Pebble Beach: When The AT&T Was A Real Clambake

Newer doesn’t always mean better.

We’re talking about what many still refer to as “The Crosby.”

Used to be one of the coolest tournaments on the PGA Tour and it started as a gathering of Bing Crosby and his Hollywood friends back in 1937 — 18 holes in San Diego — Sam Snead won a whopping $500.

After the war, Bing moved his “Clambake” up the coast to the Monterey Peninsula where the tournament settled in.  It became a “must-play” event.  Crosby and Bob Hope made it a happening.

That was then,  now we fast-forward.

This AT&T Pro-Am has become a haven for corporate CEOs and other big-wigs — billionaires inhabit the field — many own property around Pebble Beach Golf Club.

Fortunately the iconic Pebble Beach layout has remained the focal point and that’s one of the only redeeming factors about this week’s stop on the PGA Tour.

There are still celebrities in the field, a few but they’re “C-listers” compared to Bing, Bob and friends.

The tour lineup isn’t outstanding but it does have some names, thankfully.  Dustin Johnson’s in off his win in the sands of Saudi Arabia.  Phil Mickelson’s in town, so is Jason Day.  Jordan I’m Still Searching for 2015 Spieth is in the field along with Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey, two big names on the European Tour who just said “no” to the Saudi International and stayed away from the controversy in The Kingdom.

One athlete on hand who can play is former Dallas quarterback turned CBS analyst — Tony Romo.  Romo even has some hand-me-down clubs in his bag — a Nike Method putter given him by Tiger Woods when El Tigre went back to his Scotty Cameron.  Romo also has a 60-degree Vokey wedge compliments of Jordan Spieth.  They play together at times at the same club in Dallas.

So there you have it.

Used to be so very cool.

Now it’s so very corporate.