#2: The Pebble Beach Company
A national treasure since it opened in 1919,
Pebble Beach Golf Links went through a series of ownership changes over the years. That came to a stop in 1999 when Arnold Palmer, Dick Ferris, Peter Ueberroth and Clint Eastwood, along with William Perocchi and the General Electric Pension Trust, formed the Pebble Beach Company with the goal of giving the iconic property a stable ownership future. Respected caretakers of the game, their offer beat out higher rival offers for the property and a new chapter was being written in the storied club’s history. In addition to being one of the owners, Palmer went on to lead restorative course work there that included rebuilding greens and adding bunkers—work that got underway immediately to ready the course for the 2000 U.S. Open and Tiger Woods’ record-setting first victory in the tournament (by 15 strokes). The efforts of this group ensured that Pebble Beach would remain a beloved and accessible fixture on the California coast—hosting world-class events, world-class pros, and world-class golf fans of all ages for generations to come.
Video
Arnold Palmer Interview 6/2/10 on course work at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Photos
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Company
