Perched dramatically along California’s rugged Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach Golf Links is widely regarded as one of the world’s most iconic golf courses. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, its windswept fairways, cypress-lined coastline and spectacular scenery have earned international acclaim among golfers and travellers alike.
For the automotive world, however, Pebble Beach represents something even greater. Every August, its eighteenth fairway becomes the stage for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the world’s most prestigious celebration of automotive heritage. Here, extraordinary automobiles spanning more than a century of engineering and design are judged not only for their originality and craftsmanship, but for the stories they tell about the evolution of the automobile itself.
Today, Pebble Beach stands as one of the most revered destinations in global automotive culture, where history, luxury and innovation meet against one of the world’s most spectacular natural backdrops.
History
Pebble Beach Golf Links opened in 1919 as part of the vision to transform California’s Monterey Peninsula into an exceptional destination for recreation and tourism. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the course quickly established itself among the finest in the world, hosting numerous major golf championships over the following decades.
Its association with the automobile began in 1950, when the inaugural Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was organised alongside the Pebble Beach Road Races. Originally conceived as a social gathering celebrating elegant automobiles after the races, the concours gradually evolved into the most influential collector car event in the world.
As the decades passed, Pebble Beach became not only a showcase for historic automobiles but also an important stage for automotive manufacturers unveiling exclusive concept cars, coachbuilt commissions and limited-production masterpieces.
Architecture
Unlike traditional exhibition venues, Pebble Beach derives its character almost entirely from its natural surroundings.
The course follows the dramatic Pacific coastline, where rolling fairways meet rocky cliffs, windswept beaches and the iconic Monterey Cypress. The eighteenth fairway, overlooking Carmel Bay, has become one of the most recognisable settings in world sport and provides the concours with an incomparable outdoor exhibition space.
The surrounding Pebble Beach Resorts combine understated Californian architecture with exceptional hospitality, allowing the landscape itself to remain the defining feature of the visitor experience.
Pebble Beach Golf Links occupies a unique position in automotive culture as the setting of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, established alongside the Pebble Beach Road Races in 1950. What began as a supporting social gathering evolved into one of the world’s most influential celebrations of important, historic and beautifully preserved automobiles.
The Concours has helped establish international standards for collecting, restoration, preservation and automotive scholarship, with cars judged for qualities including their elegance, technical merit, history and authenticity. Its influence extends well beyond the eighteenth fairway, helping shape the modern concours movement and the way significant automobiles are recognised and preserved.
Pebble Beach also connects automotive heritage with the industry’s future, providing a prestigious setting for concept cars and important new-vehicle debuts alongside its historic machinery. This combination of preservation, design and contemporary innovation makes Pebble Beach an exceptional meeting point between the automobile’s history and its continuing evolution.
Visitor Experience
Throughout the year, visitors come to Pebble Beach to experience one of golf’s most celebrated courses, luxury accommodation, fine dining and spectacular coastal scenery.
During Monterey Car Week, the atmosphere transforms completely. The concours presents meticulously curated displays of historic automobiles arranged across the eighteenth fairway, while nearby venues host manufacturer exhibitions, collector gatherings, auctions and automotive celebrations throughout the peninsula.
For enthusiasts, visiting Pebble Beach during concours week offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness many of the world’s finest automobiles in a setting that has become synonymous with elegance, craftsmanship and automotive excellence.
Location
Pebble Beach Golf Links is located on California’s Monterey Peninsula, approximately 10 kilometres south-west of Monterey and immediately north of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The course forms part of the renowned Pebble Beach Resorts and is easily reached via the scenic 17-Mile Drive, one of California’s most famous coastal routes.
Address
1700 17 Mile Drive
93953 Del Monte Forest
Monterey County, California
USA
Website