Pebble Beach Golf Links on California's Monterey Peninsula

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Playing host to its fifth U.S. Open in 2010, Pebble Beach Golf Links has never looked better. Since its last U.S. Open in 2000, when Tiger Woods won in a rout, the golf course has undergone some changes, spearheaded by Pebble Beach board member Arnold Palmer.

Changes for the U.S. Open setup of par 71, 7,040 yards have included bunker renovation and relocation, a few new tees and trees and fairways cut closer to the ocean on holes like the sixth and eighth. Couple that with flawless conditioning by superintendent Chris Dalhamer and his staff, and Pebble Beach is pretty much perfect.

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 7

The 109-yard seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the world's best short par 3s.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 8

The par-4 eighth, like many holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links, is one of the best holes you'll ever play.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 9

For the 2010 U.S. Open, the ninth at Pebble Beach Golf Links will play as a 505-yard par 4 along the Pacific Ocean.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 10

The 495-yard 10th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links runs along the coastline.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 11

The uphill 11th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links is only 390 yards, but finding the narrow fairway is critical.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 14

Pebble Beach Golf Links' difficult par 14th was actually made a little easier for the U.S. Open as officials decided to grow the rough halfway up the slope.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 16

The 16th at Pebble Beach Golf Links is a sharp dogleg-right par 4 that plays to 403 yards.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 17

Pebble Beach Golf Links' par-3 17th hole is where both Tom Watson (1982) and Jack Nicklaus (1972) made clinching birdies en route to their U.S. Open titles.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 18

The 18th green, as seen from the Pebble Beach Lodge, remains one of the best views in golf.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 5

There is little bail-out room on the 195-yard, par-3 fifth hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - hole 6

As part of the U.S. Open course setup for 2010, the fairway now extends to the cliffs on the right on Pebble Beach Golf Links' par-5 sixth.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Pebble Beach Golf Links - Stillwater Cove

Looking back from the par-5 sixth at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the water was indeed calm at Stillwater Cove.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf