One of the many similarities between golf and life is the excitement of reaching a goal that one has set. Attaining something you have worked hard for is rewarding. However, challenges arise and the disappointments along the way can be discouraging. As a beginner golfer, I started to set a mental path of where I would like my game to go and how long it would take me to get there. I took lessons and practiced and was moving along in the first year. My handicap went down quickly, so I continued to set new goals and work toward them.  I really wanted to break 100 before I had played two years. I don’t know exactly why I had that time frame in my head, but I had set that mark as my first  big golf goal. I got close a couple of times, but I was silly and added the score up somewhere during the back 9. Big mistake.  With the possibility of breaking 100 known while I was still playing, the blow-up always came. Once, all I needed to do was mark a 6 on the final par 4. I marked an 8 on my card and could have screamed even though I had played really well all day.

Just like that disappointment won’t ever be forgotten, the good stuff also leaves a permanent mark in my memory. The first chip in, the first birdie-I know exactly on which course and hole those happened. Having success on a course stamps that course into your memory forever. Every moment of the round sticks with you. A special connection with the course is built. I have that connection with Pacific Grove Golf Links in Pacific Grove, California.

I had played the course several times and loved it. The back 9 sits in the dunes overlooking Monterey Bay. Unless the wind was blowing in from the ocean, as it often does, I had scored well there. Just being in such a magnificent setting puts me in a good spot mentally.  So one day in the spring of last year, the sun was out, no fog, no wind, and I was ready for a great day.

As a beginner golfer it is rare to start out par, par, bogey, par but this day was definitely feeling a little different. My playing partners asked me again how long I had been playing. I knew I was playing better than usual, but I tried not to think about the score. I knew the blow-up could come at any moment. Would the wind kick up making it difficult to play or would the disaster come from inside me? Maybe it would be a shaky putter or that darn slice off the tee would rear its ugly head.  I fought off those thoughts and just tried to enjoy the moment and the scenery.

The round continued with minor mishaps but no crazy holes. No 10’s. I kept thinking about staying out of the dunes, which line many of the holes on the back nine. At 17, I just wanted to clear the water on the par 3. I had not added up my score at all so when the round ended, I quickly shook everyone’s hands and continued quickly to the car. I knew the score was good but I wasn’t sure if I had actually done it. I wanted to do the math. Had I broken 100? I furiously added and then re-added. I remember standing in the parking lot dumbfounded. I could probably point out exactly the spot. I began to laugh, and my friend asked me what was going on.  I had broken 100 for the first time and it happened on one of my favorite courses. I had reached my goal.  No matter where else I play or what other goals I reach, Pacific Grove will always be near to my heart.

Here’s a little more on the actual course and the area. As most people know, the Monterey Bay area is a tourist and golfer mecca. The area provides golfers with a wide array of beautiful courses both on the coast and just a few miles inland. The most famous course is Pebble Beach with its U.S. Open history and breathtaking vistas. However, there are more budget-friendly courses in the area like Bayonet/Black Horse in Seaside and the aforementioned Pacific Grove Golf Links.

Pacific Grove is divided into two distinct sides-the park like front and the oceanfront back. With the view of the waves crashing against the rocks only a few yards away, the back nine really shines. The course can be on the easier side along as the winds are not blowing. Once the wind is there, it can be tricky to keep the ball out of the dunes. Also coastal fog rolls in a lot during summer and the ball does not fly as far.

One of the biggest advantages of Pacific Grove is its pricing. Because it is a municipal course, the green fees are unbelievably reasonable. The most expensive rate with cart remains under $70. Most other courses in the area charge well over $100. Many of the coastal courses go anywhere from $250 to $500. Pacific Grove can be walked quite easily so if you are a walker, a few more bucks can be saved. Don’t let price or the fact that it is a muni course fool you. The facilities are great and the course is very well maintained. I don’t know about you, but the munis in my town don’t have yardage markers on the sprinkler heads.  The restaurant serves a great breakfast. Overall, this is the best value in the Monterey area.

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