Holiday gifts — Tix to the U.S. Open.

By Kim McHugh, Associate Editor

Holiday Ticket Offer Ends Dec. 14

If you’re looking for a gift Santa won’t have trouble getting down the chimney or that won’t be returned for being the wrong size and color, give tickets to the 2010 U.S. Open Championship.

Taking place June 14 - 20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on California’s Monterey Peninsula, the tournament is one of the most storied in golf. Since the tourney was first played in 1895, Pebble Beach has hosted it in1972, 1982, 1992 and 2000.

Holiday ticket offer ends Dec. 14.

Those taking advantage of this special holiday offer before December 14 will receive a U.S. Open commemorative ball marker and divot tool. Weekly, 2-Day and Practice Round packages, as well as Daily tickets, are available. Tickets will be mailed in early May. However, the gift set from the USGA will be mailed in time to wrap for the holidays.

Tiger crushes the field.

You may recall that Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open with a 12-under-par 272. He bested second place finishers Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez by 15 strokes.

The United States Golf Association (USGA), one of golf’s two governing bodies, runs the U.S. Open, one of the four majors played annually. Ranked the #1 Public Course in America by Golf Digest for 2009/2010, Pebble Beach Golf Links has seen a “who’s who” of champions, including Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tom Watson (1982), Tom Kite (1992) and Woods in 2000.

Long and strong.

From the time it debuted in 1919 the course just south of San Francisco has been a formidable opponent. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, it will play 6,828 from the tips with a 74.3 slope rating.

With many holes clinging to the rugged California coastline, the layout will punish the guys that don’t pay attention to the wind swirling off the ocean. Look for Holes 9, 10 and 11 to make or break some of the pros’ rounds. Playing 543-yards Number 18 will be a great finishing hole with some of the guys being able to reach the green in two.

Lodge Premier ticket package.

If you want to do it up right get The Lodge Premier Ticket Package. It provides access to the grounds of Pebble Beach Golf Links as well as The Lodge at Pebble Beach. The cost is $1,150 per ticket package and each includes:

    * One ticket for each day of the Championship– three (3) Practice rounds, four (4) Championship rounds, and one (1) 18-hole Playoff, if regulation play ends in a tie
    * A voucher for one complimentary U.S. Open Program
    * Complimentary parking within Del Monte Forest
    * Shuttle bus transportation to and from the parking area to the Championship entrance

For details and to purchase your tickets, please visit www.usga.org/tickets, call the Championship Office at Pebble Beach at (831) 622-6568, or email Elizabeth Hammond at hammonde@pebblebeach.com. FYI…The U.S. Open has sold out for 23 consecutive years.

Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links® and their respective underlying distinctive images are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved. 2010 U.S. Open® is a trademark of the United States Golf Association. Photos used by permission.