[Phil Benedict]

In 1965 Dan Jenkins wrote an article called the 18 Greatest Holes in America in Sports Illustrated.  Best 1st hole, best 2nd hole etc.  Because in those days television only showed the last 3 or 4 holes, most of Jenkin's course was unfamiliar to me and probably most other readers.  Wayne Morrison has identified the front 9 and we will try to find out about the back 9.  Here's the front 9:

1. Merion East 360/4
2. Scioto 436/4
3. Olympic 220/3
4. Baltusrol 183/3
5. Colonial 459/4
6. Seminole 388/4
7. Pine Valley 570/5
8. Prairie Dunes 424/4
9. Champions 538/5

For those who may be familiar with any part of the front nine, interested in your thoughts on:

1. Whether Jenkins knew a good golf hole when he saw one.
2. How has technology changed the shot values.
3. Have any holes been lengthened/modified to adjust to modern technology.

[PThomas]

think he came out with a new list a few years ago in GD

[Peter_Herreid]

IIRC, these holes were reproduced in an old wax-pencil/plastic covered board game by SI in the 70's, which I wore out as a kid.  I may remember a few of the holes:

#12 Augusta National
#13 Dunes Beach and Golf
#15 Oakmont
#18 Pebble Beach

I vaguely recall a hole from The County Club on there, too.  Perhaps Wayne can double-check that...

[Peter_Herreid]

From GD's website, here were the rest of his original back nine:

Back nine
No. 10: Winged Foot, par 3
No. 11: Merion, par 4
No. 12: Augusta National, par 3
No. 13: The Dunes, par 5
No. 14: Cherry Hills, par 4
No. 15: Oakmont, par 4
No. 16: Oakland Hills, par 4
No. 17: Quail Creek, par 4
No. 18: Pebble Beach, par 5
Back-nine par: 36 Total par: 72

[Phil Benedict]

You are definitely right about 12 and 18.  The first time I heard about the 12th at Augusta, BTW, which wasn't on TV in those days.  Other than putting a heating system in the green, ANGC 12 is pretty much the same hole it was 40 years ago.  Shows how timeless a well-designed par 3 can be.

[John Kirk]

IIRC, these holes were reproduced in an old wax-pencil/plastic covered board game by SI in the 70's, which I wore out as a kid.

Peter, that would be Thinking Man's Golf, which I also owned.  I had an early attraction to golf architecture, but got sidetracked by basketball for about 20 years.

[Glenn Spencer]

Where in the world is Quail Creek? Merion #1 is a charming hole, but the best starter in America is a little strong to say the least. I guess Pine Valley only has the one good hole then. I hate this list.

[John Kavanaugh]

Where in the world is Quail Creek? Merion #1 is a charming hole, but the best starter in America is a little strong to say the least. I guess Pine Valley only has the one good hole then. I hate this list.

I have always wished that Quail Creek is the old home of the Heath Open in Robinson, IL (The smallest town to ever host a annual PGA Tour stop)...I have vacilated between an honorary and paying membership for the last 20 or so years.  I doubt if it is so..

[Joe Andriole]

Quail Creek is/was I believe in Oklahoma City.  There was a story re. its inclusion on the list - it might hav had something to do with his father.

[peter_mcknight]

As it relates to 3M's Thinking Man's Golf game, which I believe came out circa 1966, these are the following holes I remember from the game:

Par 3
Augusta 12 155 (the 17th hole)
Baltusrol 4 183 (front nine)
Laurel Valley 14 190 (back nine)
Olympic 3 220 (front nine)

Par 4
Brookline 17 365 (this was the opening hole of the game)
Merion 1 360
Oakmont 15 458 (back nine)
Congressional 13 (old routing) 448 (back nine)
Seminole 6 388 (front nine)
Colonial 5 459 (front nine)
Oakland Hills 16 405 (back nine)
Cherry Hills 14 470 (back nine)

I'm tempted to believe the 11th at Merion 378 was also part of the game.  If someone remembers what the 10th and final par 4 was, I'd be appreciative to remember.

Par 5
Firestone 16 625 (front nine)
Champions 9 538 (the 9th hole)
Dunes Beach 13 595 (the 16th hole)
Pebble Beach 18 540 (the 18th hole)

The total for the game back then was a whopping 7207 yards par 72!  If one rolled 7's pretty much all the time, that was about the only chance to really compete and shoot 72.

If somebody remembers the specific order of the holes, could that be shared here?

[peter_mcknight]

OK, after some research, this is how the 3M Thinking Man's Game was played (today's yardage is in parentheses):

Brookline 17 365 (381)
Champions 9 538 (538)
Augusta 5 430 (455)
Olympic 3 220 (233)
Seminole 6 388 (388)
Colonial 5 459 (466)
Firestone 16 625 (667)
Baltusrol 4 183 (195)
Merion 1 360 (360)
Total out--3568 yards (3683) par 36

Merion 11 378 (378)
Laurel Valley 14 190 (190)
Oakmont 15 458 (502)
Cherry Hills 14 470 (499)
Congressional 13 448 (461)
Oakland Hills 16 405 (405)
Dunes Beach 13 595 (595)
Augusta 12 155 (155)
Pebble Beach 540 (548)
Total in--3639 yards (3733) par 36

Total 18 hole--7207 yards (7416) par 72

[JohnV]

I have all the APBA golf game boards.  The original was a mixed course that contained in order of play:

LA North #14 - 586
Charleston CC #11 - 180
Congressional #13 - 446
The Country Club #14 - 530
Westchester #8 - 436
Firestone #3 - 450
Oak Hill #17 - 465
Pinehurst-2  #11 - 433
Pine Valley #5  - 217
Baltusrol #17 - 590
Augusta #12 - 155
Pebble Beach #9 - 450
Colonial #5 - 459
Tam O'Shanter #16 - 210
Medianah #13 - 450
Cherry Hills #11 - 563
Cypress Point #16 - 220
Merion #11 - 378

For 7218 yards.

I also have the complete coures for Pebble, Augusta, Pinehurst #2, Merion, Pine Valley, Firestone and both sets of player cards.  

[Tim Leahy]

I believe this list was put out in a book including pictures and history. Also it was made into several board games put out by
SI. I used to play a couple of them with my friends in our teens, which fueled my interest in golf course design, although not enough to make it my profession, just hobby.

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