[Morgan Clawson]

Here are the best 18 holes in America (Each hole is in the same position that it occupies on its own course):

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

10.   Winged Foot – Par 3 191 Yards
11.   Merion – Par 4 378 Yards
12.   Augusta National – Par 3 155 Yards
13.   The Dunes (Myrtle Beach) – Par 5 560 Yards
14.   Cherry Hills – Par 4 460 Yards
15.   Oakmont – Par 4 458 Yards
16.   Oakland Hills – Par 4 405 Yards
17.   Quail Creek (Oklahoma City) – Par 4 459 yards
18.   Pebble Beach – Par 5 530 Yards

These 18 holes were selected by Dan Jenkins after consulting with USGA Exec Director Joseph Dey, Byron Nelson and amateur Charlie Coe.  The selection was published in Sports Illustrated in February, 1965.

So, it has been 45 years since these selections were made.  Given our current portfolio of courses:

Which of these holes should be off the list?

Which have stood the test of time?

[Tom_Doak]

My favorite story about that list is about the 17th at Quail Creek.  As I have heard it, Jenkins threw in the hole partly as a favor to Ernie Vossler, who was the pro there, I believe.  But they had switched the nines on the golf course by then, so it wasn't even the hole Jenkins was thinking of that made the list.

You could throw off the first five holes and find better alternatives pretty easily, but #9 and #17 are the two holes which really had no business being included.

[Ronald Montesano]

How many architecture pieces has Jenkins written?  Would he know an RTJ from a, well, another RTJ?

[JC Jones]

If you want to see the updated list, see the fantasy draft thread and look for my picks

[JNC Lyon]

Dan Jenkins' List might not be the most architecturally viable list.  However, I still love reading this book.  It is a great introduction into some of the nation's great course.  I am also fascinated by Ben Hogan's 54 Hole addendum at the back of the book.

The one I have seen that I would seriously question is the 1st Hole at Merion.  To me, Merion's first is the least inspiring hole on the golf course.  I have seen many superior starting holes at courses both world class and less than world class.

The two big published eclectic 18 lists from that era are the Jenkins list and Pat Ward-Thomas' list in the World Atlas of Golf.  After seeing both opening holes (PWT's selection is Sandwich), I was underwhelmed by both selections.  Frankly both holes are among the weakest on their respective courses.

[Sean Leary]

Isn't there a list in the Confidential Guide too?

[PCCraig]

I think Dan Jenkins actually did an updated list about 10 years ago. Which I remember because he picked the 8th at the Dunes Club as the best 8th hole in the country.

[Jud_T]

his front nine from 2000:

No. 1: Sand Hills Golf Club
No. 2: Rio Secco Golf Club
No. 3: Ventana Canyon
No. 4: Bear Creek Golf Club
No. 5, Cullasaja Club
No. 6: Links at Spanish Bay
No. 7: Bay Harbor Golf Club (Quarry 9)
No. 8: The Dunes Club
No. 9: Barton Creek Country Club and Resort

[Jud_T]

his back nine from 2000:

No. 10, Castle Pines Golf Club
No. 11, Mira Vista Golf Club
No. 12, The Challenge at Manele
No. 13, Shadow Glen Golf Club
No. 14, Muirfield Village G.C.
No. 15, Black Diamond Ranch Golf & Country Club (Quarry Course)
No. 16, Blackwolf Run G.C. (River Course)
No. 17, TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium Course)
No. 18, Harbour Town Golf Links

[Mike Cirba]

Boy, if that 2000 updated list isn't a warning sign about the downside of aging....

[Sean Leary]

All-time best

Below are Dan Jenkins' picks for his all-time best 18 holes. It works out
to a par 35-37--72. If you're counting, half of the holes are from his
original Best 18 from 35 years ago.

The front nine:

                                            Old/
Hole   Course              Designer      Par   New

1      Sand Hills          Crenshaw      5     new
2      Rio Secco           Rees Jones    4     new
3      Ventana Canyon      Tom Fazio     3     new
4      Baltusrol Lower     Trent Jones   3     old
5      Colonial            Maxwell       4     old
6      Seminole            Donald Ross   4     old
7      Pine Valley         Crump, Colt   5     old
8      Prairie Dunes       Maxwell       4     old
9      Barton Creek        Tom Fazio     3     new

The back nine:

                                            Old/
Hole   Course              Designer      Par   New

10     Castle Pines        Nicklaus      4     new
11     Merion              Hugh Wilson   4     old
12     Augusta National    Mackenzie     3     old
13     The Dunes           Trent Jones   5     old
14     Muirfield Village   Nicklaus      4     new
15     Black Diamond       Tom Fazio     4     new
16     Blackwolf Run       Pete Dye      5     new
17     TPC Stadium         Pete Dye      3     new
18     Pebble Beach        J. Neville    5     old

[Kevin Pallier]

Dan Jenkins must have missed Shinnecock, NGLA and Cypress Point ?

Personally - if you cant find a hole from one of them.......

[JESII]

Kevin,

That's a worthwhile point for debate...which one(s) would you plug in?

I would go for 10, 11 or 16 at Shinnecock...even though I haven't played Blackwolf Run or Castle Pines.

[Phil_the_Author]

I think an interesting comparison would be Golf magazine's 2000 18 holes of the millenium if someone could pull them up and post them...

[higkgins]

How Bethpage #4 & #5 aren't mentioned here is unbelievable !
 

[Tim Leahy]

How could anyone leave off 16 at Cypress Point from a greatest hole list?

[Michael Dugger]

Complete hogwash...

Any list not starting with Cypress Point #16 is just fodder

If the best courses don't have the best holes then what the bleep is it that makes them the best???

Duh!

[jonathan_becker]

Kevin P,

How about ditching Ventana Canyon for NGLA #3?  That seems more logical.

[Carr Harris]

Kevin P,

How about ditching Ventana Canyon for NGLA #3?  That seems more logical.

Yeah I was thinking the 3rd @ Chicago GC would be a good fit there also.

[Phil Benedict]

I have a really fond memory of the original list because it was the first time I ever heard of some of these courses. Plus there were a lot of pictures, most in color which was pretty unusual back then.  I used to fight with my brother over who would get to read SI first.  He was bigger so I usually lost.  In those days SI was huge - no ESPN or coverage of out-of-town teams.

Jenkins declared that Merion was the greatest course in America, probably because it had two holes in the original 18.

[Sean Leary]

Jenkins declared that Merion was the greatest course in America, probably because it had two holes in the original 18.

and because Hogan won there

[Tom_Doak]

I had forgotten about Jenkins' "new" list, which was at least as bad as the old one.  Ron Whitten helped him out with it ... I will bet $$ that Jenkins has never been to The Dunes Club, among others.  And as far as I know, he's never seen anything I've built.

[Sean Leary]

I had forgotten about Jenkins' "new" list, which was at least as bad as the old one.  Ron Whitten helped him out with it ... I will bet $$ that Jenkins has never been to The Dunes Club, among others.  And as far as I know, he's never seen anything I've built.

A modern top 18 would be interesting now 10 years later with all the good stuff that has been built since 2000. I'll nominate your 4th hole at Tumble Creek as one that most here haven't played but is world class imo. My favorite par 5 you have built.

[Mark Molyneux]

How Bethpage #4 & #5 aren't mentioned here is unbelievable !
 

Couldn't agree more! If someone is uncomfortable of back to back holes from the same course then substitute #4 from Torrey Pines South.

[Mac Plumart]

You could go with 4 at Inverness.   

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()