Play Pebble Beach's 7th Hole Online, Free
The 7th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links is arguably the most beautiful par 3 in golf. Perched on a rocky headland jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, this tiny downhill par 3 measures just 106 yards — the shortest hole on any US Open course — but what it lacks in length it makes up for in sheer terror. The green sits on a cliff edge with the ocean crashing against rocks on three sides. Now you can play a Pebble Beach-inspired version of it free in your browser, no downloads and no sign-ups.
Click here to play Pebble Beach 7th now →
About the Hole
The 7th at Pebble Beach is a downhill par 3 of approximately 106 yards from the back tees. The tee sits on an elevated cliff, and the green is roughly 50 feet below on a small headland that pushes out into the ocean. The Pacific crashes against the rocks on the left, in front, and behind the green. The putting surface is tiny and pear-shaped, wider at the back than the front, and it tilts toward the ocean. Two coastal bunkers guard the right side, and the cliffs drop away on every other side.
The hole was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant as part of the original 1919 routing. Neville famously said that the golf holes at Pebble Beach "were there before I was — I just found them." The 7th is the finest example of that philosophy: the headland was naturally shaped like a tiny putting green, and Neville simply placed a flag on it. The result is a hole that looks like it was carved by the Pacific itself.
How Far Is the 7th Hole at Pebble Beach?
The 7th hole at Pebble Beach plays at approximately 106 yards from the championship tees. That makes it the shortest hole on any US Open course by a significant margin. The scorecard yardage is almost misleading, though, because the hole plays steeply downhill — the tee is roughly 50 feet above the green — so the actual carry distance is shorter than 106 yards in calm conditions. A lob wedge or sand wedge is all you need.
But conditions at Pebble Beach are rarely calm. The Pacific wind blows onshore most afternoons, sometimes gusting to 30 or 40 miles per hour. When it does, the effective yardage can double. Pros have been seen hitting pitching wedges and even 9-irons into a hole that should be a flick of the wrists. The combination of the downhill drop and the unpredictable ocean wind makes club selection on the 7th one of the hardest decisions in golf.
Why Is Pebble Beach 7th So Famous?
The 7th hole at Pebble Beach is famous for several reasons, and all of them compound on each other:
- The setting is unmatched. The green sits on a rocky headland with the Pacific Ocean visible on three sides. Standing on the tee, you look straight down a cliff at a tiny green surrounded by ocean spray, crashing waves, and jagged rocks. It is one of the most photographed holes in the world and regularly appears at the top of every "most beautiful holes in golf" list.
- It is absurdly short. At 106 yards, the 7th is shorter than most driving ranges. The idea that a hole this short could humble the best golfers in the world is part of what makes it so compelling. It proves that distance means nothing in golf when nature gets involved.
- The green is tiny. The pear-shaped putting surface is one of the smallest on tour. There is almost no room for error. A shot that misses the green by five yards in any direction is either in a bunker, on the rocks, or in the Pacific Ocean.
- The wind is relentless. The Pacific wind blows almost constantly at Pebble Beach, and on the 7th tee — exposed on the headland with no trees for shelter — you feel every gust. The wind can shift direction between the time you take the club back and the time the ball reaches the green.
- The downhill angle distorts distance. The roughly 50-foot elevation drop makes depth perception nearly impossible. Judging carry distance when hitting steeply downhill into a crosswind onto a tiny target is one of the hardest things to do in golf.
Pebble Beach 7th at the US Open
Pebble Beach has hosted six US Opens, and the 7th hole has been a factor in every one of them. Here are some of the most memorable moments the hole has produced:
- Jack Nicklaus, 1972 US Open. In the final round, Nicklaus hit a 1-iron into the flag on the 17th hole — one of the most famous shots in golf history — but it was his steady play through the coastal stretch including the 7th that set up his victory. Nicklaus won by three strokes and later called Pebble Beach "the finest meeting of land and sea in American golf."
- Tom Watson, 1982 US Open. Watson trailed Nicklaus heading into the final holes. On the 17th, Watson chipped in from the rough for birdie — a shot every bit as famous as Nicklaus's 1-iron — and went on to win by two. The coastal holes, including the 7th, were playing brutally that week in the wind.
