[Joe Hancock]

It might only be my perception, but many of the threads that ask for favorite holes end up being a list of dogleg or "not straight" holes.

I wonder which holes are personal favorites that have a straight "line of charm"? What makes it interesting? As an aside, does anyone think straight line of charm holes are more difficult to create in an interesting manner?

Joe

EDIT: I should add that one of my favorite straight holes is #15 @ Kingsley. It's not just that it's difficult...well, maybe it is just because it's difficult. From the tee, there is no margin of error on contact/ distance, because without a decently long drive you won't get home in two, increasing your chances of 5 or more. Also, the small green is set to the very right edge of the play corridor, and is fiendish in its amount of slope, especially on the right front corner. The only 3 I've made on the hole was from 60 yards, with a sand wedge.

[A_Clay_Man]

9 @ cpc is straight like bull.

[jim_lewis]

Joe,

I presume that you don't fully appreciate the brilliance of Pinehurst #2, but it turns out that 3 of may favorite holes are right here, and they are all staight.  Numbers 2, 11, and 14 are all straight par 4's, although each rewards a tee shot that placed on the proper side of the fairway.

[cary lichtenstein]

Narrow tree lined straight holes can be very tough, but also boring.

[Brian_Gracely]

Some of my favorite straight holes from this year:

Prestwick #1, 10, 13, 17
Raleigh CC #1, 11
Rustic Canyon #2, 13
Royal Troon #11
Lost Dunes #2, 11-12
Cuscowilla #15
Pinehurst #2 - #14 (Not sure I'd totally agree with Jim Lewis #2 is straight....but ok, offset tee-box doesn't really count as a dogleg or bend....great hole none the less)
Southern Pines #16

I find the most interesting straight holes are often built on sloped land, hence the fairway width is often naturally reduced.  These holes also usually have very interesting greens.  And often times the architect is able to include a mound, side-of-hill, bunker or some other landform that juts into the fairway to create interest, although it really doesn't create a bending hole

[Joe Hancock]

Jim,

I'll also presume you made your presumption based on my signature line. The fact is I found the comment by TD to be funny.....I better change it so I'm not misunderstood.

But, I'll say that I haven't played Pinehurst#2, so you're somehow correct. I would love dearly to play there, and this winter might be when I have some time to see the brilliance.

Thanks for answering,

Joe

EDIT: Thanks for the answering the follow-up question, Brian. I liked hearing what you enjpy about some of the straght holes out there. No doubt land can be a tremendous strategic element.

[John Goodman]

I guess the Old Course counts?  Lots of straight holes; though one tends not to pay much attention to that fact, as there is too much else to think about . . .  

[Joe Hancock]

John,

Of course, TOC counts! There is no wrong answer here. Think of it as research.

I'm thinking that your answer about TOC...not noticing the straightness..could lead to some conclusions, but since I haven't played there, perhaps you could expound on why you don't notice the straightness. Cross hazards? Terrain? Wind?

Thanks for the reply,

Joe

[John Goodman]

On my first round there, at the first hole I was worried about slicing it OB (instead I hooked it about 130 yards OB left a la Ian Bker Finch  , but it hit a Volvo and came back into the field of play).  Most of the first round I was too taken with the historic nature of the ground, the wonderfully-named bunkers, hell just the fact that I was there.  Generally, though, based on playing there several more times, I would say that the undulation, intervening gorse and concern with generally unseen bunkering kept me from focusing much on where the green was from the tee.

[Sam Sikes]

#9 Winged Foot West is a bitch of a straight hole.  It is extremely long, but I dont think that is where the difficulty lies.  For some reason, I can never hit the fairway there because it is so straight.

[A_Clay_Man]

One of the aspects of straight holes that I really like are when they become not straight, though the proper use of either centerline or perpendicular nasties.

Red Lawrences #16(?) on the south course comes to mind, as well as the new hole, "Murifield" at Paa Ko Ridge.

[Bill_McBride]

Brian, I never think of #2 Rustic Canyon as a straight hole, because the best play is way left so the center bunker  doesn't obscure your line into the green.  It really plays like a dogleg right.

[Brian_Gracely]

Brian, I never think of #2 Rustic Canyon as a straight hole, because the best play is way left so the center bunker  doesn't obscure your line into the green.  It really plays like a dogleg right.

Tell that to Tommy Naccarato

[Dan King]

Brian_Gracey writes:
Prestwick #1

Prestick No. 1 is straight? I always assumed it was just a tee and a green and a lot of stuff in between. I would have guessed that hole was about as crooked as crooked can get.

Ðåñ Kîñg

There was a crooked man,
And he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence,
Beside a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat,
Which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together,
In a little crooked house.

[Brian_Gracely]

Dan,

Few people realize that the proper play for #1 at Prestwick is several low shots along the wall and train tracks.....low enough to never get above wall level.  

....and I'm not even sure how to address you now that you put all those funky accent marks around your name

[corey miller]

Prairie Dunes has a few straight holes.  In fact, some of the changes by C&C are designed to bring a cross wind more into play on the tee ball.

17-a short par 5 with a wonderful tiny green.

9-long par 4 (made even longer with a new back tee) with a really neat rumpled fairway.

12- short par 4 with the cottonwood trees on both sides of the fairway making straight all the more important.

5- a long par four that may have the most difficult straight shot.  Though the fairway is extremely generous the tee box is aligned down the left fairway line with much trouble left.  The best part of the fairway to access the long narrow elevated green is also from the left side of this fairway.  Somehow makes the fairway seem really narrow.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Some of the best  straight holes that I know are number 16 and 18 at Merion.

At Pine Valley, there are alot of fairly straight holes that are simply wonderful, those being..2, 7, 9, 13, 15, and 18.
I know that some of thes holes have slight bends but they do not classify as doglegs...although I am sure someone will disagree with me on that

[Dan King]

ßrïäñ Grâçëÿ writes:
....and I'm not even sure how to address you now that you put all those funky accent marks around your name

Maybe it will reduce the amount of Spam. I'm thinking of legally changing my name but I'm not sure how to pronounce it.

Few people realize that the proper play for #1 at Prestwick is several low shots along the wall and train tracks.....low enough to never get above wall level.

As a lefty, I know I have that shot. I just have never had the balls to try it. Next time...

Dan King

You would like to gather up several holes from Prestwick and mail them to your top ten enemies.
  --Dan Jenkins

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