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Ben Cowan-Dewar

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Favourite First Tees
« on: January 30, 2002, 02:50:04 PM »
I know this topic has been covered before, but I could not find it.

Starting fresh, I want to hear the favourites.

Old White at the Greenbrier is a classic set up.
The first at Rosedale in Toronto.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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George_Williams

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2002, 03:01:49 PM »
The first tee @ the Old Course- when you are there, you are really on the "first" tee.

George Williams
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Evan Fleisher

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2002, 03:10:18 PM »
George beat me to it...nothing can top the experience at TOC.

So...I'll offer up a few others openers:

* Tobacco Road...what a thrill ride!
* Prestwick...don't let that rail-line intimidate you.
* Bethpage Black...a great way to get you started on your "journey"
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:01 PM by -1 »
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Born Rochester, MN. Grew up Miami, FL. Live Cleveland, OH. Handicap 12.2. Have 24 & 21 year old girls and wife of 27 years. I'm a Senior Supply Chain Business Analyst for Vitamix. Diehard walker, but tolerate cart riders! Love to travel, always have my sticks with me. Mollydooker for life!

Justin_Hanrahan

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2002, 03:31:13 PM »
I think the most amazing first tee experience was at Portstewart GC in County Antrim, Nothern Ireland...awe inspiring. An amazing front nine, actually...

I haven't played TOC but I did stand there one day and watch group after group hit off, each person announced and got goose bumps just being there.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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JSlonis

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2002, 03:37:10 PM »
The first tee at Merion GC, which is just steps from the clubhouse terrace is a great start to a great golf course.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Jeff_Brauer

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2002, 04:04:06 PM »
How about "The next one I'll play from!" :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Jeff Mingay

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2002, 04:08:33 PM »
Crystal Downs immediately comes to mind. How many other first tees provide a glimpse of nearly the entire front nine?

What a sight that first nine at "The Downs" is!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Matt_Ward

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2002, 05:04:55 PM »
Off the top of my head -- the following from tip tees:

PV (NJ)
Crystal Downs
Sanctuary (CO) / *You may get vertigo!
Desert Mountain / Geronimo (AZ)
The Kingsley Club (MI)
Castle Pines (CO) *see note from Sanctuary
Plainfield (NJ)
Merion / East (PA)
Riviera (CA)
Devil's Pulpit (Ontario)
Shinnecock & NGLA (NY)
*Bethpage Black would be great, but seeing / sometimes smelling, the garbage dump way in the distance is a bit of a downer.

Have to think of a few more that command your attention as you step forward with the first swing of the day.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Peter Galea

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2002, 05:13:52 PM »
Spyglass Hill.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"chief sherpa"

Stan Dodd

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2002, 05:23:51 PM »
A couple of mine
Machrihanish with wind and a big surf running
CPC - goose bumps
San Clemente Muni - with all your high school buddies watching and the starter annoucing that your wife is on the phone in the middle of your back swing.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Bill Perlee

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2002, 05:24:18 PM »
The first at Shinnecock has to be the best I've played.  The expansive vista, the classic Clubhouse, the nearby ninth and eighteenth green, the contrasting grass color and grass heights and the journey awaiting.  Besides all that it is also a strong hole with a bend to the right from an elevated tee,  the landing area is wide enough but high grass in the rough is a tough way to start the round.  I always seem to find the left greenside bunker on my second shot but love the hole anyway.        
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Gene Greco

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2002, 05:53:27 PM »
Justin beat me to it:
  
Portstewart GC.

Watching the kids "sleighride" down the dunes on the beach to the right of the first tee is a taste of the fun you'll have playing this amazing front nine.

Sand Hills
Shinnecock
Desert Mountain (Geronimo)
Machrahanish
Merrick Road Park Golf Course

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"...I don't believe it is impossible to build a modern course as good as Pine Valley.  To me, Sand Hills is just as good as Pine Valley..."    TOM DOAK  November 6th, 2010

Don_Mahaffey

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2002, 05:53:49 PM »
How about the first at Bel-air? I was afraid to skank one sidways and kill James Woods on the putting green. The first at Riveria isn't bad either. Do you ever tee off there without an audience?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Turner

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2002, 06:04:30 PM »
Machrihanish is fine, but Pennard has the best view.  

A beautiful panaromic vista of about half of the course, with the Gower peninsular and the Mumbles as a backdrop.

Nearby Southerndown has a beauty too.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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ChrisB (Guest)

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2002, 06:09:59 PM »
I was there today--Pinehurst #2!  My favorite opener in golf.
Riviera has quite a thrilling first tee as well.  The CC of Charleston has a less exciting but very pleasant first tee.  The first tee at Highlands Links in Nova Scotia is a fun one because you get the feeling looking at the crinkled fairway that you're in for quite an adventure.

