at Spanish Bay, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Tom Watson and Frank “Sandy” Tatum, with its rolling fairways, white sand dunes and “pot-hole” bunkers, is reminiscent of the golf links in Scotland. Read about our golf experience in Scotland here; even the rugged Monterey coastline mirrors the natural beauty of Scotland.
The scenic 17-mile Drive leads to Spanish Bay, a 5-10 minute drive down the road from Pebble Beach Golf Links. The Inn at Spanish Bay rates are slightly more affordable than the Pebble Beach Lodge. You can find on site several great restaurants, a lobby lounge with a cozy fireplace, a verandah with sweeping views of the ocean, a pool, gym, and tennis courts.
There is a putting green and chipping practice area at Spanish Bay. If you wish to enjoy the full practice facility including driving range, you can take the shuttle bus to Pebble Beach.
The course is very challenging with large complex greens, deep bunkers, tall dunes and gusty winds from the ocean. The fairways are laid out through an environmentally sensitive area. Golfers are not allowed to enter these areas which play as lateral hazards, to preserve the natural landscape.
The green fees are Spanish Bay are quite high at $290. It’s still the lowest option compared to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill.
Even if you are not playing your best in this Scottish link-style course, you will be awed by the tremendous views and enchanted by the overall mood.
What else to do in Spanish Bay?
We went on a beautiful walk along the public beach along Spanish Bay, and followed the trail through The Links at Spanish Bay. I remember an overwhelming feeling of joy and gratitude to be in such gorgeous environment and dramatic coastline.
The boardwalk is part of a Pebble Beach walking trail between the Inn at Spanish Bay to the north and Bird Rock to the south. BeforeThe Inn which opened in 1988, a sand mining operation was here from the 1880s until 1973. Since 1986, the Pebble Beach company has been working to restore the fragile dunes damaged over the past century.
In the evenings, enjoy a great meal at one of the restaurants (the fish tacos come highly recommended) or sip a drink around a crackling fire pit, under the starry sky.
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