[Ryan Farrow]

Or, think about this.  When you hear someone mention a course, what is the first hole you think of?  It could be the best, or the worst, or the most famous, or your favorite, or the one you made a birdie on, or whatever.  If you don't think about it and just let an image pop into your head, what hole is it?  No cheating and no revising.  There is no right or wrong, but here is a partial list from my feeble brain.  Some are similar to the above topic.  Some are not.

TOC 11
Prestwick 18
Carnoustie 17
RCD 9
Portrush 5
Turnberry 9
Congressional (blue) 17 (now 18 I think)
East Lake  6
Augusta  12
Cypress  16
Pebble 18
Pasatiempo 1
Merion 13
Rustic Canyon 16
Yeamans Hall 5
Pinehurst #2   2
Oakmont 9
Sand Hills 7
Wade Hampton 3
Linville 4
Grandfather Mountain 7

Why #9 at Oakmont?

I'll go with either 17, because of the BAB in front of the green or 10.

[Art Roselle]

9 is just the hole that popped to mind, because of the way the clubhouse sits behind the green and the connected putting green.  That is just what I think of when I remember that course.  Other images are
tee shot on 4
2nd shot on 1
16
tee shot on 17

[Bill_McBride]

I was thinking about this in terms of what hole would be the poster child too - to me it was obviously 16 CPC.  But all of those work also, I'd say - with the exception of 16 Pasatiempo.  Oh, it is a famous hole for sure, and Mackenzie's favorite does hold a lot of weight - especially now that the green has been restored to its former massive glory.  Only thing is, the more one plays Pasatiempo, the more one realizes it's not even the best hole on it's nine... I'd say 11 is a greater hole for sure, and 10 and 14 hold their heads up just fine also!  In any case, at least for me, 11 is the one hole I think of, even more than 16.

But if you want to list 16 I won't argue too much.  I do so love - and fear - 11 though.

TH

TH, I agree with you about the 16th.  I felt like the sleeper at Pasa is the par 5 13th.  It is a great hole that really entices the better player to go for it in two when the more I think about it, thats not necessarily the wise play. 

I really enjoy the 11th.  When you play the hole, it almost seems as if it was supposed to be laid out that way.  I love the strategy of the tee shot and the use of the baranca.  It doesn't demand the long tee ball, but it does challenge the golfer to risk a bad score to gain the advantage of a better angle and shorter approach into the green.  I also think the 12th hole is under appreciated because of the green.  That front right pin placement is a dangerous one on a short hole. 

BV

Bryon, just curious, how do you think #11 was SUPPOSED to be laid out?  On opening day, Bobby Jones hit his tee shot way left and across the barranca but mere mortals can't think about doing that today.

[Tom Huckaby]

Bill:

Apparently some mere mortals do think 11 can be played with a tee shot out into 12 fairway the way it is today.  Messrs. Benham and Pieracci and I were discussing exactly that off-line after they played the course last week.  Many of the trees up closer to 11 green have been removed, and I believe it CAN be done now (as Mike and Steve said).  It's still not a wise play in any way shape or form, but I think it is at least possible now.  Of course removal of ALL the trees between 11 and 12 - giving both holes more strategic options and making both more fun - is something I've been ranting about for years in here...   So it's good to see at least progress is being made.. but man I won't be fully happy until that barranca is fully deforested.

Of course I know it can't happen - our litigious society will not allow for it, same reason that 6-7-8 and 1-9 can't be returned to the open meadows they once were - but dare to dream.  This does mean however the full happiness is impossible for me.  Darn it.

Byron:  of course all the above notwithstanding, I do love 11 and you are oh so right about 12.  Re 13, have you played the new back tee?  It takes a very large drive from there to even think about going for the green in two... for me, it's a better hole from the up tee, to bring that difficult choice into play.  From the back tee it's a three shot hole, and where to try to place the second shot, as well as whatever approach one is left with, is still great... but that's not as fun for me as having the option to go for it - and that doesn't exist from the back tee.  But of course the back tee is very needed for longer hitters, and they had room, so it's a fine addition.

Jed:  great point about the tee shot on 7... that is one I have NEVER done well, so it scares the crap out of me also.  My reaction though is to NOT think about it, lest the round be ruined. 

TH

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()