The old first tee at Banff was the most dramatic first tee shot I've ever played.  The tee was elevated high above the fairway at the foot of the castle-like hotel; the tee shot flew over the walkway leading to the hotel, over a rushing river and against the backdrop of a big mountain directly ahead. :o  Like at Merion, people were very close, and all eyes were on the shot, both from the sides and from above.  What a shame to lose that opening tee shot. :'(
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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SPDB1

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2002, 06:33:13 PM »
I've heard multiple nightmare stories about the first tee at Merion. The best one i've heard of is the low handicapperr who nervously shanked his tee shot off the tree ricocheting it back to the gravel area in front of the pro shop. Knowing about the strict no-mulligan policy, he wandered back to his ball. At this point it became clear to the people enjoying lunch on the terrace that this guy was actually going to play his ball, and accordingly they all ran for cover. Completely shell shocked and probably in a trance of embarrassment. this guy promptly picked a three iron clean of the gravel and striped the fairway. probably one of the best stories i have ever heard about grace under pressure.

Machrahanish is awesome looking.
I have always loved the 1st at Piping Rock, the sweep of land across the polo field (driving range) is great, and there is something about just stepping through a split rail fence and ripping one 20 feet from the locker room.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Tim_Weiman

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2002, 06:49:10 PM »
In the States I would go for Stonewall.  Across the pond it would be the West Course at Saunton.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Tim Weiman

ChipOat

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #17 on: January 30, 2002, 07:31:03 PM »
SPDB1

Good story about Merion with several question marks:

The area in question (if I grasp the scene correctly) is OB when playing 18 - may have made the mulligan problem a non-event, as well.

The area in question is hard cement  - tough surface for a 3 iron.

There's also a 5+ foot high hedge to negotiate.

Still a good story, though.  Would YOU like to take an unplayable from 10 yards behind your starting place with 60 people watching?

I did, in fact, once see a good amateur snap hook a "blue dart" through the plate glass window behind the lower terrace bar.  First round of the Philadelphia Open, too.  He didn't get a mulligan, either.

Cheers,
CO
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:01 PM by -1 »
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Ben Cowan-Dewar

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #18 on: January 30, 2002, 07:48:21 PM »
Great lists, I have not seen all of them, but it gives me experiences to look forward to.

I would bet that the old first tee at Banff Springs would challenge all of the best.

What are some of the underwhelming first holes out there?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Justin Hanrahan

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #19 on: January 30, 2002, 09:41:48 PM »
Easy, Royal Melbourne West.

The comment for the pros is if you can't hit the fairway here - its time to go home.

Massive green (from memory) makes it very possible to three putt, but there is certainly nothing special about standing there on the tee.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Rich Goodale (Guest)

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #20 on: January 30, 2002, 10:18:58 PM »
SPDB1 and Chip

The local chemist (pharmacist) in Dornoch felt it to be his civic duty to participate annually in the Carnegie Shield, despite the fact that he was not an accomploished golfer.  One year he manged to completely whiff his opening tee shot and, while trying to re-establish his stance, hit the ball backwards cleanly until it came to rest 50 yards to the rear up against the fence of town tennis courts.  From there he hacked away until, 7 strokes later, he finally managed to pass the tee box.  I had always thought this story to be apocryphal until, several years ago, I managed to meet the person who had been the chemist's playing partner on the day.  He confirmed all that I said above and aded the fillip that his partner had not been able to complete the round due to having fallen into the quarry on the 16th and broken his arm while looking for yet another errant shot.  The gentleman who related this to me had been a teenager at the time and shortly thereafter emigrated to Australia.

There are more stories of that first tee (which, BTW deserves to be in the pantheon above).........
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Dan Grossman

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #21 on: January 30, 2002, 10:51:42 PM »
How about two courses in Scotland with opposite opening holes which both accomplish the same thing?  The first one being Elie, Golf House Club.  The fact that the starter needs to look through a periscope to see if the group on the tee can play away just leads to anticipation for the rest of the golf course.  The opposite (for me) would be Cruden Bay.  Observing the golf course (from both the clubhouse and the first tee) also leads to the anticipation of playing the course.  I think both courses get the blood pumping for exhilarating rounds of golf.  I ask, which is better, knowing what is coming or not knowing what is coming?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Chris Kane

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #22 on: January 30, 2002, 11:49:08 PM »
A course I played last year: Victor Harbour in South Australia.  The tee is on the top of a hill with the clubhouse on your left.  You drive your ball down to the bottom of a valley and play your way back up.

It's a great view, as you can see much of the course as well as the ocean in the distance.  Inspiring.  Unfortunately the course doesn't live up to the great opening drive!

Neil Crafter might know it better.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Tom

Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #23 on: January 31, 2002, 12:24:15 AM »
It is hard to think past TOC.  But if I had to go for a combination of intimidation, proximity to clubhouse (all those members glaring out at you), history, quirkiness and potential as a 19th hole in matchplay - I would go for the 1st tee at Royal Liverpool !!!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Andy Silis

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Re: Favourite First Tees
« Reply #24 on: January 31, 2002, 05:05:28 AM »
First Tee at SFGC!! The combined tee with No. 10 and the vista of what you are about to experience is the best in golf for me!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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