According to Weather.com, Northern California has been ravaged by strong winds, rain, and even snow in recent days. There is also more severe weather ahead. According to the site, two people have been killed in storms and more than 176,000 were without power as of Thursday evening.
It is not uncommon for the area’s famous golf courses to be affected by what’s known as the atmospheric river driving the storms. This is especially true for layouts near the Pacific Ocean coast where massive waves and flooding could threaten golf holes. Many course operators have to deal with flooding and winds that reached speeds of 80 mph at the elevation, and 50 mph in San Francisco or Sacramento. The full impact of the storm will not be known until several days later.
Monterey Peninsula Country Club is one coastal club that seems to have been badly hit. It has two layouts, the Dunes and the Shore. Both are ranked by Golfweek’s Best as being among the top 10 private golf clubs in California. The club’s Dunes Course, which runs along the water, has been damaged by several posts and clips to social media.
Just a #tragic scene on the #monterey peninsula #MPCC dunes course#chernobyl but destruction by #golf #power #adios pic.twitter.com/906fnhHNWb
— @HackersWindow January 5, 2023
It is worth noting, however, that the extent of the damage, despite being referred to in the tweet, isn’t yet known. However, it is certainly eye-opening. An attempt to reach the Monterey Peninsula Country Club operators was unsuccessful on Thursday afternoon.
Alan Shipnuck, Fire Pit Collective stated that the club expects to be able to repair No. 14 on the Dunes course and that the hole would be closed “for a while”.
J.J. West is the general manager of MPCC. He said that the damage was repaired and the 14th hole will remain closed for “just a while”. https://t.co/XpWKbWCTnC pic.twitter.com/fhxYP8KcYg
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck January 5, 2023
Other courses that are exposed to the storm-ravaging Monterey Peninsula include Cypress Point and Pebble Beach Golf Links. Spyglass Hill, Spyglass Hill, Spyglass Hill and the Links at Spanish Bay. There is even the municipal Pacific Grove Golf Links. Golfweek reached to several course operators but did not hear back. California Governor Gavin Newsome declared a state emergency and evacuated some areas of Monterey County.
Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill could be damaged, but no damage has been reported. This could make it difficult for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am which is an annual PGA Tour event, scheduled for February 2-5. Pebble Beach will also host the U.S. Women’s Open, which takes place in July.
