Worst golf hole in the world

[Peter Goss]

Our Yarra Yarra thread spun off in a number of directions, sufficient to have Warragul (Australia)  #5 nominated in the 3 worst holes in the world. Then another from Westgate (Australia).
It may be of interest to this forum to know why such holes are so bad.
My nomination would be a par 4 hole on Ballybunion (Ireland) new course (can't remember which hole) which required a 2nd shot 100m carry over a huge ravine to a 5m deep green cut into a very steep hill with an almost unplayable shot back if you were too long. I played this hole in 1988, long before any interest in golf architecture but it still sticks in my mind as being ridiculous.

[Richard Chamberlain]

Peter,

I'll throw two Aussie holes up for this award but the peeve is the same. Par 5's where its virtually impossible to reach the green in two by way of a hazard, but forced into a layup of a very short iron.

Gainsborough Greens, Brisbane - 18th Hole.
A large lake in front of the green to make it all carry to the target. If my drive is stuck well its usually a driver-wedge-8 iron.

Kooralbyn Valley, Queensland - 7th hole.
A deep 100m wide ravine in front of the green, and i'm yet to see anyone get home in two.
driver - 7 iron - 7 iron.

[Mike Clayton]

Dr Kildare

 I ve played those 2 and they are not so terrible. We once played at a course called Perelada in Spain with one par 4 that was a U shaped dogleg par 4 that was 7 iron, 7 iron or a driver at the green across the housing lots  which hadn't been sold and probably still havn't been. It might have been the worst hole I saw in 15 years in Europe. The lots were OOB and it was a 300 yard carry that was possible because of the prevailing gales.

[BillV]

I don't remember the hole numbers from Trump National too well, but.....Maybe if I'd gotten my Chwistmas wish....

This is a category that should list monumental failures at over design, I would think.  I generally have been successful at avoiding most holes like that.

For tree overgrowth, 18 at Fenway should make the list, maybe

[Tim_Weiman]

Peter,

I realize the point of your thread is not to debate nominations for the worst hole in the world, but as I am very familiar with Ballybunion New and a close friend assisted Robert Trent Jones on the placement of the green I think you are refering to, let me just mention a few things:

First, I assume you are refering to the fifth hole.  No other hole comes to mind that fits your description.

I won't argue that it is a great hole, but actually, when the area behind the green is properly maintained, it can be kind of fun.  By property maintained, I mean the grass is cut sufficiently so that if you land anywhere near the green usually the ball will come back to the green.

I've sat for hours watching people play the hole and played it many, many times.  Usually, with any kind of decent approach shot, you are left with a putt, thanks to the back board effect of the hill when properly maintained.

Funny things is that Mr. Jones actually designed two greens on that hole, with one to the left and far higher up the hill.

That might have been the worst hole in the world and it was abandoned in the early 90's.

[Mike Duffy]

Dr Kildare,

In regards to Gainsborough Greens, are there any good holes there at all? I only played it once, about 8 years ago, and my memory is that of being one of the worst golf courses that I have had the misfortune to play.

[Richard Chamberlain]

Duff

Not too many holes there to write home about. They did have a great social members deal that I utilised when my golfing rounds were few and far between. Only $50 per year which basically kept my AGU handicap alive.
Mind you, the full membership fee was almost $1000 and i'd suggest it was the worst value around. Funnily enough, no waiting lists to get in.

Mike C
Are you sure Desmond didn't do the routing of that course in Spain and was just looking for a U to spell something out with the layout plan.

[moth]

Actually I know of a course which has a couple of holes which beat out those mentioned above. The course is in Malaysia and is called Monterez G&CC. Not only does it have a 50,000 fsq.ft Aztec themed clubhouse and cactus palm landscape theme (in the tropical jungle environment of Malaysia) it has  a couple of ripper "strategic" golf holes  

My favorite is a dogleg dogleg par 5 at which you have 3 immediate options off the tee. The first option is to drive it straight down the fairway - of course if you are able to drive the ball further than 180 yards this option will get you into trouble as the hole doglegs 90 degrees left and there is a lake at the end of the fairway .

Therefore if you can hit the ball 180 yards or further you must take the more daring second option which involves cutting the corner of the dogleg and hitting over another tee and some houses to put yourself in position to go for the green in 2 (another 200 yard shot over some more houses) .

Of course, if you are a strong hitter, you have a 3rd option which is somewhat risky and perhaps a bit dangerous but what the hey. In this option, you turn 90 degrees to the line of play, aim over another tee and green, across several houses and a road and go for the green in one .

A classic hole and there are far too few of these sorts of holes for me! Is ther a worse hole in the world - I havent seen it yet.

[Richard Chamberlain]

Moggster, it sounds like a piece of cake. How many aces have you had there ?
It sounds like a PDS design.

[Mike Duffy]

A few more Anchors Moth, and I bet you will come up with at least a couple of more options!!

Have a good New Year mate.

[JohnV]

There was a little golf course in Oregon called Pine Hollow where the 2nd hole was a 210-yard double-dogleg par 4.  The tee shot covered about 70 yards of rough ground before entering the trees.  The trees were about 40 foot high firs with the fairway being a 10 yard wide patch of grass that dogleged about 30 degrees left about 140 yards from the tee.  The fairway was only about 4 yards wide tree-tip to tree-tip.  From there it was 60 yards to another 90 degree left turn just short of the green which was 25 yards long and about 6 yards wide and surrounded by lots more trees.

The other way to play the hole was to hit a 180 yard shot at the green over the trees and hope that you had a shot that wasn't obstructed by trees.

I think the course is gone now, but I'm not sure.  The rest of the course was a basic farm field back and forth thing.

[Bob_Huntley]

Shivas:

The 16th at Pebble Beach in your list of worst holes in the world? I really think you should return to Burning Bush and a century of somnolence.  

[Jeff Fortson]

Anything designed by TED ROBINSON!!!  Any hole by this guy is flatout the worst hole I've ever seen.  

Sorry to be harsh, I'm sure he is a good man and a wonderful father but I just cringe at the sight of holes designed by him.


Jeff F.

[JakaB]

Shivas,

You got a great attitude....I think you mentioned friends that hit it 280 and stink...what is the worst hole in the Chicago area in you opinion?

[Philippe Binette]

Every hole that is straight, no options, without character and the only approach is a high shot on a soft green...

Hey, it's like most of the hole on the PGA TOUR....
So, you have a lot of choice...