Greens with Phenominal Hole Locations

[Kris Spence]

We all know of greens that have those extra special hole locations or areas created by slope, angle ,visual deception, firmness etc. or a combination of all that brings out the very best in that hole or adds tremendous shot value to the approach shot or  play of recovery shots from around the green.  On what course and on which particular holes do you feel that the shot value in drastically improved by a particular hole location versus the rest of the green.  And what makes that particular placement so  challenging or interesting to you?  What do these type of hole locations seem to have in common if any?

[Patrick_Mucci]

KSpence,

# 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, and # 18 at
NGLA

[Joel_Stewart]

KSpence,

# 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, and # 18 at
NGLA

Whats wrong with 16?  I knew NGLA was flawed.

After playing Pasatiempo today with the GCA crowd the 16th hole is world class with just about any hole location.  They had the pin upper left on 18 which was a real sucker position but makes the hole most enjoyable.

[Richard_Macafee]

Front left pin on 6th Royal Melbourne West.

You actually have to take on more of the dogleg off the tee to have any chance of hitting this shot close. If you take on the dogleg you get an uphill lie and short iron in.

For the approach shot, there is simply no good spot to miss the green with this hole location.

Short: Huge bunker where the green is well above head height.

Short right: Rolls back 50ft down shaved slope.

Long left: Shallow bunker, but it is above green level and almost impossible to get close. Can easily hit a good shot that runs off the front of the green.

Long: Severely downhill chip with about 15ft of break.

Most importantly though, the perfect shot will always be rewarded. It's not tricked up, just requires precision.

[TEPaul]

I can't imagine a better hole location anywhere than NGLA's #1 back left bowl. The hole is so short but it's so hard to get an approach in there. And even if you're on the green elsewhere you really have to think hard how to get your putt near the cup. The good news is if you somehow do get your approach shot in there you have a real birdie chance. And to top it all off in almost all cases your approach shot is blind.

[Forrest Richardson]

I believe one you are all familiar with, having been on TV this past January, was Morrish's No. 17 at the TPC Scottsdale. A thread quite nicely elevated this short par-4 to GCA-status. The green is shaped like a funky mask with ears, each lobe representing an ear tucked way back to either side at the rear. The left is way tricky as it has water left and a bunker right.

[mikeyolympic]

here's some random ones i can think of:

way back right, pebble beach golf links hole #3 (no one touched this pin in the 2000 U.S. Open)

back tier, olympic club hole #7 (amazing green that requires low skidding exacting shot)

back left, pebble beach golf links hole #17 (small green that requires high ultimate shot)

back right, riviera country club hole #6 (everything slopes toward this area of the green, so if you miss on the wrong side, you still have a chance. great design for this pin)

front left, torrey pines south hole # 3 (miss left, you're dead, miss long, you're dead)

front tier, yale golf course hole #9 (better hit a high exact shot, or you're in that huge swale)

front left, pebble beach golf links hole #14 (better hit it perfect with the correct amount of spin with that one more club you hit)