{"id":9333,"date":"2018-10-19T18:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-10-20T01:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9333"},"modified":"2018-10-19T10:08:39","modified_gmt":"2018-10-19T17:08:39","slug":"pebble-beach-%e2%80%a8takes-luxury-to-new-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9333","title":{"rendered":"Pebble Beach \u2028Takes Luxury to New Levels"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A breathtaking view of Pebble Beach Golf Links, photo by Johann Dost.<\/p><\/div>\n

As you step onto the greens, the beauty and drama of Pebble Beach<\/a> simply takes your breath away. The fabled course celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019 by hosting the U.S. Open Championships<\/a> for the sixth time, and in preparation for the centennial milestone they’ve done loads of improvements and restorations on an already prime vacation destination.<\/p>\n

\"An

An aerial of The Lodge at \u2028Pebble Beach and the 18th hole, circa 1920s. Photo courtesy, Pebble Beach Company Lagorio Archive.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ranked the #1 public course in America by\u00a0Golf Digest Magazine<\/i><\/a>\u00a0along with a #1 rating among the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.” by\u00a0Golf Magazine<\/i>, Pebble Beach Golf Links<\/a> is certainly one of the greatest courses in the world, with a combination of coastal beauty, remarkable architecture and legendary golf history. Golf Digest Magazine<\/i> describes the course as “not just the greatest meeting of land and sea in American golf, but the most extensive one, too, with nine holes [#4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #17, #18] perched immediately above the crashing Pacific surf.”<\/p>\n

\"After

After missing the Crosby Pro-Am from 1947-1950, Bob Hope finally showed up \u2028to play in 1951. Bing Crosby decided he\u2019d better catch the \u2028moment on film. Photo by J.P. Graham, courtesy Pebble Beach Company.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Clint

Clint Eastwood was paired with Ray Floyd in \u2028the Crosby Clambake in \u2028the late 1960s. Photo by W.C. Brooks, courtesy Pebble Beach Company.<\/p><\/div>\n

We recently got to stay at The Lodge at Pebble Beach<\/a>\u2014in a gorgeous ocean view room overlooking the 18th hole\u2014and indulged in the legendary guest experience that makes Pebble Beach so special. While golf is obviously King at Pebble Beach, for the non-golfers like me, the other elements are equally royal: starting with the absolutely stellar service. From the moment we rolled up to the door to check in\u2014our road weary Honda taking its place of honor amongst the perfectly detailed BMWs and Teslas\u2014we were treated with the type of gracious hospitality that every inn in the world should aspire to emulate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I never wanted to leave.<\/p>\n

Our casually luxurious, coastally inspired room was comfortable yet completely lavish, with every amenity you could imagine\u2014including full-size, top-of-the-line shampoo and conditioner, which I loved! The ocean-front patio was a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset, watch the whales spout, as if on cue, and toast to the decadence of this plum assignment.<\/p>\n

Our room had been recently renovated to expand the window walls to maximize views of the course and the ocean and double the size of the patio and deck to serve as an outdoor living space, as well as new indoor furnishings and accessories, bathroom upgrades, a signature fireplace wall, air conditioning and technology upgrades including 55-inch HDTVs, new lighting, energy management systems and state-of-the-art door locks. The place may be 100 years old, but the rooms are up-to-date in every way imaginable.<\/p>\n

\"Fairway

Fairway One Cottage Room, photo by Sherman Chu.<\/p><\/div>\n

Another recent addition is Fairway One<\/a>, which added 30 oversized guest rooms and cottages fronting the first fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links and a new meeting facility, as well as a 2,500-square-foot meeting room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“The Lodge and Pebble Beach Golf Links are where our story began in 1919, and now, as we approach our 100th\u00a0anniversary, the addition of Fairway One will help us continue that legacy for the next 100 years,” says Bill Perocchi, CEO of Pebble Beach Company. The new section includes two gorgeous four-bedroom cottages with 1,000-square-foot living rooms with 17-foot-high wood-beam ceilings, wood-burning floor-to-ceiling stacked stone fireplaces, two king bedrooms, two queen\/queen bedrooms, and an outdoor terrace with fire pits, as well as full kitchens.<\/p>\n

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\"Elizabeth

Elizabeth Taylor celebrated her first honeymoon at Pebble Beach in 1950 with Conrad \u201cNicky\u201d Hilton, Jr. Photo courtesy Pebble Beach Company Lagorio Archive.<\/p><\/div>\n

What a perfect spot to make your home away from home. It’s almost enough to make you want to cook on vacation.<\/p>\n

The other culinary options are also plentiful, with six restaurants onsite. Specializing in seafood,\u00a0Stillwater Bar & Grill<\/a>\u00a0is an elegant destination for a relaxing dinner overlooking the fairways.\u00a0The Tap Room<\/a>\u00a0serves a selection of American tavern-style classics, and\u00a0The Terrace Lounge<\/a>\u00a0is a lovely spot to sit back and relax in one of the oversized armchairs while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying panoramic golf course views. Gallery Caf\u00e9<\/a> offers home-style breakfast and lunch. For cove and ocean views, enjoy lunch at The Beach Club<\/a>. The Bench<\/a> is a casual spot overlooking the 18th\u00a0hole, specializing in crafted cocktails and wood-roasted dishes, with a large central bar and patio tables with fire pits to warm your al fresco dining experience and roast marshmallows for s\u00edmore\u00eds.<\/p>\n

If that’s not enough to entertain you, there’s a free shuttle service to sister property The Inn at Spanish Bay<\/a>, offering another six dining options.<\/p>\n

Guests are also provided complimentary access to The Beach & Tennis Club<\/a> at Pebble Beach,\u00a0a swanky venue near the renowned 17th\u00a0hole, featuring tennis, workout facilities and a heated pool. Then there’s The Spa at Pebble Beach<\/a>\u2014one of only 56\u00a0spas in the world to receive the coveted Forbes<\/i> <\/a>Five-Star Award\u2014offering an array of blissful body treatments that incorporate the healing properties of plants, herbs and minerals indigenous to the Monterey Peninsula.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Spa at Pebble Beach, photo by Scott Campbell.<\/p><\/div>\n

Pebble Beach’s gorgeous 17-Mile Drive<\/a>\u2014one of the most scenic rides in the world, encompassing both stunning natural beauty and incredible architecture\u2014is always one of the highlights of a visit to the area, and as guests of The Lodge at Pebble Beach we were able to do the drive in style, test driving a brand new Lexus sports car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is it any wonder we didn’t want to leave? I may have to take up golf as an excuse to visit again soon.<\/p>\n

For reservations or more information, call 800\/654-9300 or visit\u00a0pebblebeach.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published in the Fall 2018 issue of\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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