The G.O.A.T. public course for a reason. From the moment you arrive at Pebble Beach Golf Links, it feels different. Not louder. Not flashier. Just heavier. The Pacific is always present, sometimes calm, sometimes intimidating. The views are iconic, but Pebble doesn’t let you coast on scenery alone. It demands focus from the first swing and keeps that pressure on all day.

The front nine is where Pebble announces itself. Fairways trace the edge of the coastline, tee shots flirt with cliffs, and the ocean is never far from view. It’s the stretch everyone knows, and for good reason. The golf is dramatic, the visuals are unreal, and the margin for error feels razor thin. Every hole fits like a perfectly manicured puzzle. The greens are where Pebble really separates itself. They’re small. Like really small. Approaches require full commitment, and misses don’t hide. Hit your number and you’re rewarded with a a good birdie look. Miss by a few yards and double is in play. Pebble doesn’t beat you up, but it never lets you relax.

Hole 6 is a perfect snapshot of Pebble Beach’s magic. An uphill par 5 with Stillwater Cove sitting off to the right, quietly waiting to punish a tee shot that drifts just a little too far. The second shot is where the hole really shows its teeth. You’re hitting completely blind, climbing toward an exposed green with the 7th tee visible off to the right, adding just enough visual noise to mess with your focus. Depending on the wind, the hole can be reached in two, but that decision comes with a price. You have to pick a line, commit to it, and trust the swing. There’s no visual confirmation, no mid-swing adjustment, and no forgiveness if you hesitate.

When you pull it off, it’s one of the most satisfying moments on the course. When you don’t, Hole 6 makes its point very clearly. It’s bold, demanding, and unforgettable: the kind of hole that stays with you long after the round is over.