Located on the famed 17-mile-Drive, Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach was the first course in the United States to be owned and operated by an amateur golf association, the Northern California Golf Association. Originally opened in 1986 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.,Poppy Hills is a challenging, par-71 venue that weaves through the Del Monte Forest and has played host to several renowned tournaments, including the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am from 1991-2009. In 2014, it received an extensive, $10 million renovation by RTJ Jr.
Formerly nicknamed “Sloppy Poppy” by some of its critics, there is nothing sloppy about the new and improved Poppy Hills that plays firm and fast from tee to green thanks to a new drainage system, a new 5 ½” sandy base, and a more efficient sprinkler system. The bunkering is improved and lays more naturally on the land which is a welcome sight. The artificial mounds throughout the course have been eliminated which improves the look and drainage. Every green on the course was redone which included softening some contours and improving the areas leading up to the putting surface so that they would be receptive in the firm and fast conditions. In fact, attacking some pin positions is best done by landing off the green and then using the surrounding undulations to feed the ball towards the hole. An improvement that everyone will enjoy is the transformation to bentgrass greens which gives Poppy Hills perhaps the best putting surfaces in the famed Monterey area. The elimination of the doglegs and the rough provide a much more player friendly, and frankly more fun, layout then Poppy Hills experienced in the past. The rough around the trees that frame the holes has been replaced with pine straw which is much easier to play from and find a ball in. The nines have also been reversed from the original layout and some glimpses of the ocean are more readily available today.
The best hole for us: 18th Hole at Poppy Hills Golf Course – 519 Yard Par 5 – The closing hole at Poppy provides an exciting finish and great risk/reward opportunity. At just 519 yards from the tips, this par five will be reachable for many players with a well struck drive. The approach shot plays to a greensite fronted by a hazard that is partially waste area and partially a creek and marked with yellow stakes. The safe play calls for a ball brought in from the right side where a hill that slopes towards the green will feed balls onto the putting surface and set up a potential eagle putt. Attacking a pin in the back left of the green is the riskiest play on this hole as there is less green to work with and a longer carry over the hazard.
Conclusion: Poppy Hills Golf Course is a great experience, silent, pure golf, with course very well kept and manicured and where if you select the correct set of tees you can score. The toughest aspect as in the Pinehurst Course is to read the greens, they are very tricky. If you travel to Pebble, don’t miss it!
