Course Architect Breaks Down The Hidden History of The 18th Hole At Pebble Beach l The Hole At

Welcome to The Hole At, a new video series from Golf Digest featuring Ron Whitten. As the leading expert in golf course architecture, Ron breaks down the hidden histories of some of the most famous holes in golf. In this first episode, Ron dives into THE hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links - the 540-yard Par 5 18th. From its opening in February 1919 as a short par-4, to becoming the greatest finishing hole in America, Ron explains the fascinating history behind one of the games most cherished golf holes.
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[@Jorge_Alvarez1]

More of this series please! truly one of the best finishing holes in golf, maybe 18 at The Old Course or Hilton Head next 🤌

[@dontcarestudios9393]

That was absolutely incredible! Love golf architecture, so just a treat of a 13 minute video

[@gvrx1384]

This series is fantastic. Please make more.

[@bradthorne22]

This was genuinely fascinating, please have this guy do a series of all the most iconic holes in America and even a few of the oldest British courses

[@georgewyatt2924]

I was lucky enough to play Pebble Beach in 1996, and yes, I parred the 18th hole after being on in 3. Thanks for the history lesson on a fabulous hole.

[@johnryal]

Maybe the best thing I’ve seen on KZbin in a long time.

[@orangestgiraffe4218]

Great video! I'd love to see a video on how the 17th hole at Sawgrass came to be

[@Rick-C-117]

This series is phenomenal, thanks Golf Digest. Do more!!

[@nickblankenship6818]

There is now a sinkhole on 18 at Pebble. Great insight by this expert.

[@catscratch182]

These are so well done, I'd love to see more!

[@oahujuniorgolfassociationc6656]

Outstanding. I learned so much I can only wonder what I will spill out of my brain. But I’m retaining all this info. Because it’s absolutely fascinating.

[@picklenick9474]

That was a fantastic video! Golf course architecture is an underloved aspect of the game.

[@jasonsturek6510]

That was a joy to watch.

[@jz4461]

How incredible it'd be if Pebble was restored to Egan's 1929 specs. 7 and 18 are even more compelling then than they are now. 8 also had incredible greenside bunkering that bled down the cliff

[@Nick_J_]

Pebble doesn’t need all the fancy bunkering, IMO. What Pebble REALLY needs is a green expansion. Basically every single green is excessively small.

[@rossie714]

This is brilliant. Ron Whitten is the best architecture writer/historian alive.

[@heyblondie28]

this was great, although they did lose one of the two cypress tress in the fairway in like 2017 or something... not sure if they've replaced it or not.

[@rheffner3]

Super video. Thanks.

[@ScottMelby]

Great analysis and insight, keep this series coming!!

[@U-TubeSurfer45]

My uncle Leighton designed part of that hole. My mom n dad gave me his first name. Such a breath taking hole to play. ⛳️ 🏌️‍♂️ 🌳 🌊

[@robertott9925]

Amazing, please more videos of the same type....

[@user-lr6oy1ox6h]

Fantastic video! More of this, please!

[@MrIslandman59]

Very well done, the last time I was at Pebble Beach green fees were $225 and the waiting list was 12 months!

[@brendannell2193]

$225 is a steal🤣

[@jacksoni349]

More of these please!!!

[@freedomson1]

That was really interesting! Definitely would love to see more of those.

[@evandh1989]

What a great video. More of these, please!

[@jeffarmfield2346]

I really enjoyed this guy's presentation of the history of the 18th at Pebble. Hope I get to see it in person one day!

[@Bufferman09]

I drove through Monterey last year on a California trip with non-golfers and made them stop in. I grabbed a ton of souvenirs and got to the 18th green as the last group was finishing playing. It was a surreal moment and I didn't even get to play, I almost cried when we left lol. I hope you get a chance to play! Its a breathtaking place.

[@ignatiusjk]

Huh, I didn't realize how much change has gone into Pebble Beach. I couldn't imagine changing Augusta. I know it has but the changes must've been subtle.

