The 16th tees off from the lighthouse. The shot is downhill, to a series of ridgelines, with out-of-bonds on the far right side. The first ridge is 230 yards from the green, which runs down to a trough at about 175 yards, then climbs back up to a second ridge that’s about 145 yards from the green on the right side, and runs to about 125 yards on the left.

The approach shot here, is where the real strategy lies. The green slopes away from the player on the back side and high shots landing here will kick off the back. Getting close to a back pin position will require the player to run the ball down from the front or center of the green. This is complicated by bunkers on both sides of the green, as well as a water hazard on the far right side.

“With the Point Pinos Lighthouse standing watch on the right, the golfer tees off from an elevated tee with the Pacific Ocean laid out before him. Players must position their drive on the right side, taking into account out of bonds on the right and the large crest running across the fairway. From there the approach can be tricky with bunkers guarding the left and right sides of this kidney-shaped green. There is room to run the ball up to the green and that may be the safest route as there is a drop off just a few feet over the back.”

Source: Pacific Grove Golf Links