Question about Pebble Beach 8th

For those who know the course:

Would it be possible to line up your second shot after teeing off on the 8th without knowing anything about the course and not realise that you are hitting over that cove?

Just wondering if anyone hits what looks like a "normal" shot and then after walking another 50 yards says "Holy cow, didn't realise THAT was there!!"

Some of the camera angles on TV make me think that this must be possible, especially as they are from higher up than ground level.

When you walk onto the tee is it all laid out before you or is it something that could take you by surprise?

Thanks

I played PB back in 1978, and had a "gotcha" experience on No. 8.

There was an aiming stake in the fairway for golfers to shoot at - starter told me on first tee. On No. 8 tee, a guy was finishing up with a tractor mower on the fairway, so I waited for him to finish.

I blasted a solid driver over the aiming stake. But one minute later, I see the tractor guy pick up the stake and plant it back in the ground 40 yards left of my drive line. Assuming the worst, I hit an OK provisional.

Never did find the first ball, which had headed over the cliff. Ended up with a triple-bogey 7 due to the lost drive.

So, if you find a guy with a mower in No. 8 fairway, make sure the stake is where it's supposed to be.

Yes I agree.

The hard part of #8 is the drive. It is really hard to know where you should aim and how much to cut off from the tee. From the tee the hole is severely uphill with only a white rock that is in the fairway. The suggested play is to hit a 3 wood at the rock. From the fairway you need to walk up to the edge to get a good view of the green. Then you "should" see the cove. You might not if for example you are in the left rough and are only told where to aim.

#8 is a good example of hole you would like to play a few times to know where to hit the tee shot.

Here's what you see if you hit your tee shot right up to the edge.   Back up a few yards and you can see how the bushes could block your view of the cove.

How far is that carry, because it looks pretty far.

The  carry isn't nearly as long as it looks - the wide camera shot trying to catch the panorama makes it look a long way.     From where I was standing taking the photo it is probably only about 125 yards to carry the chasm and maybe 140 to the green.     My tee shot was actually about 20 yards behind me, so I hit 6 iron in.     Caught it just a hair fat though, and ended up in the rough just between the green and that trap that is short right.

Yardage book says about 175 from the end of the fairway to the middle of the green.   I had about 200 yds, but it plays downhill slightly.  Hit 4 iron to the front of the green.   One of the best shots on the course and one I'll remember for awhile.