[@BillMcGirr]

Very cool video.👍🏌️‍♂️🥃

[@coxipops]

great video and golf course. a video of every hole's design at pebble/cyprus would be fascinating

[@brendanmcguckin5657]

Thank you sir...brilliantly described

[@bhobg]

superb geek watch!

[@scd603]

Great video

[@doctajonz2828]

Fantastic video! I grew up right near Pebble Beach and never knew the history of this hole.

[@konstantinpobedonotsev5589]

Loved this! Would restoring the ravine be good, or would it mess up the strategy of the hole?

[@andrewthares]

Please make this a series with Ron Whitten

[@Luigiman59able]

Phenomenal video.

[@leojosepayt2341]

Awesome video

[@willleak3737]

Excellent video…keep them coming…..

[@danidsm4776]

What a good content 😊

[@BradleyFish-ln4vl]

wow cool video

[@woody4077]

"off the tee" the ideal line is to left and just beyond the trees in the fairway

[@golfrep2584]

Thank you for this presentation. I don't understand putting a tree, or trees, in the middle of a fairway. It you want an obstacle, put a bunker in the fairway, so you can hit short of it or over it. Now, if you hit a drive in the middle of the fairway, you can be blocked out by the tree. Just doesn't make sense to me.

[@ConnorGlass121]

MORE. This is so good. Double Ron's salary.

[@billmoyer3254]

I stood on the first tee in June of 1987, and the starter asked me if I wanted to play. It was $115 greens fee, and I was without my shoes/clubs. I should have bought the shoes and rented the clubs in the pro shop. That moment is a regret for me.

[@FernandoG_1981]

It’s $625 now

[@standardh_]

Make that $675 + $155 caddie + (suggested $70-$100 tip) as of last week. 😉

[@Steph-zy5rq]

Very interesting! Too bad these “public” courses aren’t affordable for 99% of the public.

[@timr1627]

Best finishing hole in golf is 18 at 1757 Golf Club, no argument

[@cinemaipswich4636]

Ah Golf. The art of hitting an improbable object, into an inaccessible hole, with implements ill-suited for the purpose.

[@brendannell2193]

It’s so sad how far downhill Pebble Beach has gone now. We can only dream of a restoration - our only hope is if the USGA forces it.

[@theofficepestirl]

This is guy is like the dad you wish you had

[@reece8224]

You will never catch me paying 500 dollars for a green fee, are you kidding me

[@michaelwaxer2541]

$25 in 1970 is the equivalent of $200 in 2024 dollars. FYI.

[@MikeyBoy9891]

So this guy wants to make me believe with available siesmic technology and the cost of 500$ a round "we dont know whats underneath there."

[@cmskinner3682]

500$ wrf way over priced because it can be. 😂😂. I wonder why golf is on the decline. Totally affordable for everyone. You can go to an entire IMSA Weekend for that. And that's a 4 day event.

[@stephenmacdonald4443]

I have to disagree with you , golf is now an us and them sport ! I can drive for less than 2 hours and i can walk on 5 major championship golf courses with my dog ,and i hope us in the uk keep trying to a game for the people but we are now getting some new overpriced ridiculous golf Its a game for the people and not for the rich who the majority of are very poor golfers

[@thebeast666blazer420]

Since when is Rod Witten a golf architect? He is a wonderful golf historian but not an architect. Maybe next time trying to hire a real one with a relationship to the property like That Layton instead of a former employee.

[@rossie714]

He designed Erin Hills, which staged a U.S. Open. He’s been sought for consultation on many other courses and has written about architecture for more than 40 years. There is no aspect he doesn’t know inside-out. His book, “The Golf Course” is a classic. There isn’t a designer who doesn’t revere and respect Ron Whitten.

[@legless4767]

Golf Digest is finally doing something cool? 😮

[@skyelillian1077]

Promo`SM ✔️