Pebble Beach bound? Do these things, says LPGA pro who was raised there

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — There’s nothing fairly like native information, and no participant on this week’s U.S. Women’s Openat Pebble Beach Golf Linkshas extra of it than My Harigae.

Born and raised in Monterey, Harigae, 33, first performed Pebble in center faculty and has since logged extra rounds on the course than she will be able to depend.

“Positively greater than 50 instances,” she says. “Most likely fewer than 100. However I’ve been on the market rather a lot.”

Harigae’s dad and mom nonetheless reside in the home the place she grew up, so it isn’t solely golf that brings her again to the realm, from her adoptive dwelling in Arizona, and it isn’t solely Pebble with which she is acquainted.

As a result of her native information extends past the gates of 17-Mile DriveGOLF.com requested Harigae to don her tour information cap and level us to her favourite Monterey peninsula haunts, whether or not they name for golf equipment or not.

The place to play

Pebble is booked strong this week, alas. However if you happen to’re on the lookout for equally tiny greens — at a fraction of the greens charge — Harigae recommends one other course within the Pebble Seashore Firm portfolio. Del Monte Golf Course dates to 1897, making it the oldest constantly working course West of the Mississippi, and a property stuffed with throwback charms. “It’s not overly lengthy however you must hit all of the photographs, and it’s a very nice stroll,” Harigae says. “And the greens are so totally different than what you see at most programs nowadays.”

A brief skip up the street, Monterey Pines Golf Course is much more diminutive than Del Monte, tipping out at simply over 5,500 yards. “It’s simply so cute!” Harigae says. “It’s enjoyable and accessible and it’s so near Monterey airport, you search for generally and suppose a airplane goes to land on you.” She signifies that in a great way.

On the brawnier facet, Harigae additionally has a heat spot in her coronary heart for Bayonet and Black Horsesibling layouts on the previous Ford Ord army base. That is the place Harigae discovered to play. When she was little, each tracks have been densely tree-lined and tight in locations. “I feel that’s the rationale I’m a reasonably straight hitter,” Harigae says. “On a few of these holes, there actually wasn’t anyplace to overlook.” Each Bayonet and Black Horse have since undergone substantial renovations, with intensive tree removing to open sight strains and water views. “However they’re nonetheless actually difficult,” Harigae says.

Final however not least, Harigae can be remiss to not point out Quail Lodgethe place she received 4 consecutive California State Newbie titles between 2001-04. The course lies inland, in Carmel Valley, the place the misty, coastal air of Monterey usually provides option to sunshine and hotter climate. “I might describe it as a California parkland course,” Harigae says. “Some mild elevation modifications, rolling fairways, stunning views, they usually maintain it in wonderful form.”

The place to eat

Right here, Harigae admits to being biased. Her dad and mom personal and function Takara Sushia Japanese restaurant in Pacific Grove. “The sashimi bowls are scrumptious,” Harigae says, although she’s additionally keen on her dad’s tamago, a moist, barely candy Japanese omelet. For Italian dwelling cooking, Harigae factors to one among Takara’s Pacific Grove neighbors, My kitchenamiable, family-run operation whose menu runs the gamut from Previous World staples like eggplant Parmesan and pasta puttanesca to California-inflected dishes like pan-fried sand dabs with mashed potatoes and lemon-butter sauce.

As Harigae sees it, no culinary tour of Monterey is full with out a style of clam chowder. Tons of locations serve it. Her favourite comes from Old Fisherman’s Grottoan area establishment, on Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll be able to have your chowder in a sourdough-bread bowl, however Harigae prefers hers in a normal bowl. “Then get the sourdough rolls on the facet and dip them within the soup,” she says. “That’s the way in which to go.”

Parks, seashores and offbeat points of interest

Simply south of Monterey stretches a humiliation of pure magnificence. It’s onerous to beat Huge SurHarigae says, referring to the rugged coastal stretch the place the Santa Lucia Mountains loom over the Pacific. However if you wish to do much less driving, she suggests a cease at Level Lobos State Pure Reservean arresting swatch of protected land and water, eight miles south of Pebble Seashore, the place foot paths curl alongside craggy, wind-blown bluffs and waves froth white in rock-fringed coves. Image Cypress Level, with out the golf course.

And don’t overlook downtown Monterey itself. The Monterey Bay Aquarium might be the best-known attraction, and with good motive. “I like the ocean otters, the large kelp forest and that huge tank the place they do the tuna feedings,” she says. However there’s loads else to do and see.

“Individuals don’t notice how a lot historical past there’s there,” Harigae says. “And the way a lot that historical past has been preserved.” You’ll be able to, she says, for example, try the home the place Robert Louis Stevenson stayed whereas he was writing “Treasure Island,” in addition to centuries-old adobe dwellings constructed by early Spanish and Mexican residents.

Earlier than you allow city, Harigae recommends a stroll down Alvarado Avenuea bustling business strip the place Monterey’s previous rushes as much as meet its current.

“A couple of of the accommodations and buildings down there are stated to be haunted, and you may go on ghost excursions,” Harigae says.

Not that she would be a part of you.

“That will freak me out,” she says. “I’m manner too afraid of ghosts.”

The true nerves ought to kick in for Harigae early Thursday morning. She tees off in her first spherical at 8:06 a.m.

Josh Sens

Golf.com Contributor

A golf, meals and journey author, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Journal contributor since 2004 and now contributes throughout all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Finest American Sportswriting. He’s additionally the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Enjoyable But: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.