Carmel Magazine

down, golf remains an attractive option for fam- ily fun. Case in point is Kevin Price, one of the Monterey Peninsula's most ardent golfers; he is the 2019 club champion at Bayonet and a part- time caddie at Pebble Beach when he's not run- ning his financial service company, Interlake Capital Management. "Holy cow, it's been hard to get a tee time around here," Price says, "but it's pretty cool to see new people experiencing the joys and benefits of the game." He believes pace of play at local courses has improved, thanks to the single-rider golf car ts and the mandate to leave the flag in while putting. With the trained eye of a caddie, Price has seen more wear and tear on the courses as a result of the unprecedent- ed crowds. "You have to give the superintendents their due because this has not been easy on them," he says. "Hopefully maintenance budgets go up, be- cause the revenue coming in is certainly robust." Playing more golf than usual is good news/bad news; caddie requests at Pebble Beach have fallen by half due to the changes in clientele and the fact that the loopers can't actually carry the bags because of COVID-19 considerations. Price is the head coach of the Carmel High School girls varsity basketball team but hasn't been able to get in the gym with the season on hold. So, he has found refuge on the links, usually pushing along in a stroller his adorable 4-year-old daughter Claire. She totes her own clubs and putter and will hit a shot or putt when the mood strikes. "The pandemic has been tough on all of us," says Price. "When the golf courses reopened in early May, taking Claire out was a real morale boost with legitimate mental-health benefits. Schools were closed, playgrounds were closed, the beach was closed at times—the golf course became our sanctuary. It has gotten me away from doomscrolling on my phone, from the grind of day-to-day life." Speaking for many, Price adds, "I honestly can- not imagine pandemic life without golf." 118 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 The Point Pinos Lighthouse at the Pacific Grove Golf Links. Like other courses, measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been put in place. Photo: Tribune Content Agency LLC / Alamy Stock Photo

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