US Women's Open Battleground... "Everything About Pebble Beach Golf Links"

‘Golfers' Bucket List’, Nicknamed ‘God's Playground’
Seaside Course, Signature Hole 7th Hole 107 Yards
Key Battleground ‘Cliff of Death Course’ Holes 8 to 10

'Pebble Beach Golf Links.'

The battleground of the U.S. Women's Open (total prize money of $10 million). This tournament, now in its 78th edition, will be held over four days starting June 6 (local time) at Pebble Beach Golf Links (par 72, 6,505 yards) in California, USA. The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) has hosted this event 13 times before, but this is the first time the U.S. Women's Open is being held here. The U.S. Women's Open will also be held at this venue in 2035, 2040, and 2048.

A total of 156 players, including 11 winners from this season, will compete for the championship. South Korea has 22 players listed, including 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young, 'domestic Number 1' Park Min-ji, Jeon In-ji, Lee Jeong-eun 6, Kim A-rim, and Shin Ji-ae. Ko Jin-young said right after the practice round, "I am very excited to play on this course. It's a place I have wanted to play." She added, "Reading the green slopes is a bit tricky. The rough is also very tough."

Players participating in the 78th US Women's Open are practicing around the green of the 7th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, USA. [Pebble Beach (USA) = AP·Yonhap News]

Pebble Beach Golf Links is on every golfer's bucket list. It is a golf course everyone wants to visit. The 'old golf emperor' Jack Nicklaus (USA) also pointed out, "If I could play a round before I die, I would definitely go to Pebble Beach." It is even nicknamed "The Playground of the Gods." It is a regular on Golf Digest's list of the top 100 golf courses in the U.S., selected every two years. It is a world-renowned course with breathtaking views of the Monterey Peninsula near San Francisco.

Samuel Morse, grandson of the inventor of the Morse code S. Morse, was passing through the Monterey Peninsula by carriage and was captivated by the scenery. He teamed up with wealthy William Crocker to complete the course in February 1919. Amateur champion Jack Neville was responsible for the design and construction, preserving the western U.S. coastline so that most holes allow players to feel the Pacific Ocean waves all around. It is truly a 'seaside course.'

The course is a 'one-way' layout where you do not encounter the clubhouse even after passing the 9th hole (par 4). You must travel all 18 holes to return. The course features a diverse layout, from a very short 107-yard par 3 hole (7th hole) to a long 542-yard par 5 hole (14th hole). A variety of strategies using all 14 clubs are required. Additionally, the strong Pacific winds act as a variable. The same hole can appear completely different the next day.

The 'signature hole' is the 7th hole. The green feels like an island floating in the middle of the sea. Even tour players find it difficult to get 'on the green.' It is hard to gauge the wind, which changes strength and direction constantly. The biggest challenge is the 'Death Cliffs Course' from holes 8 to 10. After a blind tee shot where the fairway is not visible, players must secure the 'ant waist' fairway of the dogleg hole that bends left and right, then face a thorny path aiming for a green heavily guarded by deep rough and bunkers. The right side is a sheer cliff. If you fail to read the wind, your ball will disappear into the Pacific Ocean. The final 18th hole (par 5, 515 yards) allows for a '2-on' approach, but failure results in harsh penalties.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.