Paul Wallis and his wife Kathy of Florida enjoyed a great trip to the 2007 Club Championship at Pebble Beach Sweepstakes, sponsored by Cobra® Golf! Paul is seen here on the shores of the Monterey Peninsula! Enter the TPC Las Vegas Sweepstakes!

Playing Pebble Beach
Insights from Club Member Paul Wallis
by Gary Legwold

If there were ever a place to play golf and not care what you shoot (well, sort of), it’s Pebble Beach. That’s what happened to Paul Wallis, who, thanks to Cobra, won an all-expense paid trip to play in the Partners Club national championship at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and the Links at Spanish Bay, with lodging at Spanish Bay. When Paul came back to earth after his trip, we gathered these recollections.

PGATPC: How was it, playing these fabled courses?
WALLIS: This was an absolute dream come true for me. These courses were on my list of courses to play before I die.

PGATPC: From which tees did you play, and how did you do off the first tee at Pebble?
WALLIS: I don't remember the tees we played, but I'm pretty sure I topped my first drive. Of course, I would try to block that out.

PGATPC: With whom did you play?
WALLIS: I met and played with several people, but the one who stands out was Vinny DePinto. His wife, Kim, also walked along for most of the tournament. They are
delightful and made the trip even better for my wife, Kathy, and me. Vinny won the thing, and it was fun to watch.

PGATPC: Were you required to take a cart?
WALLIS: We were not required to take a cart, and I used a caddie for the last two rounds. That was my first experience with a caddie. It's amazing how much help a caddie can be. 

PGATPC: Were the greens fair?
WALLIS: The greens were very fair. They were faster than I was used to, especially at Spanish Bay, but that made playing even more fun.

PGATPC: Did you buy new attire or clubs just for this event? Afterward?
WALLIS: No new clubs for the tournament. I did buy several shirts for myself and my regular group.

PGATPC: Were your scores higher or lower than normal? Did you care?
WALLIS: My scores were much higher than normal, but I didn't care. Like I told Vinny, I felt I had already won. I was the only one in my group with a camera in my pocket, and I got some good photo memories. I understand why Jack Nicklaus said he would play Pebble if he could play only one more time. This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

PGATPC: What did you learn about the course itself that others would find surprising?
WALLIS: That those pros only have two things on us—distance and direction! If you can keep the ball in play, it's not as tough as it looks. I'm working on that.

PGATPC: What was your best shot?
WALLIS: For my best shot, I can't decide between hitting the green at # 7 or hitting the fairway on # 18. These are two of the most famous holes in golf, rivaling Amen Corner at Augusta.

PGATPC: Your worst?
WALLIS: My worst had to be a series of bunker shots—three in a row. The sand is very different than in Florida, but I remember raking the last one with a smile on my face while thinking, "I'm raking a bunker at Pebble Beach!"  

PGATPC: Did you receive any advice about your swing or game?
WALLIS: I did receive advice from my caddie. He helped me with tempo, especially with my putting stroke, but his course-management skills were also amazing.

PGATPC: Have you changed as a golfer in any way because of this experience?
WALLIS: I didn't change as a golfer because of this experience, but my appreciation for the game I truly love was definitely deepened.

PGATPC: Would you do it again, only this time cover the costs yourself?
WALLIS: I would do it again and again and again, and I would pay the cost if I could.

PGATPC: By the way, what are greens fees?
WALLIS: If I remember correctly, the green fees were $550.00. The rumor is they will be over $1,000 within three years. I hope that's not true.