- Tiger Woods, 2000 US Open. Tiger won by 15 strokes — the largest margin of victory in major championship history. He was so dominant that the difficulty of holes like the 7th barely registered, but the rest of the field was battered by the wind and the tiny greens along the coast. The 7th played over par for the field that week.
- Tom Kite, 1992 US Open. Kite won in some of the most brutal conditions ever seen at a US Open. Wind gusts exceeded 40 mph, and players were struggling to keep the ball on the tiny greens along the ocean. Kite's steady, conservative play through the coastal stretch — including laying up short on the 7th rather than attacking the pin — was the key to his victory.
If the 7th can challenge Nicklaus, Watson, and Woods, it can challenge anyone. See how you fare on the cliff drop →
Features of Our Pebble Beach 7th Hole Simulator
- Ocean cliffs — the green sits on a headland surrounded by water on three sides. Miss the green left, long, or short and you are in the Pacific.
- The tiny green — a small, pear-shaped putting surface that demands precision. There is no room for a lazy swing.
- Coastal bunkers — sand traps guard the right side of the green, the only bail-out area that is not ocean.
- Rocks and cliff edges — jagged rocks line the cliff faces around the green, punishing any shot that strays offline.
- Downhill drop — the tee-to-green elevation change adds a layer of difficulty to distance control.
- Real shot physics — control your power, angle, and flight. A weak shot drops into the ocean short of the green. Too much club sends you over the back into the rocks.
How to Play
Drag backward from the ball in the direction opposite where you want to send it — like pulling back a slingshot. The farther you drag, the more power you apply. A trajectory arc previews your shot while you aim, so you can fine-tune direction and distance before releasing. The game works the same way on desktop (click and drag with the mouse) and on mobile (touch and drag with your finger).
On the Pebble Beach 7th, the key is controlling your power. The hole is only 106 yards, so a gentle three-quarter swing is usually all you need. Resist the temptation to hit it hard — a full swing will send the ball sailing over the tiny green and into the ocean behind it. Aim for the fat part of the pear-shaped green and take your par.
Strategy Tips for Pebble Beach 7th
- Aim for the wide part of the green. The green is pear-shaped — wider at the back, narrower at the front. Aiming for the center-back gives you the largest target and the most margin for error.
- Control your power. At 106 yards, you do not need a full swing. A smooth three-quarter swing keeps the ball low, reduces the effect of the wind, and lands softer on the green.
- Miss right if you must miss. The ocean is left, short, and long. The only safe miss is the right-side bunkers. A bunker shot is recoverable; the Pacific Ocean is not.
- Respect the wind. The Pacific wind can push your ball 10 or 20 yards off line. If you see or feel wind from the left, aim further right. If the wind is in your face, take more club.
- Par is a great score. Do not get greedy chasing a birdie on a hole this small. A 3 is excellent. A 4 is fine. A 5 or worse means you found the ocean or the rocks.
The History of Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links opened on February 22, 1919, on the southern tip of the Monterey Peninsula in California. It was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, two accomplished amateur golfers who were given the task of routing a championship course along one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in the world. Neville walked the property for weeks, studying how the land met the sea, before laying out the holes. The result is a course where eight of the eighteen holes play directly along the Pacific Ocean.
The 7th hole is the crown jewel of the coastal stretch. It occupies a natural headland that juts out into the ocean like a ship's prow. The green was placed on the very tip of this headland, and the surrounding rocks and cliffs were left untouched. Neville did not need to move earth or build walls — nature had already created a golf hole. He simply placed a green on the headland and a tee on the cliff above.
Pebble Beach is one of the few public golf courses in the world to host major championships. It has hosted six US Opens (1972, 1982, 1992, 2000, 2010, 2019), five US Amateurs, and the annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (formerly the Bing Crosby Clambake). It has been rated the No. 1 public course in America by Golf Digest and is consistently ranked among the top courses in the world.
What Makes the 7th the Shortest US Open Hole?
