Pebble Beach Golf Links during the AT&T, photo by Bob Borden
It may be “Crosby Weather” (cold & rainy) this year, but the AT&T Pro Am Golf Tournament is a totally new format. Gone are the crazy days of Bill Murray’s antics and celebrity players that we could all ogle at, we’re into some serious golf now. The PGA has been under a lot of pressure lately to make their tournaments more attractive to pro golfers to prevent more exodus to LIV – but I’m not going to get into that story. Suffice it to say, the PGA has turned our “Crosby Clambake” into a Signature event with a $20 million dollar purse with the winner taking $5 million home. Not saying this is good or bad – it’s just different. Our local charities will still be the winner with hopes of topping the $18 million that went to local non-profits last year.
Carmel Realty Company will be there tomorrow entertaining some of our clients at a special VIP party at one of our luxury listings on the 12th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Take a look at last year’s event in this Short Video .
Pebble Beach Golf Links ~ photo by Bob Borden
Enjoy this new special AT&T Pro Am Golf Tournament edition of 1913 Luxury by the Sea. It features some of our special listings along with some interesting articles.
Think Beach Boys in Surfin’ USA on the shores of Santa Cruz. An otter with dreams of being a surf champion surprised and shocked Santa Cruz beach goers when he swam right up to a group of surfers, picked out a board and went for a ride.
Can you imagine if you were out surfing and a Surfin’ Sea Otter climbed aboard your surfboard and left you “in the dust” or perhaps a better term would be leaving you “in the surf” – and without your board!
Surfer Girl is known as “841”, a 5-year old female, who has been taking bites out of surf boards recently with the surfer still on it. A bit intimidating for a surfer to say the least. We love our sea otters, but they have very big, sharp teeth to crunch on the sea urchins and abalone they love so much – so take care out there.
Surfer Girl 841 was born in captivity. Her mother had been removed from the wild because of her aggressive behavior toward people as a result of being fed by the public. An absolute No, No. When it turned out the otter was pregnant, 841 was born. She was raised at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and then tagged and released after being deemed ready to go back to the wild. Whoops!
There is a team of trained experts trying to catch Surfer Girl, and then she will be returned to the Monterey Bay Aquarium who will find a home for her. Unfortunately, once that happens, her surfing days will be over. However, so far she has alluded capture. One sharp cookie she is!
Susan Clark having just received her 500 hours of volunteering pin as a Monterey Bay Aquarium Guide
As a guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I get some inside scoop about their sea otter program. I’m sure many of you have seen our sea otters at the Aquarium who have names and personally interact with humans. These sea otters are considered non-releasable, so they are allowed human contact. When sea otters are rescued, the hope is always to return them to the wild and the care givers wear “hazmat suits of sort” (think like an astronaut outfit) so the otter won’t identify with a human. They also are given numbers and not names, to further keep them at arms length.
The story isn’t over . . . can’t wait for the next installment on this saga.
US Open Golf Tournament, Pebble Beach, CA June 13 – 16 2019
AT&T Pro Am Golf Tournament ~ Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach
The Monterey Peninsula is a “Golf Mecca”. We have golf course after golf course – with a perfect golf course to suit every player’s need. And we attract PGA tours – after all who wouldn’t want to come to Pebble Beach which looks glorious to the TV viewer from every camera angle. Every February we enjoy the AT&T Pro Am Golf Tournament, however, this year is a double whammy ~ the US Open Golf Tournament has come to Pebble Beach for the third time in 19 years.
Tiger Woods, photographer unknown
This year something special is causing excitement and anticipation and there is only one word for it – Tiger. Yes he’s back and after winning the Masters this year, his fans are hoping he can win here again this weekend. Tiger has struggled with personal issues and serious injuries over the years and some critics thought he was done. But ever since his Augusta win, #Tigersback is a popular refrain.
Pebble Beach Golf Links Photo taken by Bob Borden \
As realtors we started planning for the US Open months ago by creating innovative advertising for the print and digital media that would beguile and bewitch prospective buyers and invite them to purchase property while visiting the area.During the tournament while the golf crowd heads for the courses, we’ll be manning our posts at the “Floor duty” desk or hosting numerous Open Houses at our listings hoping some of our visitors will stray from the event. We hope to lure some of our golf enthusiasts to find the coveted prize – a home on the Monterey Peninsula.
We know that tournament goers will spend most of their time watching the play or playing golf themselves – and then, of course, time spent at the infamous 19th Hole. In fact, keeping this in mind, many companies are having parties and events including my real estate office, Carmel Realty Company, to entertain clients who have already purchased homes or who are considering it. We hope that everyone will have such a good time here and at least pick up the newspapers and magazines touting our gorgeous homes and return at a later time.
Pebble Beach Golf Links ~ photo by Bob Borden
There is nothing more beautiful than Pebble Beach on a clear sunny day and that’s what we are blessed with this week except for a little morning fog.If nothing else our visitors will take home delightful memories of blue skies, sunlit courses and crashing waves, after bearing witness to some great golf. Will Tiger win? That is yet to be determined. Play on!
The AT&T Golf Tournament has always been dear to my heart. It’s one of the events that made me fall in love with the Monterey Peninsula and inspired me to move here.
Pebble Beach Golf Links Photo taken by Bob Borden
As San Franciscans my husband and I were in awe of the Monterey Peninsula and we loved coming down to the tournament – usually meeting up with some of his golf buddies. After walking the course and watching their favorite golfers in the morning my husband and his cohorts
Taken more recently – still walking the course!
would head out inspired and play Bayonet or one of their other favorite golf courses. I would continue to be the consummate spectator
trying to catch a glimpse of Don Johnson, Kevin Costner, Jack Lemon, or Clint Eastwood (back when he still played in the tournament.) OK, I didn’t just have golf on my mind!
Kevin Costner playing in the AT&T Golf Tournament
Well, let’s fast forward to 2019. Speaking of Clint, there is something new at this year’s tournament, “Clint’s Saloon“! (See page 16)
Clint about to join the Centennial parade in Carmel. He walked right by me and said, “Excuse me”, I was kind of in his way to get onto the stage coach!
The Carmel Pine Cone has reported that sales for the upgraded ticket to hang in Clint’s Saloon are selling like “cheap whiskey on a cattle drive”. Giddy up, Rawhide! Tickets are $250-$350 and hey, it’s for charity.
I know I haven’t talked at all about the actual golfers that are going to play or that a little known golfer, Ted Potter, our 2018 winner will be defending his title (Beware of flip flops!). Check out the Pine Cone for great coverage on that. I’m looking forward to seeing my new favorite pro golfers like Phil and Justin and Jordan. The celebrities aren’t quite what they used to be (personal opinion) but time changes.
2018 Champion, Ted Potter
As a blogger, I’ve always been advised to keep it short so I’ll be back again with insights as to how the realtor community views the tournament – since that’s ME!
Stay tuned! And call me if you too (like me) would like to own “a piece of dirt” on the Monterey Peninsula!
Susan Clark, Alain Pinel Realtors, Top Producer, Circle of Excellence 2018
