| The Pebble Beach Golf Course is renowned for | | | | off-center from this can send the ball off in the |
| being one of the most beautiful golf courses in | | | | wrong direction. The wrong direction may not be |
| the world. It is also known as one of the most | | | | so inconvenient when playing at your average, |
| expensive, with green fees hitting hard at a hefty | | | | ordinary golf course, but, as is the case at the |
| $495 a round with an additional $35 cart fee for | | | | Pebble Beach Golf Course, when your greatest |
| non-resort guests. When golfers have to spend | | | | hazards are the Pacific Ocean to one side and |
| this much dough to play the Pebble Beach Golf | | | | Pebble Beach golf homes on the other, proper |
| Course, it is important to choose golf clubs that | | | | placement couldn't be more vital to an excellent |
| help make one's golfing experience positive and | | | | shot. |
| memorable. | | | | Golf club designers have to balance heaviness that |
| The Pebble Beach Golf Course was designed by | | | | resists twisting and lightness that increases speed. |
| Jack Neville and Douglas Grant back in the early | | | | Heavy clubs suffer least from imperfect swings, |
| 1900s. The goal was to place as many holes as | | | | but golfers can typically swing a lighter club faster. |
| possible along the rocky Monterey coastline. This | | | | Faster swings contribute to greater energy |
| was accomplished using a "figure 8" layout. The | | | | transferred to the ball, resulting in longer distances |
| first two Pebble Beach Golf Course holes are | | | | the golf ball can travel. Nowadays, golfers can find |
| inland. The third one runs toward the ocean, with | | | | a variety of golf heads on the market, made |
| the fourth and fifth Pebble Beach holes running | | | | from a combination of metals like steel, titanium, |
| along the coast. This setup makes use of a | | | | and bronze. All of these metal combination's are |
| peninsula that sticks straight out into the Pacific | | | | attempts to balance stability with light weight. The |
| Ocean. It was almost as though Mother Nature | | | | driver's head shape also allows the head to gently |
| created Pebble Beach specifically for golfing. | | | | glide over grass and ground instead of digging into |
| It is difficult to choose one hole to be the | | | | it. This is an important consideration to think about |
| "signature" one at the Pebble Beach Golf Course, | | | | when golfing at the Pebble Beach Golf Course, |
| but one could definitely say number 8 would be a | | | | considering the course is composed of perennial |
| good choice. Honorable mentions would be the | | | | ryegrass and poa annua, both fairly rough |
| 7th, 8th, and 17th. The 7th, one of the most | | | | varieties of grass. The driver's head shape is also |
| photographed holes in the world, is played from | | | | a key factor in a designer's experimentation, as |
| an elevated tee, with players hitting straight out | | | | the shape allows a designer to adjust the position |
| into the Pacific Ocean. The 8th offers a wide | | | | of the head's weight to enhance stability. Every |
| landing area, but too long of a drive and your ball | | | | manufacturer has a different point, and in fact |
| belongs to the ocean. The 17th is unusually an | | | | this is one of the biggest claims they use for their |
| shaped hole, spanning up to 210 yards with a long | | | | clubs' superiority. |
| and thin green, and sand traps to the front and | | | | On holes like those at the Pebble Beach Golf |
| left of its small landing area. | | | | Course, distance is everything. Having an effective |
| Originally a lackluster course, the Pebble Beach | | | | wood can mean the difference between winning |
| Golf Course has become truly world-class, with a | | | | and losing. And with games running in the $500 a |
| variety of holes to keep even the most | | | | round range, it helps if your memories are winning |
| professional golfers on their toes. So how can | | | | ones! |
| amateur and recreational players enjoy both the | | | | Although each hole at the Pebble Beach Golf |
| scenery and game play on such a tough course? | | | | Course has its distinctive qualities, they all share |
| Perhaps a quick review of golf club basics is due. | | | | one major challenge: the ocean wind. Ball control is |
| When it comes to golf clubs, you have three | | | | especially important when playing in a strong |
| basic categories--woods, irons, and putters. This | | | | breeze. Although distance is a major challenge at |
| doesn't change whether you are at your local golf | | | | the Pebble Beach Golf Course, many holes require |
| course or the Pebble Beach Golf Course. Woods | | | | hitting directly into the wind, so any accidental |
| have the largest heads of any golf club, and are | | | | sidespin is worsened when taking a shot against |
| designed to send a golf ball 300 yards or more | | | | the wind. It is important to choose clubs that not |
| with just a single swing. Many people do not | | | | only achieve the desired distance but also help |
| realize this, but a lot of the reason for this extra | | | | lower trajectory by creating less loft. |
| distance actually comes from the shaft being | | | | While woods are intended for long to very long |
| longer than other clubs. This is especially true with | | | | shots, irons are meant for use on a larger variety |
| the driver, the largest wood produced. This | | | | of shots, ranging from 200 yards on up. Some |
| additional length increases the power that can be | | | | irons, known as wedges, are designed to perform |
| transferred to the ball. The added distance may | | | | down to 40 yards or less! Shaft length is still an |
| be exactly what you need while playing the Pebble | | | | issue for designers despite irons having smaller |
| Beach Golf Course, especially when you are on | | | | shafts than woods do. For years most designs |
| the 17th hole. | | | | were practically the same from manufacturer to |
| The added length does add extra problems, | | | | manufacturer, a blade-shaped head made from |
| however. It makes it less likely the golf ball will | | | | forged steel with most weight focused low and in |
| contact the best place on the head to hit the ball | | | | the club's center. This design works great if the |
| with. This area on the head, known as the "sweet | | | | club's sweet spot is hit every time. Unfortunately, |
| spot", is an area on the middle of the club face | | | | any small deviation from the sweet spot would |
| about the size of a quarter. Hitting anywhere | | | | almost surely guarantee a horrible shot. |