Spyglass Hill Golf Course

On a clear day, a player can stand on this tee and see the Santa Cruz mountains, Monterey Bay, and the canopy of the Del Monte Forest. The hole then falls downhill to the left, ending on a large green whose surface resembles gentle ocean swells.

While relatively short, the hole plays uphill and is surrounded by trouble, primarily sand and ice plant. Two very precise shots are required.

There is a spectacular view of the Pacific ocean from this elevated tee which, in the absence of wind, makes the hole play shorter than the yardage. The green is deceptive, sloping from front to back.

This is Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s favorite par 4 because of its options. If the pin is in back then the approach should be played from the right side of the fairway. If in front, then the left side is the better angle. The green, which is encircled in ice plant, is Spyglass Hill's most photographed.

Bird Rock is a straightforward par 3 framed by ice plant in back and three pot bunkers in front, the center bunker being the deepest and most difficult on the course. Another bunker is hidden from view and awaits stray shots to the right.

The character of Spyglass Hill changes from this hole onward. From the tee, players wind their way up and into the Del Monte forest. The view from behind this green is spectacular; however, the severely downhill chip shot from this position is less than desirable.

An elevated tee makes this a reachable par 5. While there are no greenside bunkers, a pond penalizes anything left and short. The right to left sloping green makes chip and pitch shots even more troublesome. This is a tempting hole off the tee, but it requires complete precision from the fairway.

Signal Hill is, perhaps, the longest hole under 400 yards in the world. The second shot is even more uphill than the tee shot. The green is elevated and crowned with the hole's only bunker protecting its right side. This is Spyglass Hill's number one handicap hole.

Captain Smollett is yet another uphill par 4. A massive green (the second largest on the course) is guarded by deep bunkers. Tremendous slope from back to front makes putting from above the hole a challenge.

After two tough, lengthy uphill par 4's to close the front, this is a downhill getaway hole to begin the back side. A drive down the left side may be blocked by a tree which cannot be seen from the tee. Any approach which lands past the center of the green will go over.

A dogleg right par 5 is characterized by a necklace of bunkers protecting the right side of the green. While beautiful to look at from a distance, these bunkers are very costly to play from.

Water comes into the play on three of the next four holes. The left side of this green should never be a target since balls have a tendency to spin off into the pond.

The fairway rises steadily uphill as it bends slightly to the left. Another elevated green deflects any off-line shot although a straight run-up shot will work.

This is a double dogleg swinging right, then left. A pond protects the right side of this shallow, but very wide green. A difficult chip awaits those who are too aggressive and go long.

This is the shortest hole on the course yet far from the easiest. The green is framed by bunkers in back and another pond in front. Beware, balls spin back into it. Anything left bounces farther down a steep hill.

A drive too long may run through this fairway. A tree which cannot be seen from the tee blocks the right side. However, when past this tree, the green opens up, so it may be worth the gamble. Then again...

Ben Gunn offers a change of pace and is unlike any other hole at Spyglass Hill. Neither the landing area from the tee nor the green surface from the fairway can be seen. The hole's many bunkers and its sloping green offset the short yardage. Above the cup is treacherous.

The tee points toward the right fairway bunker, so a slight draw is perfect. An elevated green with a rise seperating the front from the back awaits the second shot. Any shot that lacks precision will be detoured into the surrounding trouble.