I played it twice, way back in the very early 90s when I still had some game (lol). Played the white tees, and the pins weren't set up for competition. Shot 80 both times. First time 38 on the front, 42 on the back; second time 42 on the front, 38 on the back.
Gorgeous, gorgeous layout. Back then the 5th hole was a shortish, extremely uphill par 3 that played essentially straight away from the ocean. It was later replaced with the much more scenic 5th hole that Jack Nicklaus designed.
I lived in Carmel for three years. My wife and I used to go down to the beach a lot. I would often walk up the beach toward Pebble and occasionally climbed the hill so I could stand right behind the 10th green and enjoy the view. I also attended the 1991 US Open at Pebble, and on Thursday I followed a group all the way around.
I love watching this tournament because it brings back so many good memories for me.
Oh, and here's a Nick Faldo story. At the practice round on Wednesday, the day before the US Open in 1991, when Faldo got to the 7th tee he was dissing the hole. I can't remember EXACTLY what he said, but it was pretty close to this: "This isn't even a proper par 3. It belongs on a pitch-and-putt course."
As you may or may not remember, on Sunday of the US Open the winds were howling. When Faldo got to the 7th tee on Sunday, he had to hit a 6-iron (remember, the hole is only 111 yards long)! Anyway, after Faldo's 6 iron ended up short and slightly left of the green, one of the spectators yelled, "How do you like our pitch-and-putt hole now?"
