best dogleg holes

[mike_malone]

 Jim Thornton,

   You forgot "why".

[PThomas]

another :  the great dogleg right  8th at Prarie Dunes..a rolling , heaving fairway which leaves an uphill 2nd to well guarded green, if i remember correctly...and the green is tricky too:  i had a 2-3 footer fpr birdie after a great 5 wood second...and i misplayed the break and missed it

[Jack Davis]

Spyglass Hill - Holes 4, 8, 14, 16, and 17

I have not played any golf course that uses doglegs so frequently and so effectively. Not getting into too much detail about each hole, but RTJ is a master of the dogleg. Getting the chance to play at Spy all summer really gave me the opportunity to appreciate these fantastic holes. It seems that I used every club in my bag on these beauties, especially the short 4th and 17th. What makes these two holes so impressive is that even after say 30 rounds on the course I still stood on the tee boxes with 3 clubs in my hand. Anything from a long iron to 3 wood works with some shots with a driver for extra fun. The double dogleg 14th also makes you think on every shot, especially the on the layup. Spy is perhaps king of the dogleg?

Jack, it's interesting to me that Spyglass is held in such high regard, and not just for its ocean holes, considering RTJ's use of doglegs (you left out #1, but maybe you were only mentioning the doglegs you liked).

When RTJ designed Hazeltine, it was excoriated because there were so many doglegs. The fairways bent on 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 17 and 18 -- and I thought each one of them was, on its own, a good golf hole (17 was unpopular, but i enjoyed it.) Had it been a resort course near an ocean, Hazeltine's doglegs might have been more acceptable.

The reason I didn't include the first at Spy is that after playing there so many times, I felt the first was a great opening hole but perhaps not an amazing "dogleg". To me the best part of a dogleg is the risk reward factor. Since the first is unreachable in two except for VERY long hitters, the dogleg isn't supremely effective. Also, the trees encroaching on the tee shot prevent the golfer from cutting off too much on the drive. Believe me, I love the first. When you get down by the green and see the ocean you know you're in store for an amazing round. But as a "dogleg"? Good, but not great in my opinion. The other doglegs I mentioned give you many more options and the shape of the hole affects your shot selection more, again, in my opinion. Overall though, one of my absolute favorite courses.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Swinley Forest 12th - a great hole because you simply have to be in exactly the right place for your length of shot on this twisting double dog-leg.
Beau Desert 12th - also a double dogleg perhaps slightly more contrived and more affected by trees - but a thrill to play, nonetheless.

[Bill_McBride]

I'm gonna throw the 16th at Pasa in this fight.  Why?

1) Semi-blind tee shot that is much more forgiving than it appears.
2) Fear inducing view upon seeing what's required on approach.
3) Freakin' crazy waterfall green.  Get above the hole, your dead.
4) It was Doc Mac's fave.  

As good as 16 is, I think 10 is better.

Sean, is 10 really a dogleg, or just feel like one when you bail out right like I always do?

[Matt_Ward]

Can't say it's the ultimate best I've played but the 10th at Black Mesa would have to be on my personal short list.

The hole plays about 455 or so yards. You tee on an elevated area next to the clubhouse and the hole dips downward slightly before rising to an equal level of the tee itself.

The hole makes a clear turn to the left -- hit it too far right -- no more than 225 yards and you'll be heading towards some of the meanest terrain you can imagine.

The hole amply rewards a slight draw that can follow the turning point perfectly.

There is more room to the left than many might imagine but if you pull it too far you might find the ball but the 2nd shot will not be towards the green.

Often time you encounter a stiff breeze when playing the hole and it is an absolute eyeful of the stunning NM countryside.

[Greg Holland]

Wouldn't 13 at Pine Valley need to be in the discussion -- many view it as the best hole there, right? I think No. 6 there would also qualify for the list.

How about 15 at Yeaman's Hall -- its a Raynor's Prize Dogleg, after all.

One of my favorites is No. 2 at Sedgefield CC, here in Greensboro.