At 106 yards, the 7th at Pebble Beach is the shortest hole ever played in the US Open by a wide margin. Most par 3s on US Open courses measure between 170 and 240 yards. The USGA does not lengthen the 7th for the championship because the hole does not need length to be difficult — the ocean, the wind, the tiny green, and the cliffs provide all the defense it needs.
During US Open weeks, the 7th typically plays as one of the hardest holes on the course relative to par, despite being the shortest. The combination of nerves, wind, and a target the size of a large living room means that even the best players in the world cannot guarantee par. The hole proves what course architects have always known: great golf does not require 450-yard par 4s and 250-yard par 3s. Sometimes 106 yards, a cliff, and the Pacific Ocean are more than enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play the Pebble Beach 7th hole online for free?
Yes. This page hosts a free, browser-based version of the famous Pebble Beach 7th hole. There is no download, no sign-up, and no payment required. Click the Play button at the top of this page to start.
Is this the official Pebble Beach golf game?
No. Let's Golf Online is an independent fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach Company, the PGA Tour, or the USGA. The real-world course reference is used descriptively to identify the hole we have recreated. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
How far is the 7th hole at Pebble Beach?
The 7th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links is approximately 106 yards from the championship tees. It is the shortest hole on any US Open course. The difficulty comes not from distance but from the tiny green, the ocean cliffs, and the relentless Pacific wind.
What club do pros hit on Pebble Beach's 7th hole?
In calm conditions, most tour pros hit a sand wedge or lob wedge. When the wind picks up — which it does most afternoons — the club can jump to a pitching wedge, 9-iron, or even an 8-iron. The downhill angle and the ocean wind make club selection far harder than the 106-yard distance would suggest.
Why is the Pebble Beach 7th hole so famous?
The 7th is famous for its dramatic setting on a rocky headland above the Pacific Ocean, its tiny pear-shaped green, its status as the shortest hole on any US Open course, and its ability to humble the best golfers in the world with nothing more than ocean wind and cliff edges. It is consistently rated one of the most beautiful and most photographed holes in golf.
Who designed Pebble Beach Golf Links?
Pebble Beach was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant and opened on February 22, 1919. Both were accomplished amateur golfers. Neville famously said the holes "were there before I was" — meaning the dramatic coastline naturally dictated where the holes should go. The 7th is the purest expression of that philosophy.
Is Pebble Beach a public course?
Yes. Pebble Beach Golf Links is a public course, meaning anyone can book a tee time. However, a round currently costs over $600, not including the caddie fee. It is one of the most expensive public tee times in the world. If you want to experience the 7th hole without the price tag, our free browser version is a good place to start.
How many US Opens has Pebble Beach hosted?
Pebble Beach has hosted six US Opens: 1972 (Jack Nicklaus), 1982 (Tom Watson), 1992 (Tom Kite), 2000 (Tiger Woods), 2010 (Graeme McDowell), and 2019 (Gary Woodland). It is scheduled to host again in the future. It is one of only a handful of public courses to host the championship.
What is the shortest hole on a US Open course?
The 7th hole at Pebble Beach, at approximately 106 yards, is the shortest hole ever played in a US Open. Despite being barely longer than a pitch shot, it has produced more drama and more memorable moments per yard than almost any other hole in championship golf.
Do I need to download anything to play?
No. The game runs entirely in your browser. It works on desktop, tablet, and mobile phones. Any modern browser will work — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge.
What other holes can I play?
The full game includes 9 iconic real-world holes: Augusta 12th (Golden Bell), TPC Sawgrass 17th (Island Green), St Andrews 17th (Road Hole), Royal Troon 8th (Postage Stamp), Cypress Point 16th, Royal County Down 4th, Banff Springs 4th (Devil's Cauldron), and North Berwick 15th (Redan) — plus a 9-hole fantasy course that regenerates every time you play. Visit the main page to play the full course list.
What makes the green on Pebble Beach 7th so hard to hit?
The green is tiny and pear-shaped — wider at the back, narrower at the front. It sits on a headland surrounded by ocean on three sides, so any miss left, long, or short goes into the Pacific or onto the rocks. The only bail-out is the bunkers on the right. Add in the downhill angle, the ocean wind, and the pressure of a 106-yard shot that should be routine but never is, and you have one of the hardest targets in golf.