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Hole 1

Hole Name Little Tombstone

From The Tee Measuring just under 150 yards, the player is faced with a fairly straight-forward hole to open the round.

From The Fairway

On The Green Aptly named for the El Carmelo Cemetery bordering this hole on the right; this par three features a bunker guarding the back left and mounding guarding the right side of a smallish green. The green slopes back to front, so the smart play is to keep the ball left and below the hole.

Hole 2

Hole Name Big Tombstone

From The Tee Big Tombstone also features the same cemetery along its right side, but that's where the similarities to its little brother end. Uphill and long, this par three gives the player everything he can handle.

From The Fairway

On The Green Again featuring mounding short and right and a cavernous bunker hugging the left side of the green, this hole demands a well- struck shot to safely reach the putting surface. Players must leave the ball below the hole on this sloping green if they are to have a realistic chance at par.

Hole 3

Hole Name Egan's Alley

From The Tee This manageable hole doglegs left around a grove of Monterey Pines,

From The Fairway

On The Green but be careful to lay up short of the lone Oak tree to have an unO-Bstructed short iron into the green. This green's main defense is its diagonal slope, but be wary of bunkering left and long.

Hole 4

Hole Name Blind Birdie

From The Tee This hole looks benign to the first-time player, but many a golfer has walked away from this very short par four with bogey or worse. With out of bounds down the right and trees lining the left,

From The Fairway

On The Green a long iron or hybrid will leave the player a wedge into this two-tiered green. Bunkers left and long are not of much concern, but stopping an approach close to the pin is tough on this skinny green.

Hole 5

Hole Name The Finisher

From The Tee Pacific Grove Golf Links’ first par five offers the skilled player a good chance at birdie, but a well-placed drive is key on this slight dogleg left. The second shot must be positioned correctly to offer an easy short iron into this small oval green.

From The Fairway

On The Green With no bunkering, the third shot should be easy, save for the grassy mounding surrounding the entire back portion of the green. This creates havoc on many a wayward shot and on properly reading the subtle breaks of this seemingly simple putting surface.

Hole 6

Hole Name Long Tom

From The Tee This brute of a par five plays uphill and usually into the prevailing wind.

From The Fairway Originally the opening hole of the course, this par five must have been a real challenge in 1932! Keeping the drive up the left side of the fairway opens up the second shot as the hole moves slightly left to right, and then downhill to a well-guarded green.

On The Green Accurate placement of the second shot allows a more manageable third to this severely sloping green. Keeping the ball below the hole is a must for anyone looking to card par or better.

Hole 7

Hole Name Plateau

From The Tee Demanding a well-placed tee shot, this short par four tests the player's accuracy from start to finish.

From The Fairway

On The Green Stray too far right and you have to cross a bunker and trees to reach the small green. Stray too far left and you have to navigate the Monterey Pines closely bordering the fairway and cross a bunker guarding the left. Still, birdie is a possibility with a good approach.

Hole 8

Hole Name Dogleg

From The Tee Eight is a sweeping dogleg right that places a premium on a long left-to-right ball flight.

From The Fairway

On The Green What follows is an adventurous second into a finger of a green running diagonally. The lone greenside bunker is not an issue, but the proximity to the out of bounds along the right is. Aim for the center of the green and par is within your reach.

Hole 9

Hole Name Point Pinos

From The Tee Played directly into the prevailing wind, this long par three measures over 200 yards and demands a solid drive to reach the putting surface.

From The Fairway Made easier by a family of deer who routinely lounge in the stand of trees on the left side of the fairway,

On The Green a par on this hole can jumpstart your scoring heading out the back nine. Don't let the deer lull you to sleep, however, as the subtle breaks on this green can lead to bogey or worse.

Hole 10

Hole Name The Innkeeper

From The Tee At just over 100 yards, this seemingly easy hole looks like a sure birdie.

