What is your favourite course that doesn't have a single stand-out hole?

[Ran Morrissett]

What course do you really like and yet, upon closer examination, you find it doesn't really have one single "great" hole?

[Scott Kraus]

People may gasp, but I don't think Pinehurst #2 has a "stand-out" hole. Hole 5 sticks out the most but it is over the top hard and is far from the best on that course.

[John Sessions]

I would suggest that Royal Birkdale doesn't have a standout hole but it remains a very fine course that is highly respected.

[John Morrissett]

Garden City Golf.

[DBE]

Chicago Golf Club.  I agree with Pinehurst No. 2.

[DBE]

Pine Valley -- the holes are all so good that one doesn't stand out above the others.

[T_MacWood]

Pinehurst #2 and Long Cove. 18 very good holes, but no great holes.

[David Staebler]

Royal Dornoch.  A wonderful flow of interesting shots, strategies and vistas.  Despite my fondness for foxy and #5, and #6 and #10 and #17 (just to name a few) they are just part of the journey.  There is also the first full view of the sweep of the course from the 3rd tee and the first full look back from the 9th green and the trek up the high hole (both the walk and golfing a ball).  Like a good bottle of wine, no one swallow is the best.

[David Staebler]

Oakmont.

[Come Again]

David, You must be a member at Pine Valley if you don't think Foxy or 12, 15,and 18 at Oakmont count as standout holes.

[mike_malone]

 Good to see my "guru" Dave Staebler rescued from the archives.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I agree, Royal Birkdale.  Saunton East, perhaps, too.  Alwoodley?

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I agree with Pinehurst #2.  While great in so many ways, holes seem to lack distinquishing features from eachother.

How about Lytham St. Anne's?

JWK

[Ken Bramlett]

Interesting.

My question is:  if none of these classics mentioned in this thread have any great holes, how can the courses themselves be considered great courses?

[RT]

James Keever,

You are right in a sense about Royal Lytham St. Annes, yet there are a couple of stand-out stars like the deadly no. 9, no. 12 (a fav of Nicklaus), no. 17, no. 18.  Close seconds are no. 14,15,16, in fact 12-18 a fine finish.

RT

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

RT -

The first Open Championship that I attended was at LSA.  If you see the footage of Seve in the car park on 15, you will see a shivering 18 yr. old in a blue windbreaker.

All in all, while difficult, LSA to me had no physically significant or notorious holes, save for the Bobby Jones marker on 17.

On the same trip, I was lucky to have played HCEG, TOC, Gleneagles Kings (Loved Braid's Best #13) and Queens, and Sunningdale Old.  All of these courses had holes with immediately recognizable features.

I am not belittling either Pinehurst #2 or LSA as their resistance to scoring has been proved time and time again.  The out and back routing of LSA does make for some fine disparities of first and second nine scores.

JWK

[Mike Hendren]

Wild Horse.

[hhuffines]

I would add CCNC Dogwood and possibly Grandfather to this
list.

[Andy Levett]

It is a tough question as any attempt invites the riposte: "No xx actually has 18 stand-out holes."
How about Woodhall Spa?  
 

[Jim_Coleman]

   Malone:
          As Staebler's attorney, I am writing to advise you that we will sue for defamation unless you retract the statement that he's your guru.

[Rob_Waldron]

For years i have tried to determine a "signature" hole at Pinehurst #2....to no avail. I appreciate short par 4 holes so #3 and #13 fit the bill very well at Pinehurst #2.

[Sean_A]

I also agree about #2, from what little I know.  I would nominate Muirfield and Donegal.  Andy may have something with Woodhall.  I am also having a think about Southerndown.

Ciao

Sean

[Mike Benham]

Of course, defining "great" will be the variable in this exercise.

I'll throw in Olympic Lake ...

[JAHogan]

Muirfield.

It was my favorite course on a recent trip to Scotland (also included St. Andrews (Old and New), Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, North Berwick and Gullane 1).  What I loved was the way it flowed naturally over the land, not any particular hole.