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 THE LAYOUT: Known as the "Poor Man's Pebble Beach," Pacific Grove
Muni is not nearly as famous as its high-priced neighbors on the
Monterey Peninsula but definitely is more fun for your money.
"Pacific Grove is one of those sleeper courses," said Howard Kihune,
former director of golf at Makena Golf Resort on the island of Maui
in Hawaii. "It's one of the best muni courses in the world.
"When I go to the Monterey Peninsula, I play Pebble Beach and all of
the high-end courses, but I always make sure that I get in a round
at Pacific Grove, too."
The front nine was designed by Chandler Egan, who won the U.S.
Amateur in 1904 and 1905, and the course opened in 1932. The back
nine was the creation of Jack Neville, who designed perhaps the best
seaside golf course in the world, Pebble Beach, right down the road.
Pacific Grove Muni measures only 5,732 yards through landscape that
mirrors Pebble and the Links at Spanish Bay -- with the sand dunes,
cypress trees and ice plant -- making it one of the best walking
courses anywhere.
A par-70 layout, it plays to a USGA rating of 67.7 and a slope of
119.
 GENERAL MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Kurt Vogel
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: This is one of those layouts that actually is two
courses in one. The front nine winds through the pines and cypress
on a hill at the edge of the Del Monte Forest in the old English
rural style, affording the golfer spectacular views of Monterey Bay.
The back nine provides classic seaside links golf, playing through
the sand dunes and ice plant along the beach.
The Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove opened in 1855 and is
the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. The
lighthouse is located at the end of the 355-yard 16th hole, giving
Pacific Grove a touch of the great Scottish seaside courses.
The 153-yard, par-3 17th is the most photographed hole on the
course, with the tee located on the ocean near the lighthouse and
requiring a shot across Crespi Pond (named for Father Juan Crespi,
chief subordinate of Father Junipero Serra, founder of the
California missions) to a green surrounded by a grove of Monterey
cypress.
The best hole on the course probably is the dogleg right, 513-yard,
par-5 12th, which plays right along the ocean.
Highlighting the front nine are back-to-back par 5s, the 520-yard
fifth and 533-yard sixth.
Before or after, stop for a bite to eat in the acclaimed Point Pinos
Grill, centerpiece of the $3.5 million clubhouse that opened in
2006.
OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: The Monterey Peninsula and surrounding
area offer a smorgasbord guaranteed to satisfy the appetite of any
golfer.
Everyone knows Pebble Beach and its neighbors Spanish Bay, Spyglass
Hill and Poppy Hills, but there is much, much more.
Nearby are the Bayonet and Black Horse courses in Seaside, Laguna
Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey, Rancho Canada Golf Club in Carmel, and
Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey -- which opened in 1897 and is the
oldest course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River.
 Only a short drive away are other acclaimed courses such as the Half
Moon Bay Golf Links and two in Santa Cruz -- DeLaveaga Golf Course
and Pasatiempo Golf Club, the latter designed by the great Alister
MacKenzie and where he lived in a house near the sixth hole for
several years until his death in 1934.
WHERE TO STAY: If the Lodge at Pebble Beach and the Inn at Spanish
Bay are too rich for your blood, there is ample lodging to fit any
golfer's pocketbook. Included are the Green Gables Inn in Pacific
Grove, Casa Munras Garden Hotel and Spa in Monterey, Carmel Valley
Lodge, Carmel Mission Inn, Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, Monterey
Bay Inn, Adobe Inn in Carmel and the Hyatt Carmel Highlands Inn,
which is perched on a hillside across Highway 1 from the Pacific
Ocean a little south of Carmel.
ON THE WEB: www.playpacificgrove.com
--Pacific Grove review by Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange
THE LAST RESORT: Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
THE LAYOUT: Considered the pioneer in high-end desert golf
experiences, the 36-hole Troon North Golf Club remains a coveted
destination for any Arizona golf excursion.
The Monument Course was Tom Weiskopf's first golf course design
project, along with Jay Morrish in 1990, and the Scottsdale resident
returned in 1996 to solo design the Pinnacle Course. Ask the locals,
and Monument will get an ever-so-slight tip of the scale, but the
overwhelming sentiment is both courses are among the truly elite
layouts in the Phoenix area.
