The best nine in golf - frontside or backside - one course.....?

[John Kavanaugh]

Wow, I can't believe that nobody else thinks the front 9 at NGLA is special.  I expected a pile-on.  Instead, the back at Augusta gets the pile-on?

What happened to "Fazio wrecked the course?"

GCA Hypocrisy #14 coming soon to a theatre near you....unless that gets 'splained to me real quick....

Shiv,

Do you really believe a few trees and some back tees would make the back nine at Augusta anything but the number one choice to play nine holes anywhere in the world?  I know it's not all cool or intellectual but I just want to hit one shot like Nicklaus did in 86.  I think I just might from the members tees.

[Don Hyslop]

 Although both nines offer great golf, my choice would be the first nine holes at Highland Links. Front or back is a misnomer at this course as you are several miles from the clubhouse when you are on the 9th green. Several of the holes on the first nine have received world recognition:
 Top 100 Golf Holes in the World
Highlands Links - Hole #6 - Mucklemouth Meg
GOLF Magazine January 2000
   Top 500 Golf Holes of the Millenium
Highlands Links - Hole #2, Hole #6 (Only Canadian Course to have two holes listed) - GOLF Magazine - December 1999
  The late George Knudson said this about the seventh hole at Highland Links:
"the  Highlands is the “Cypress Point of Canada”. He reportedly once said that No. 7 at the Highlands was the best Par Five in the world."
 So by many accounts the first nine at Highland Links has at least three of the finest golf holes in the world. Add that to the fact that the first 6 holes run along the sea while the next three take you deep into the mountainous highlands and I don't think you could ask for a better experience.
Check out the first nine holes here: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/capebreton2.html


  

[John Kirk]

Taking into account the "repeat play" bias factor, when the heart grows fonder with each new round played, add one vote for:

Back nine at Shinnecock Hills

I've only played it once, but that place is heavenly.  It's such a tough decision.  At some point golf becomes "as good as it gets", and I've played a few courses that qualify.  Pretty much every favorite nine of mine is a back nine.

[J Sadowsky]

Front nine, Royal Melbourne Composite, Original sequence.

Like a compilation tape of 9 of your all time favourite songs.

When you putt out on one hole, the next is even better.

MM

This clearly violates the "one course" requirement 

[Tom Huckaby]

Interestingly, I have to go with Kavanaugh on Augusta v. NGLA.  Oh my, I do love NGLA, and when I did my composite best holes by number, 1-2-3 at NGLA all made the list!  So it is great without a doubt.  I just do believe that I am thinking of this as Kavanaugh is, and the thrill would be more playing Augusta.  Jack never had a "maybe, yes sir" at NGLA.

And I still take Sand Hills over either.

TH

[Tom Huckaby]

Understanding that those questions are for Kavanaugh....

I don't make a distinction between course I'd most want to play and greatest.  Nope.

So my take remains the same.

I also could care less what's been done to Augusta.  It's greatness remains.

TH

[Brendan Dolan]

I am also a big fan of the front nine at RCD, and for my favorite back nine I'll take Ballybunion!
Do you think it is possible to do that combonation in one day?
Brendan

[John Kavanaugh]

John, if the question was "what 9 do you want to play once?", it's the ANGC back nine. 

But the question was "what's the best?".  And according to most folks on here, ANGC has been absolutely ruined, right?  So how can that be the best?  Makes no sense to me.

Separate the ANGC back nine's greatness from its lure as a trophy and whaddya got?

Besides, I thought you abhor all this trophy course collecting stuff?? 

It should not surprise you that most folks here are wrong.  I have never considered ANGC to be ruined and think everything Fazio has done has zero meaning architecturally.  If anything it has enhanced the competitive nature of the course from the championship tees.  I plan on playing from the members tees myself.  Augusta National is the one great course that could be played in total secrecy and enjoyed day after day each evening before I go to sleep.  The worst possible shot on the back nine counting every drive and every approach would be the drive on 14...That is the only shot I do not have a firm picture of already in my mind.  I don't think you can name a stronger nine holes shot for shot.

[Richard Phinney]

I also go with Machrihanish F9, partly because (and this would be neat additional thread) its front nine is so much better than its back...not sure there's a more striking differential in a serious golf course. 

[Phil McDade]

Richard:

I've always thought the back nine at Machrihanish is under-rated.

Is it not the nine that the front is? No question. Does it move over less-interesting terrain? Absolutely. Does it peter out at the end? Unquestionably.

