News and Notes
from Pebble Beach
Golf Links for April

By Jerry Stewart,
Staff Writer

Pebble Beach Named Country's Best Course

PEBBLE BEACH, CA - Perhaps it was only a matter of time.

For the first time ever, Pebble Beach Golf Links has been named as the No.1 golf course in the country according to Golf Digest’s biennial rankings of ‘America’s Greatest Golf Courses.’

Not only is it the first time that Pebble Beach has achieved the No.1 spot, but it also marks the first time in the history of the publication that a public golf course occupies the top spot. Pine Valley, a private club located in New Jersey, previously occupied the No.1 spot for 16 years.

"We are both proud and honored by this award," said Pebble Beach Co. CEO Bill Perocchi. "This award goes to our employees, who are dedicated to providing our guests with a once in a lifetime experience every time they play one of our golf courses."

Pebble Beach has always been part of the top 10 of Golf Digest’s list, but it has never assumed the throne.

"You just do the best job you can and make sure you are putting the guest No.1," Perocchi said. "Then something like this happens."

Golf Digest noted that the recent addition of the new par-3 5th hole, improved course conditioning and high scores in the area of tradition helped Pebble Beach supplant Pine Valley. It also didn’t hurt that the within the past three years the course has hosted both a U.S. Open (2000) and a U.S. Amateur (1999).

The top four awards in the rankings, which will appear in the May issue, went in order to Pebble Beach, Pine Valley, Augusta National and the Monterey Peninsula’s other gem--Cypress Point Golf Club.

"Anytime you’re in the company of Pine Valley, Augusta National and Cypress Point, it’s quite an honor," Perocchi said. "The award is also a testament to our golf team, led by (Director of Golf) R.J. Harper and (Vice-President of Golf Operations) Paul Spengler."

The Pebble Beach ranking follows on the heels of Golf Digest proclaiming the Monterey Peninsula as the No.1 Golf Destination in the World.

"This award is positive for all golf facilties on the Peninsula," said Gary Cursio, president of the Monterey County Golf Association.

Pebble Beach, along with hosting USGA events, is also annually home to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational.

"We have had an extraordinary two years, with the Open, the Amateur and the pro-am," Perocchi said. "Something great just seems to happen when a championship is held on Pebble Beach Golf Links."

• Pebble Beach Company Plans for a New Golf Course • What Will be the Fate of Poppy Hills? • Past GolfCalifornia.com Course Reviews

Green Fees Increase Not as Dramatic as Expected

Earlier this week, however, Pebble Beach Co. CEO Bill Perocchi squelched rumors of $500 and even higher green fees by annoucing that the price to play the world-renowned gem will only increase by eight percent for fiscal year 2001.

The moderate price increase, which goes into affect April 1, raises green fee rates from $325 to $350. Last year, the green fees also jumped about eight percent, going from $305 to $325.

"Every year, we go through the process of looking at rates and demand," Perocchi said. "One of the things we recognized is that Pebble Beach is public, and we want to maintain that accessibilty."

Pebble’s sister courses--Del Monte Golf Course, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and The Links at Spanish Bay--will also feature eight percent higher green fees. Del Monte will go from $80 to $90, Spyglass Hill will jump from $225 to $250 and Spanish Bay will move from $185 to $210.

Up to now, Pebble Beach Golf Links (1972, 1982, 1992, 2000) and Pinehurst Resort and Country Club (1999) are the only public venues to have ever hosted a U.S. Open championship. The 2002 U.S. Open is slated to be held at Bethpage State Park (Black Course), a municipal golf course in New York.