Thursday

Pebble Beach, Where Golf Memories Are Made... and Shared With the World

AT&T National Pebble Beach ProAm                                                                                                                                                         photo: Dan McLaughlin



Pebble Beach: It's certainly one of the most photogenic... and most photographed... golf courses in the world.

Whether you're playing the fabled course or attending an event there, chances are you'll find yourself reaching for your camera constantly. It can even be a tad bit distracting if you're attempting to go low with limited skills.  But the memories you'll capture... the breathtaking coastal vistas, the perfectly sculptured greens, or the beaming selfies you take on 18 with your playing partners... will more than justify a few high numbers.

As the AT&T National Pebble Beach ProAm came to a close on Sunday afternoon... with Brandt Snedeker as 2015 Champion... Dan McLaughlin posted the photo above on Twitter.  Taken as the trophy presentation was about to begin... and just as a dense fog rolled in after a brilliantly sunny Sunday on the Monterey Peninsula.

Dan was one of four exceptional golfers who spent last week covering the event from the fan's perspective.  Invited... along with Katie Horsford, Tim Lang and Tiffany Fitzgerald... by AT&T, in celebration of 30 years with the Pebble Beach National ProAm, the foursome shared their photos with golf fans around the world as they experienced not only the tournament but also the rich history, superb facilities and extraordinary scenery that make Pebble Beach so memorable.  The lucky foursome will undoubtedly be sharing memories of their Pebble Beach experience for a long time to come.

So what course does a dedicated golfer dream about after playing Pebble Beach?  Ballybunion and the Old Course at St Andrews floated to the top of my list last year after I played Pebble. So I posed that question to Dan McLaughin and he came up with a course that wasn't even on my radar: Barndougle Dunes Golf Links in... Tasmania, Australia. So I checked it out and indeed, it looks spectacular, but for me... and I'm guessing Dan, Kate, Tim and Tiffany feel the same... another trip to Pebble Beach is right up there too.