I think so. Or damn close. Pebble on a sunny warm day is tough to beat but I will have to say that Spyglass, ANY DAY, is as good as golf gets.
Played really well at SpyGlass so has to be my favourite some excellent holes by the beach then tough ones in the tree-lined part of the course.
Day 2 of a 7 day trip, Spy Glass Hill was just breath taking, Opening tee shot is the most fun you will have in the area carry the saddle and make the fairway you have an easy par 5 don't and its time to start grinding. Great layout and a tough test of golf, maintenance had been carried out on the course but the greens ran true, fairways were not brilliant but they were more than acceptable given that as a golfer we must understand maintenance is essential, I can't wait to play it again, Caddies were fantastic Special thanks go out to Rich Dooda Caddie Master for the Pebble Beach Resort your a star!
We thoroughly enjoyed playing Spyglass even though they punched the greens a week or so before. It really is a tough test for the game and those first 5 holes down by the water are spectacular. One of those courses that once you play, you want to go right back out and play again.
So look @ my review of Pebble Beach and you'll see why my title makes sense. If you've got a corporate expense account (does anyone have these any more?) or you happen to be flush (like the plastic surgeon I was paired with, or the fellow that owned multiple gyms) then play early and play often! If you're a midwestern schlub like me, do it once 'cuz the golf gods say "you must" and then head back to Michigan for lovely courses @ reasonable prices. Spyglass has some of the drama/coastal views of it's big brother, PB, but then winds inland. All the data says Spyglass is tougher than Pebble, but I found the opposite to be true (of course, I'm a mid-to-high-depending-on-the-day-the prevailing-winds-whether-the-arthritis-is-active-semi-old-coot). Walking or cart path only, so walking is the way to go. Take a caddy or don't as the rich guys you're playing with will have one and you can listen in on the sly (I didn't as I am a purist and manage my own game all the way to the century mark).
It's hard to beat Pebble's signature holes - 6 through 10 and 18. However, the other twelve range from pedestrian to boring. You don't have this issue at Spyglass. Most of the holes are great tests of golf with the short par 3s being a treat to play. The course runs downhill from the clubhouse almost to the ocean offering several great vistas. Elevation changes are the norm at Spyglass as are the towering trees which frame the fairways and greens. Getting on Spyglass is much easier than Pebble and try to get a same day replay rate if you're out early - 36 holes here makes a great day.
This is a great course. Terrific ocean holes. And terrific Forrest holes. Probably the best mix of ocean and forrest in the world.
Not sure if we were expecting too much because we had heard Spyglass is better than Pebble Beach, but in our opinion, although very nice, didn't hold a candle to Pebble Beach.
Played the course twice, once before and once after pebble. After the second round I thought this was a better course than pebble. Pebble has better views this is a better course.
No distinction between fairways, tee box, greens and the beach. Best waste of money in S California.