The Story of Pebble Beach Resorts

1880

Pacific Improvement Company, headed by the “Big Four” of railroad fame—Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington and Mark Hopkins—open Hotel Del Monte near Monterey. Eleven years earlier, these ambitious gentlemen led the completion of the Trans-Continental Railway with the driving of the “Golden Spike.” Tourists now arrive on the Monterey Peninsula via Southern Pacific’s Del Monte Express.

April 1 1887

Hotel Del Monte burns to the ground, but is quickly rebuilt and the official re-opening is held in 1888.

May 1 1897

Del Monte Golf Course opens as a 9-hole golf course, making it the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi still on its original site. In 1903, it was made into an 18-hole golf course.

1907

Pacific Improvement Company announces plans for a summer resort at Pebble Beach, with coastal lots available for $500 to $2,500.

1915

Pacific Improvement Company hires the entrepreneurial 29-year-old Samuel F.B. Morse, distant cousin of the inventor of the Morse Code, to liquidate all of the Company’s land holdings.

1917

A fire destroys The Lodge. Morse convinces Pacific Improvement Company to rebuild a “modern” lodge, rather than recreate what he called the old “log lodge.”

September 27 1924

The main building of Hotel Del Monte burns to the ground. Dynamiting the connecting loops during the fire saves the wings built in 1888. They remain to this day with a rebuilt main building, which opened in 1926.

1929

Pebble Beach hosts its first “Major”: the U.S. Amateur. Field favorite Bobby Jones ties for medalist honors but loses his first 18-hole match. Minnesota’s Jimmy Johnston beats the field with a 4 & 3 win in the final 36-hole match against Oscar Willing.

August 1935

In the heart of the Depression, Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts the California State Open after a long hiatus. Pebble Beach head professional Cam Puget wins the event on his home course, pocketing the $300 first place money. Pebble Beach hosts the event again in 1936 and 1948.

September 1940

The USGA returns to Pebble Beach for the 1940 U.S. Women’s Amateur, which is won by defending champion Betty Jameson. The USGA also schedules the 1942 U.S. Men’s Amateur for Pebble Beach Golf Links, but it is canceled due to World War II.

September 1943

The U.S. Navy leases Hotel Del Monte as a naval pre-flight school “for the duration” of the war. Morse changes the corporate focus form the large hotel to the operation around Pebble Beach.

September 1947

The U.S. Amateur returns to Pebble Beach and is won by Skee Riegel.

September 1948

The U.S. Women’s Amateur returns to Pebble Beach. It is won by Grace Lenczyk.

January 1958

For the first time, television covers the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am. Bing Crosby hosts the broadcast of the final round live from the 18th green.

1966

Spyglass Hill Golf Course opens. The names given to most of the holes are derived from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island.

1972

Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts its first U.S. Open golf championship. Jack Nicklaus wins by 3 strokes with a 2-over par 290.

August 1977

The Company hosts its first PGA Championship tournament. Lanny Wadkins wins on the third hole of sudden death.

June 1982

The U.S. Open is held at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the second time. It features the battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus and the most talked about shot in golf. Watson needs birdie to win but completely misses the 17th green. To accomplish his mission, he sinks his legendary chip shot. He also birdies 18 and defeats Nicklaus by two strokes with a 6-under par 282.

January 1986

The Crosby Clambake becomes the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament.

The NCGA opens Poppy Hills Golf Course.

1990

Ben Hogan Properties, under the ownership of Japanese businessman Minoru Isutani, purchases Pebble Beach Company.

In preparation for the 1992 U.S. Open, Jack Nicklaus is hired as a consultant on a project that includes rebuilding greens 4, 5 and 7 of Pebble Beach Golf Links.

June 1992

Pebble Beach Resorts hosts the U.S. Open for the third time. Under brutal winds, Tom Kite shoots an incredible par round and wins his first major with a 3-under 285.

July 1999

Casa Palmero opens in July. A group of American investors, headed by Peter Ueberroth, purchase Pebble Beach Company from The Lone Cypress Company, just in time to host the 99th U.S. Amateur Championship.

Twenty-year-old David Gossett of Tennessee defeats 17-year-old Korean champion Sung Yoon Kim 9 & 8 to become the U.S. Amateur Champion.

June 2000

The U.S. Open returns for the 100th playing of the championship. Tiger Woods captures the trophy, besting his nearest competitor by 15 strokes and tying the lowest 72-hole score ever in the national championship.

June 2010

The U.S. Open Championship returns for the fifth time to Pebble Beach Golf Links. A number of course enhancements—all under the direction of legendary Arnold Palmer—are completed to strengthen player appreciation, heighten the challenge and exceed guest and championship expectations.

It is an amazing week and quite a celebration at Pebble Beach Resorts. Congratulations to Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open Champion.

In a championship where a score of par is the most meaningful, the 30-year-old McDowell posts an even-par 284 for the 72 holes to become the first European winner since England’s Tony Jacklin in 1970.

2014

The Pebble Beach Golf Academy opens, featuring internationally renowned golf instructors, state-of-the-art golf-swing teaching technology and cutting-edge training facilities.

2018

In 2018, the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach is set to return.

The USGA’s relationship with Pebble Beach goes back almost to the beginning of the Links themselves. Pebble Beach hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1929, 1947, 1961 and 1999, and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1940 and 1948. The 1942 U.S. Amateur was scheduled for Pebble Beach, but was cancelled because of World War II.