The Spyglass Hill Golf Course is a golf course located in the Monterey Peninsula of California. The course is part of the Pebble Beach Company, which owns the Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, and the Del Monte Golf Course. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and opened on March 11, 1966, after six years of planning, design, and construction. Golf Digest, in its 2003-2004 listing of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses”, ranked Spyglass Hill (known as “the Glass”) fifth best. The course has been in the rotation for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, a February tournament on the West Coast Swing of the PGA Tour. The course is a 6,862 yard par 72 from the championship (blue) tees; it has a slope rating of 148 and a course rating of 75.8. The first five holes all have views of the Pacific Ocean, and the other thirteen wind through the Del Monte Forest. Phil Mickelson holds the course record with a 62, which he set in the first round of the 2005 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. On February 9, 2006, Luke Donald matched Mickelson’s 62 during first round play at the 2006 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

The holes on the course are named after characters in Treasure Island, the book by Robert Louis Stevenson. The first hole (Treasure Island, par 5 of 595 yards) goes downward and to left almost 90 degrees. From the tee, a player can see the tops of the trees in the Del Monte Forest, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Monterey Peninsula. The green is fronted by a large bunker and the Pacific Ocean is in view. Another famous hole is the fourth, Blind Pew (370 yards from the blue tees), which Robert Trent Jones has called it his favorite par four because of its options. The green is the most photographed on the course and is surrounded by ice plants.

Golf in California really is the direct result of nature smiling upon it, bestowing the Golden State with great weather, astounding topography and the attitude to boot, all ingredients perfect for a memorable golf holiday. And with over 600 daily fee golf courses California has made good use of its gifts. There is golf everywhere you look Sonoma, Patterson, Bodega Bay, Half-Moon Bay and of course the most revered of all Pebble Beach in the Monterey Peninsula. Is it any wonder then, that California tops the wish list of the wander lust golf vacationer?

Your golf travel to California would roughly touch on 5 distinct destinations: Southern California, San Diego, Palm Springs/ Coachella Valley, Monterey Peninsula and Northern California. You can expect great golf, affordable golf packages and a respite from the hum drum life in each of these California golf vacation destinations. (Click here to read the article in full)

Ken Venturi (born May 15, 1931) was a prominent PGA Tour professional during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Venturi was born in San Francisco, California. Venturi first gained national attention in 1956 when, as an amateur, he finished second in that year’s Masters after leading from the first round. He shot a final round 80 and blew a four shot lead which prevented him from winning outright and thus becoming the first amateur to do so in the history of The Masters. Years later it would be compared to Greg Norman’s back nine collapse in 1996.

In the early 50’s, Venturi had been a pupil of the great Byron Nelson and was also influenced by playing partner Ben Hogan. With this fine tuning combined with his tremendous talent, Venturi was a regular winner during his early years on the PGA Tour after turning pro at the end of 1956. He again come close to winning the Masters in 1958 and 1960, both times being edged out by Arnold Palmer.

After suffering minor injuries in an automobile accident in 1961, Venturi’s swing, and thus his career, began to slide. This slump lasted until 1964 when, for no reason even Venturi could fathom, he began playing well again. After a couple of high finishes, Venturi reached the pinnacle of his comeback by winning the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club after nearly collapsing in the scorching heat during the then 36-hole final round. He received Sports Illustrated magazine’s “Sportsman of the Year” award. He played on the 1965 Ryder Cup team.

After 1964, Venturi’s career again took a blow when he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. After several surgeries his condition was reversed, but he was never able to regain his past form. After retiring from the Tour in 1967 with a total of 14 career wins, Venturi spent the next 30 years working as a color commentator for CBS Sports as well as owning and operating a series of instructional schools.

PGA Tour wins (14)
1957 (2) St. Paul Open Invitational, Miller High Life Open
1958 (4) Thunderbird Invitational, Phoenix Open Invitational, Baton Rouge Open Invitational, Gleneagles-Chicago Open Invitational
1959 (2) Los Angeles Open, Gleneagles-Chicago Open Invitational
1960 (2) Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, Milwaukee Open Invitational
1964 (3) U.S. Open, Insurance City Open Invitational, American Golf Classic
1966 (1) Lucky International Open

Other wins (1)
1959 Almaden Open

Major Championships

Wins (1)
Year Championship
1964 U.S. Open

Photo Images of some of the Best Golf Courses in California including Pebble Beach.

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