Lodging for Pebble Beach

I am planning a Bucket List trip. For playing Pebble Beach, do you HAVE to stay at the $1000 night resort or do you / can you stay somewhere else close by?

Tom - it all depends on what is highest on your priority list.

If playing Pebble is #1 on your priority list then yes you need to stay on property; if you are happy playing other courses then you can stay off property and save a lot of $$$$'s.

I've talked to lots of people who have gotten on as singles, sometimes as a 2-some; they have to wait for an opening but it is well worth the wait.

My golfing group went out to "Pebble" about 7 years ago, and the thing is that unless you are staying on property then you can only make tee time reservations at Pebble 1 day in advance. All the other pebble resort courses (Spyglass, Links @, Del Monte ) we could make reservations 30 days in advance, and we could do the same at the other local courses (Bayonnet, Poppy Hills, Pacific Grove, etc). The guy who books our group found a house on VBO.com that was super, easily slept 8, right on Hwy 1 about 10 miles south of Carmel.

So here is the math for our outing vs. staying at Pebble.

We did a 3 day weekend and played Spyglass, Links @, Del Monte, Pac ific Grove, ate out every night, rented cars, flew in/out of San Jose (about 90 minute drive), souveniors and misc and I think my total was just over $2,000.

If you stay and play Pebble, that will cost you about $2,000 - between $500+ in greens fees and the minimum 2 night stay (at $600-$700 night) to make a tee time.

My guys are talking about going back in a year or so and staying on property to play Pebble - I can't wait to get there, but know what you want and book accordingly

Note, however, that "on property" includes the Inn at Spanish Bay, which has "garden view" rooms for $670 per night.  Still off-the-charts, yes, but a lot less than 1000.  For that matter, the cheapest rooms at Pebble are <800 as well.

I haven't done it yet (I will soon), but my dad and father-in-law went and they just booked a package deal.

Spring & Summer: http://www.pebblebeach.com/golf-vacation-packages-and-getaways/spring-and-summer

Year round: http://www.pebblebeach.com/golf-vacation-packages-and-getaways/year-round

The first thing to think about is the weather.  The Monterrey Peninsula has some odd weather patterns and Summer is not really the best time to visit.  September/October is likely to get you the best weather.  Personally, I would be devasted if I had my bucket list round at Pebble in pouring rain and cold foggy weather.

As others have said, you also need to decide whether you must play Pebble.  If paying for the room and round is going to hurt big time, then delay the bucket check off.  If cost is almost no object and you must play Pebble, then book a room at Spanish Bay with a buddy and do it.

To me, every serious golfer needs to play Pebble and make a trip to Scotland to play the Old Course. Some may disagree but that is my opinion.