Best Three Hole Stretches

[Bill_McBride]

Here's a link to a really nice feature just emailed from Links Magazine - the best three hole stretches on a number of the best courses in the world.

http://linksmagazine.com/golf_courses/features/best_3_golf_hole_stretches_intro.aspx

Some of these courses are so good that any three-hole stretch could be called "the best."   On others it's definite which are the best.  Not trying to start a big debate here, just offering this list up for your viewing pleasure!

[Tom Huckaby]

That is really cool - thanks for posting, Bill.

What struck me is that at each course I played or I know, the submissions were good... but not inarguable.... that is, Cypress 15-16-17 is obvious, but 14-15-16 also works... as does 7-8-9.... heck the same goes for all these courses... pretty much any 3 hole combo at NGLA works.... Pasatiempo, I might take 9-10-11 over 14-15-16.. or 1-2-3 also....

One he needs to add is 16-17-18 Sand Hills... or 7-8-9.... or 1-2-3... see how it goes?

Good stuff.

[Niall Hay]

Pine Valley 1-18 would work.

Royal Troon 6, 7, 8 should have been included.

[Kalen Braley]

Tom,

I'd be outraged if the 11-13 combo at St. T is left off, wouldn't you? 

Good call on Pasa, so many great 3 hole combos to be found out there.  7-9 at BN is one for the list as well as 16-18 at Lakota Canyon.

[ChipOat]

The Quarry Holes at Merion  - #'s 16-18.

They're not worthy?

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen, what's funny is that if we did this for Bay Area public courses... maybe even all public courses in the state... 11-13 Santa Teresa really could hold it's head up high. Those are three cool golf holes.

Wow Ballyneal has a plethora of potential inclusions as well... like most of these courses, pretty much ANY three hole stretch... but yes, 7-9 is particulary awesome.

[Tom Huckaby]

Dave - you do realize that Jans National has now exceeded #10 at Riviera as the answer to all questions, right?

 

[Mike Wagner]

Dave,

Outstanding!  I think we need some photos...

[Joe Hancock]

What an exercise.....let's see...

SandHills(or NGLA)1-3
SandHills(or NGLA) 2-4
SandHills(or NGLA) 3-5

Won't the best courses have so much of the list occupied that it just becomes another list for the sake of it?

Joe

[Tom Huckaby]

What an exercise.....let's see...

SandHills(or NGLA)1-3
SandHills(or NGLA) 2-4
SandHills(or NGLA) 3-5

Won't the best courses have so much of the list occupied that it just becomes another list for the sake of it?

Joe

That's my feeling also, Joe.  Still the list as presented - seeming to be just great examples, not any attempt to rank - is good fun.

[Mike Wagner]

No doubt 4-5-6 at Pacific are a no brainer, but I like 4-5-6 at Bandon better. 

[Tom Huckaby]

No doubt 4-5-6 at Pacific are a no brainer, but I like 4-5-6 at Bandon better. 

Interesting call... very very close... closer than a lot here would acknowledge I bet.  Pacific does tend to get a LOT more love than Bandon in this forum.

In any case Bandon 4-5-6 would be a worthy inclusion on this list.  I'd say 14-15-16 might also.  Bandon Trails has a few that could qualify for sure... and lord knows Old Macdonald will....

great stuff for sure.

[Mike Wagner]

In fact, 3-4-5 at Pacific is my preferred stretch......#3 is my favorite par 5 in the country.

[Tom Huckaby]

In fact, 3-4-5 at Pacific is my preferred stretch......#3 is my favorite par 5 in the country.

That too is a good call!

Just tough for me to omit #6 at Pacific, which is definitely among my favorite par fours in this country....

 

[Kalen Braley]

Bag that..

5,6,7 at PD is much better than those options!!!   

[Tom Huckaby]

Bag that..

5,6,7 at PD is much better than those options!!!   

Can't argue with that too much as 7 is a great golf hole also....  see, it's as I said in the beginning of this thread... on these great courses, one can argue for pretty much ANY three hole stretch,.

[Kalen Braley]

Bag that..

5,6,7 at PD is much better than those options!!!   

Can't argue with that too much as 7 is a great golf hole also....  see, it's as I said in the beginning of this thread... on these great courses, one can argue for pretty much ANY three hole stretch,.

But of course Tom,

Thats the point isn't it though? To argue endlessly with no hope for resolution.   

[Greg Tallman]

I may be biased but Cabo del Sol Ocean 16,17 & 18 is about as good as it gets.

[Tom Huckaby]

I may be biased but Cabo del Sol Ocean 16,17 & 18 is about as good as it gets.

More concurrence!

And I say that as it was a few years ago when I played it... from all I hear 16 particularly is even better.....

[Mike Wagner]

TH,

This is too difficult to do with bandon......so I'll conclude with the best "3 stretch" there as....

7:30 at Trails
11:45 at Pacific
4:00 at Bandon

[Tom Huckaby]

TH,

This is too difficult to do with bandon......so I'll conclude with the best "3 stretch" there as....

7:30 at Trails
11:45 at Pacific
4:00 at Bandon

BINGO!

Man is there a greater doable golfing day involving three different courses than that?

[archie_struthers]

 

Thinking of Pine Valleys best three in a row I have to go with  #'s  1, 2, 3 ............ with  #'s 13 -15 a close second.   !     

[Greg Tallman]

I may be biased but Cabo del Sol Ocean 16,17 & 18 is about as good as it gets.

More concurrence!

And I say that as it was a few years ago when I played it... from all I hear 16 particularly is even better.....

Far superior to the orginal and the disasterous second itteration.

That said if we can ever get the changes to 6 and 7 in place 5,6,7 will be awfully compelling as well.

Huck, you and your ratings brethren destroyed our "other" course this time around... from 5 to 9... what gives?

[Tom Huckaby]

I may be biased but Cabo del Sol Ocean 16,17 & 18 is about as good as it gets.

More concurrence!

And I say that as it was a few years ago when I played it... from all I hear 16 particularly is even better.....

Far superior to the orginal and the disasterous second itteration.

That said if we can ever get the changes to 6 and 7 in place 5,6,7 will be awfully compelling as well.

Huck, you and your ratings brethren destroyed our "other" course this time around... from 5 to 9... what gives?

I dunno Greg - all I can say is the International version is a total crapshoot based on relatively few ratings submitted.  I saw that and cringed myself.

[Tim Bert]

Bag that..

5,6,7 at PD is much better than those options!!!   

Can't argue with that too much as 7 is a great golf hole also....  see, it's as I said in the beginning of this thread... on these great courses, one can argue for pretty much ANY three hole stretch,.

I'll see your 3,4,5 or 4,5,6 or 5,6,7 and raise you a 2,3,4 or a 6,7,8...  At Pacific it works with any 3 hole combo from 2-8.  I'd probably opt for 5,6,7 as much as I like the other options.

I haven't peeked at the article, but how about 5,6,7 at Crystal Downs?  Tough to find 3 better consecutive par 4s.