But I'd argue the back nine's first seven holes are very good, perhaps not quite as good as those on Mac's front nine, but would stand out on a links course of lesser overall merit. In other words, stick those first seven holes on many a Scottish links, and they would more than hold their own.

In particular, I think 10 is a really exceptional shortish par 5, the par 5 12th has a terrific green and green surrounds, and the three par 3s -- measuring at 192, 157, and 221 (from the yellow tees) -- all provide very good challenges and variety.

[David Stamm]

David,

I'm a huge so-cal homer too and you know we both love many of the same things, but did you honestly just throw the back nine at Soule Park on this list?

C'mon bro....

 

I was wondering how long it would be until another So Cal'er would pick up on that!

I merely put it on there as a favorite of mine. Soule Park is a cool place to play and enjoy. Contender for best? Obviously not. But I still think it's pretty darn good.

[wsmorrison]

It seems an informal survey indicates that most of the preferred 9s are back 9s.  If I'm right about that, and there's a good chance I'm not, do you think it was by design?  Are most back 9s, in courses that are two returning loops, designated as such because they are considered more memorable or more difficult.  Did match play influence the decision making in the old days?  Does medal play influence the decision today?

There have been a few votes for the back 9 at Shinnecock.  The nines were flipped before or shortly after the opening.  It is reasonable to assume the start would have been too difficult and groups would have been backed-up at the start.  With a hidden landing area on the current 10th, that would have been problematic if it was the 1st.  So, I would take Shinnecock out of this consideration as there were fundamental reasons why it was better off as a back 9. 

[Phil McDade]

Wayne:

Since mine (Machrihanish overseas, West Bend CC domestic) were both front nines, maybe I can lend some perspective. In the case of both courses, the particular circumstances of each course, moreso than the reasons you suggest, account for their merit.

Machrihanish's front nine is clearly laid out over better terrain. The large dunes, swales, hollows and the all-world tee shot on No. 1 (a Cape-like drive over the Atlantic Ocean) make for an awfully good run of holes. The back nine on this out-and-back links is further from the water, and the land while very good linksland, is not quite up to what the front nine offers.

In West Bend's case, it's tied mainly to who did the two nines. Langford and Moreau did the original nine, over some very good land, but the club declined to build all 18 of the original holes designed there. The back nine was built decades later by lesser talent. I suppose it would be easy to switch the nines -- both nines start and loop back to the clubhouse -- but the Langford-Moreau front nine does a good job of moving golfers out into the course.

[Dean DiBerardino]

The back nine at KIRTLAND stands out in my mind.  Maybe not the best, but definitely noteworthy for this thread.

Also, I recently spoke to a Kirtland member who talked about renovations to their golf course this past fall and winter.  Apparently the work included repositioning/renovating/restoring bunkers using photographs from the 1930s as well as reclaiming lost putting surfaces.

[Jay Flemma]

The front nine at Crystal Downs is fantastic.....

I also love the front nine at CD...I like the front at BM as well...

[Mark Arata]

Front 9 at Prairie Dunes, Crystal Downs, Kingsley Club, Fishers Island
Back 9 at Cypress Point, Pasatiempo, Pacific Dunes,
The front and back 9 at Dunes Club

[Brian Cenci]

Favorite 9's...

Front nines:
#1 - Crystal Downs
#2 - Prairie Dunes
#3 - Grewalls
#4 - Bandon Trails
#5 - Yeamans Hall
#6 - Kinglsey Club
#7 - Pine Needles
#8 - Tobacco Road
#9 - Whistling Straits
#10 - Inverness

Back nines:
#1 - Kiawah, Ocean Course
#2 - Whistling Straits
#3 - Pacific Dunes
#4 - Holston Hills
#5 - Crystal Downs
#6 - Lost Dunes
#7 - Victoria National
#8 - Bandon Dunes
#9 - Arcadia Bluffs
#10a - Eagle Eye
#10b - Black Creek

Favorite 9 holes course....Dunes Club

[Tim Pitner]

Am I the only one who thinks the front nine at Pacific Dunes is better than the back?

[John Kavanaugh]

Am I the only one who thinks the front nine at Pacific Dunes is better than the back?

No...I don't think I have ever played a course where there is such a huge difference.  On a Golfweek scale I would give the front a 9.5 and the back a 7.  I hate the mail it competitive aspect of 4 par 3's to get home.  Sorry, but the game does need to be played.

[JESII]

#6 through #14 at Shinnecock is the answer...no two ways 'bout it...