The Golf at Pebble Beach

This is where we indulge ourselves - for golfers Pebble Beach is the US Mecca of Golf. A great test of golf on a stunning Coastal Peninsula  in Monterey, California. This blog will probably bore the pants off non golfers. But so be it.

It is also very expensive - but Bob got a very good deal in a package that required us to stay for 2 nights in the 5* accomodation - which included a Spa - towel robes and all that fancy stuff!

When we arrived the I went to the practice area and the Lone Piper began to play on the first tee at sunset  - which is a long time daily tradition here.

Listen to the Piper 

The next day is our golfing day. We have lunch in the clubhouse and I ask Bob to recount his views on the freedom retired people have from schedules, appointments, deadlines etc. We purposely did not have a fixed schedule or exact route plan - we only booked one hotel in advance.

Before we play I post a text  to my golfing friends and tell them that there is a live webcam on the first tee.

One unamed Dublin friend replies " Ah F... Off  all of us left here sufferin'" Ha Ha.

I pose for the Webcam      

We have a major disappointment on the day - Bob did his back in and could only play a few holes before he decided to just ride the course in the buggy. Fair dues, he kept his good humor in spite of the setback.

We are teamed up with a very friendly father and son - Bill and Randy - they are here to enjoy themselves and in spite of the fact that we did not master the course - it mastered us!  -we had a great day. The weather was perfect - in fact October is the best time to play here as there is a cloudy mist overhead during the Summer - just like San Francisco up the road.

The houses around the course are palatial. This one below was owned by the actor Gene Hackman but he has had to sell it as part of a divorce settlement. Its on the market for $70m. - just in case you know anyone who might be interested.  The place is completely booked out and you can tell that "Rich" America" are not feeling the pinch of the recession.

Gene Hackman's House

Here's a video of us playing the course - with some celebrity gossip thrown in for the interest of non golfers.

We stand on the 18th tee beaten but not bowed!

As we come come off the 18th tee Bill gives me a verse of Danny Boy - very good.