The World's Best Short Par 4s

[Phil McDade]

It's been suggested the second at St. Andrews Beach (Gunnamatta) is potentially the best short 4 in the world.

With which holes is it competing for the title, and is it indeed the best?

Barnbougle Dunes 4
Royal Melbourne West 10
Riviera 10

and a few others have to give it a run for it's money...

MM

Riviera's 10th was in the first post! Also Merion east has been mentioned as having a few candidates (by Tom_Doak), but I too am surprised Oakmont's 17th hasn't been brought up.

Sorry! Focused on the pics......

[Jud_T]

Travis,

try uploading them here:

http://tinypic.com/

[Jim Nugent]

I too am surprised Oakmont's 17th hasn't been brought up.

In the 2007 U.S. Open there, it was almost impossible to drive the green.  They also made the layup shot real, real hard.  i.e. the hole seemed too penal to me. 

[J Sadowsky]

Amongst (way) lesser known courses, #2 at Glenn Dale is a great short par 4.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Reddish Vale 16

I mean it - it is truly a classic!

The hole is named 'Cotton's' after the former multiple Open champion Henry Cotton who wrote an article in praise of the hole in the national press in 1940. Here is a photo from the article;



And here is a photo of how it looks today;



And a Google Maps shot;



At 320 yards it is just about driveable, but the river on three sides of the green makes stopping the ball there tricky in the extreme. Most of us mortals play 100 yards short over the river and are faced with the pitch from hell into a tiny green surrounded by water.

The beauty of it is that there is absolutely nothing artificial about the hole; the green is at the end of a natural peninsular formed by the meandering river.

[Mark Pearce]

CPC 9 is right up there.  2 at Muirfield is worth a shout.  But Mark B has the winner.  14 at Ganton is just a brilliant golf hole.

[Jim_Coleman]

No love for Pine Valley #8?  I don't think #12 qualifies.

[Wade Schueneman]

Assuming that we are not confined to sub 300 yarders

TOC 12
North Berwick 13
Lahinch 13
Kingsley Club 13
Rivermont 11
Lane Creek 14
Dormie Club 3
Crystal Downs - too hard to choose!

[Alex Miller]

I prefer #1 to #6 at Pac Dunes, at least from the tees we played at the KP. Then again, how could I not like that hole when I birdied it both times and took driver both times 

[Sean_A]

Only driveable holes for me and ones not already mentioned:

St Enodoc #4 - I will always admre this hole because it makes great use of dead land


Prestwick #16

Kington #18 (still my favourite and as you all know, the greatest finishing hole in golf)


The Island #14

Cruden Bay #3

Pennard #7

Portrush Valley #s 5 & 9 (perhaps the best course on the planet for short par 4s - they go a long way to making up for an unusually weak set of 3s for Colt)

Church Stretton #8

Stoneham #13

Ciao

[Jim Nelson]

Ballyneal #7.  Ballyneal #12 is often overlooked because of #7, but another great hole.  Both offer up a legitimate shot at the green for long hitters, but also reward the strategic player with a well placed approach shot.  Being able to pick the teeing spot also adds to the tactics in match play.

[Chris Cupit]

Here is Rivermont #11.  Yardage from the tips is 305 slightly downhill.

Here is a view from the twelfth tee looking down at the green.  This shows some of the contour on this small green (2300 sq. ft.).



A view from just left of the left front pot bunker:



I don't have pics but the hole plays straiight away.  First fairway bunker on left is 190-210, a second cross bunker mostly on the right is 240 to carry.  To the left pot bunker is 295 and there is a right front bunker at about 285-295.  The back right bunker is eye candy!  One of the last holes to be built, we had money for some fun!!


Also, a creek runs all down the right side tapering right just past the right front bunker.

Here is a picture of the right front bunker:



A pic of the left fairway bunker (background) and the cross bunker in the foreground:



Two more pics of the left pot bunker during the fall--nasty little thing!





Not sure it isn't an overstatement to say it is one of the world's best, but it is a good, fun hole and with tees at 305, 275, 240 and 220 it gives everyone a chance to drive it if they are longish hitters.

[Tim Martin]

Winged Foot West # 6

Winged Foot East # 15

Westchester CC West #`s 1 and 16

Merion West #1, #7 and # 8

Fishers island # 3

Newport CC # 3

Piping Rock #5 and #13

Essex County Club # 17

[Jim Adkisson]

Pacific Dunes #6

[David_Elvins]

matt,

you made a big mistake by not defining 'short'.     

[Mac Plumart]

Chris, maybe from 305 it isn't one of the best in the world...as almost everyone would lay up.  But I'm telling you, playing it from 265-275 it is freakin' awesome.  Everyone thinks they can drive it...if they just hit the perfect shot.  But I've yet to see someone pull it off and HOLD the green.

Heck, our man Eric Smith...Mr. two wood in the bag...who never hits driver.  Asked to borrow mine and give it a shot.  It is just the perfect distance to think it is possible.


I played it the other day with a pretty good golfer...2 handicap...from 275 yards.  He hit driver, pulled it a smidge, ended up in the Devl's Arsehole.  Hit out of the bunker, just caught the lip, landed on the fringe.  Putted at the hole, over looked the ridge due to its subtleness, 3 putted in total...bogey.  I did my 6 iron, wedge, putt, putt and won the hole. 

[Mac Plumart]

matt,

you made a big mistake by not defining 'short'.     

No mistake...this is a great thread!

[Adam Clayman]

#17 The Downs.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Sean you magnificent bastard I'm not reading your Kington book, no matter how many times you post that pic!

[Wade Whitehead]

I've always liked 15 at Pine Barrens.

WW

[Chris Cupit]

Chris, maybe from 305 it isn't one of the best in the world...as almost everyone would lay up.  But I'm telling you, playing it from 265-275 it is freakin' awesome.  Everyone thinks they can drive it...if they just hit the perfect shot.  But I've yet to see someone pull it off and HOLD the green.

Heck, our man Eric Smith...Mr. two wood in the bag...who never hits driver.  Asked to borrow mine and give it a shot.  It is just the perfect distance to think it is possible.


I played it the other day with a pretty good golfer...2 handicap...from 275 yards.  He hit driver, pulled it a smidge, ended up in the Devl's Arsehole.  Hit out of the bunker, just caught the lip, landed on the fringe.  Putted at the hole, over looked the ridge due to its subtleness, 3 putted in total...bogey.  I did my 6 iron, wedge, putt, putt and won the hole. 

6 iron!!!!!  I need a center bunker at 175

That is a small target from 100-125 yards or so.  Nice win--how did you do on 13?

[Mac Plumart]

how did you do on 13?

No comment.   

[jim_lewis]

Third at Pinehurst #2

[Mark Bourgeois]

Third at Pinehurst #2

Jim, you may be crusty but you're no clown. Jeezus that hole is a little diorama of terror.

[John Shimp]

18 palmetto. ( Also partial to 15 but many hate it. Everyone thinks they should score well and discount the green)
18 Woking. What a green. 
17 at chechessee creek.  I prefer 12 there but it's a bit long for this.
10 at yea mans hall. Big hitters can almost drive it now. Another fine green.  Brutally tough hole at times.  Lots of choice