 Part of the genius of Weiskopf's designs was his ability to create
unique layouts hole after hole on two separate courses in a desert
landscape. Of course, the canvas he had to work with was second to
none in Arizona. In the shadow of Pinnacle Peak, the courses weave
majestically through the rugged landscape of the Sonoran Desert,
with enough elevation changes to present unique challenges shot
after shot.
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At 7,070 yards (72.9/147) from the tips and 6,716 yards (71.6/137)
from the gold tees, the Monument course provides a stiff test. There
are five tee boxes in all, down to the Jade at 5,099 yards. It is
not where you want to cut your teeth as a novice golfer, but it is
an honest test for golfers of all levels, and a truly unique overall
experience.
GENERAL MANAGER: Mitch Harrell
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: There aren't many stressful forced carries, but
accuracy is put at a premium because good angles into the small
greens are paramount. There are a number of shorter par 4s, and it
is wise to consider playing to distances where you can take a full
swing with a wedge. Approach shots inside 100 yards will require
dealing with a false front or tight landing area on several holes,
making anything off the mark difficult to hold the green.
If you are in between clubs, always play to the front of the green.
The landing surfaces are hard, and good shots aren't always rewarded
as the ball rolls out. If you are going to miss your target, don't
short-side yourself in a greenside bunker; it will be almost
impossible for the amateur golfer to get up and down.
Most important, bring your "A" chipping game and an even better
blade because the well-maintained greens are fast and the valley
pulls putts on the bentgrass more than the eye can imagine.
The gem of the front nine is the par-5 third. The first of several
enticing risk/reward tee shots you will encounter during the round,
"The Monument" is 544 yards from the gold tees. There is plenty of
room for a safe drive, as long as you can avoid the massive rock in
the middle of the fairway 237 yards out. However, a solid drive that
carries at least 210 and avoids out of bounds on the right takes the
bite out of the hole, leaving only a long iron into the green.
Water doesn't come into play until the testy, 206-yard, downhill
par-3 13th. The back nine really gets churning on the par-4 15th,
and it is helpful to have a local in your group, or at least one
forecaddie happy to share advice.
The 15th is 283 yards, so it is tempting to pull out the driver and
let one rip on "Canyon Pass," but a good poke with your 250-yard
club is all that is needed, along with a soft draw and a little good
fortune into a small opening that feeds downhill and left into a
narrow green. It is an excellent short par 4 that is score-able, but
it also requires good shot-making. Come up short and you have a
dicey half-wedge into a small green that is, say it with us,
challenging to hold.
The road back to the clubhouse provides a trio of fun and
distinctive challenges that might be the highlight of the Monument
experience. The 234-yard, downhill, par-3 16th is the most visually
stunning on the course, and it is backed up by a 455-yard par 4 that
will require a fairway wood if you don't connect well off the tee.
The 18th hole doesn't appear overly intimidating at 365 yards and
water safely pushed off to the left. However, pay attention to the
pin placement and don't leave your approach short and vulnerable to
a massive false front.
OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: The Phoenix area is chock full of
wonderful course options for golfers of every skill level. You can't
go wrong with the Troon Golf-managed facilities, and there are many
in the greater Phoenix area. Locals favorites are Ocotillo Golf
Resort in Chandler and Westin Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale.
Your golfing imagination in Scottsdale is limited only by the time
of year and your pocketbook. The crown jewel is the TPC Scottsdale
Stadium course, home of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Grayhawk
Golf Club is one of the area's treasures, with the two 18s
highlighted by the highly acclaimed Talon course.
Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club in Cave Creek, the Cholla and Saguaro
courses at We-Ko-Pa Golf Course in Fort McDowell, Continental Golf
Club in Scottsdale and Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills
make most Top 10 lists.
WHERE TO STAY: There is no shortage of great lodging options in the
area
The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North was rated as the
No. 25 golf resort in North America by Golf Digest in 2011.
The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Paradise Valley was rated
the No. 1 resort in the country by Conde Naste.
Copperwynd Resort and Club in Fountain Hills, The Phoenician Resort
in Scottsdale and The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley also lead the
luxury list.
The JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa is also a short drive
away in Scottsdale.
ON THE WEB:
www.troonnorthgolf.com
--Troon North review By Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange
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