Kids’ Concierge: Family Golf Trip To Pebble Beach

Jake R. is a fifteen-year-old high school sophomore. An avid golfer, his favorite trips involve playing iconic golf courses with his dad. Last spring, Jake’s family drove up the coast of California ending their trip at the Carmel Valley Ranch, thirty minutes inland from the world famous Pebble Beach golf resorts. Thanks Jake for sharing your golf mycation with us!

 

Stay.

I’m really glad my parents decided to stay at the Carmel Valley Ranch. All the rooms are suites. My brother, sister and I shared the living room area and had our own TV. Golf carts and minivans are everywhere and they are happy to drive you anywhere. There was a large pool area for kids with its own snack bar (not within walking distance from our room so we took the shuttle). I loved the old fashioned swings in the trees outside the main restaurant. I never missed the nightly smores by the fire pit. Roxy, the awesome resident bull dog, hangs out by the front desk. The food at the restaurant was really good – I loved eating both breakfast and dinner there. There is a great Pete Dye golf course at the resort. The back nine was great – I shot a 41!

Eat.

If you are playing Pebble Beach, get to the course early so you can eat breakfast in the restaurant overlooking the first tee. Also, Peppoli is a great Italian restaurant at the Inn at Spanish Bay. We ate at sunset, which was perfect because the restaurant has views of the Pacific Ocean and the golf course. We didn’t play that course but we loved eating dinner in the restaurant after our round at Spyglass. I had a delicious steak. It was fun for the rest of our family that doesn’t play golf to meet us for dinner here.

Do.

Golfing at the Pebble Beach courses was a dream come true for my dad and me. We played Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill. I was surprised I liked Spyglass Hill more than Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach was a little bit of a disappointment probably because of all the hype or maybe because I didn’t play as well as I wanted to! One cool thing at Pebble Beach is your friends and family can watch you tee off on videocam on the 1, 9, 17 and 18^th hole. I loved Spyglass because I played well. The first seven holes are very scenic and crowded with golfers but once you get to the last 11 holes it is like you are in a forest. It felt serene and peaceful – almost like there were not any other golfers. My favorite hole is #4 a short par 4, dogleg left that I found really interesting and challenging.

 Love.

I loved seeing the leopard seals resting on the rocks at Pebble Beach. The best places to see them are from the 7^th green, 8^th tee box and all along the 18^th hole.

One cool thing at Pebble Beach is your friends and family can watch you tee off on videocam on the 1, 9, 17 and 18^th hole.

Skip.

Don’t play too early at Pebble Beach – it is really foggy and cold so you won’t get to see as much. Make sure you bring your rain gear because the weather is unpredictable. I didn’t love the crowds at Pebble Beach – it will probably take you at least 3 to 4 hours to finish your round.