Seth A.
Yelp
Pebble Beach is one of the last highlighted stops along the wonderful 17-Mile Drive Tour. If you enter "The Drive" at the Pacific Grove Gate and work your way around the beautiful coastline in a counterclockwise direction, you will eventually arrive here at Pebble Beach and this acclaimed Lodge overlooking the world famous 18th green.
I recommend taking some time to exit your car and walk around the Lodge area which includes: shops and restaurants, access to the golf links and even a pathway to the sandy beach shores.
The Lodge is sort of the centerpiece/focal point to Pebble Beach. Although I was just taking the 17-Mile Drive Tour for the day and not actually staying here as a guest, still...it was very nice to get some exposure to the game of golf.
And, for those who may not know...this Pebble Beach golf region has a reputation for being host to one of the most scenic 18-hole courses in the world! Just that fact alone should motivate people to come visit and see what this place is all about.
When I first arrived, I actually parked my car and walked inside the Pebble Beach Visitor Center which was great for purchasing a few golf souvenirs with the iconic PB Lone Cypress Tree stamped on most of the merchandise. Btw, you can view the Lone Cypress Tree hovering at the edge of the cliffside right nearby here along the 17-Mile Drive.
Also at the VC, you can read about some of the terrific moments from Pebble Beach that will be etched in stone forever. But, I will write a separate review for the Visitor Center at a future time.
I did leave my car at the Visitor Center parking lot and strolled over here to The Lodge, which was a casual walk of 400 feet and then started exploring.
In the back section of The Lodge features a wonderful putting green to get some practice in before heading out onto the venerable course. Yes, so, I believe the Pebble Beach links are open for public use when they aren't hosting tournaments.
A bunch of the lodge hotel rooms overlooked this putting green. To sum up the surroundings, it was just a surreal setting to even be walking around. Although I rarely golf, I felt like I was standing in quite a prestigious setting. The grounds were flawlessly groomed and in immaculate condition.
Then, as just a visitor, I was allowed free access inside The Lodge. The lobby area had an old fashioned, throwback in time type of feel like only VIP's are allowed access to. It resembled an old Wall Street type of club where elite members get together. So, for me to be able to simply browse inside and out was exciting.
Just past the lobby you can peer straight out onto the terrace area. Here, guests and golfers who had completed their outings were sitting, dining and admiring the postcard-like setting viewing the illustrious 18th hole putting green. Every table was occupied. It felt like I was standing among golfing royalty. I'm more of a tennis player so to relate this Lodge to a sport I'm familiar with, I was reminded of being at the grass lawns of Wimbledon.
Walking down the hallways featured plenty of past trophy winners and awards highlighting champions of golf who've participated at Pebble Beach tournaments. There were pictures describing memorable endings. In some instances, golfers can have career defining moments transforming themselves from tournament hopefuls, to winning it all in one weekend and departing as legends of the game.
Finally, just having the opportunity to get a firsthand glimpse into what makes Pebble Beach so well known as a mecca for professional golf was satisfying. Plus, with successfully completing the 17-Mile Drive Tour earlier in the day by taking in the sights of California's renowned coastline, ending things here at The Lodge was an amazing way to experience why Pebble Beach will forever be known as a world class golfing destination.