From The Fairway

On The Green Many have found, however, that things are not always what they seem. With the ocean breeze playing havoc with errant shots and a green that can confuse and confound, this little test can be so much more.

Hole 11

Hole Name Seaward

From The Tee From the back tee, this wonderful hole runs downhill toward the ocean and gives the player a chance to take in the true beauty of links golf.

From The Fairway A wide-open fairway greets the player with little-to-no danger.

On The Green The second shot to a green cut into the dunes demands more precision as the player must contend with the wind, a deep bunker to the left, and the first of several false-front greens. Keep the ball low on your approach and you have a good chance at birdie.

Hole 12

Hole Name Rocky Shores

From The Tee

From The Fairway With a dramatic view of the Pacific Ocean running down the entire left-hand side of the fairway,

On The Green this par five is a true postcard hole. A left to right crosswind, out of bounds on the right, and an undulating fairway may have you writing home about the one that got away. Keep your ball in play and aim for the center of the green to have a chance for par or better.

Hole 13

Hole Name Whaler's Watch

From The Tee From an elevated tee, this short par four tempts the player to play an aggressive drive for a shot at birdie.

From The Fairway

On The Green Proceed with caution though, as you are playing into a cross wind. With dunes along the left and mounding guarding the green, the more strategic option is a well placed shot down the right allowing for open access to this undulating green.

Hole 14

Hole Name Seaview

From The Tee Also playing from an elevated tee, Seaview beckons the big hitter. Playing downwind also increases the temptation, but stray too far off course and the dunes both right and left will swallow any wayward shots.

From The Fairway

On The Green The green is guarded by a semi- blind second shot with lateral hazards surrounding much of the green. Be sure to play to the right to funnel shots onto the putting surface. The green, while not tiered, offers two distinct sections that call for very different approaches to be played if the player is looking for a short putt.

Hole 15

Hole Name Beacon View

From The Tee A dramatic view of Point Pinos Lighthouse awaits the player on the 15th tee. Also awaiting the player is an uphill par four framed by dunes and native vegetation.

From The Fairway

On The Green While this is one of the longest par fours on the course, it is by far one of the most open, with several angles by which to attack this smallish green. Most players will be hitting a mid iron into the green, but the architecture allows the player to take an aerial or ground route.

Hole 16

Hole Name Lighthouse

From The Tee With the Point Pinos Lighthouse standing watch on the right,

From The Fairway the golfer tees off from an elevated tee with the Pacific Ocean laid out before him. Players must position their drive on the right side, taking into account out of bonds on the right and the large crest running across the fairway

On The Green From there the approach can be tricky with bunkers guarding the left and right sides of this kidney-shaped green. There is room to run the ball up to the green and that may be the safest route as there is a drop off just a few feet over the back.

Hole 17

Hole Name Crespi Pond

From The Tee This par three features the Monterey Bay to the left and the freshwater Crespi Pond in front. Named after Fr. Juan Crespi, a Catholic Priest who accompanied explorer Gaspar Portola on his expedition to

From The Fairway Players must position their drive on the right side, taking into account out of bonds on the right and the large crest running across the fairway.

On The Green Point Pinos, the hazard does not pose a significant threat as there is plenty of room short of the green for a dry landing. The hole's main defenses, however, are the back-to-front sloping nature of the green and the bunker on the left. With water on two sides it makes reading this green a challenge, but keep your ball below the hole and you have a great chance to make the putt.

Hole 18

Hole Name Last Chance

From The Tee To the first-time player, Last Chance offers seemingly easy hole to finish the round. Be careful though, because a well placed drive is essential to setting up a manageable second shot.

From The Fairway A long fairway bunker on the left hand side needs to be avoided, as does out of bounds on the right. Do that and it is a mere short iron into the green.

On The Green A well-struck shot is a must, as the false front of this elevated green can pose a real challenge. Play to the center, steer clear of the bunker on the right and you may just finish with that birdie!