[John Burnes]

Include a photo if possible please

[Patrick_Mucci]

The 18th at Knollwood has to be amongst the best.

It's certainly one of the most difficult.

[Ronald Montesano]

Bethpage Red...many had wished that the powers could somehow find a way to finish US Opens on the Red 18th, versus the Black 18th.

We Three Kings...on the tee


Tee Shot from Lower Deck


Tee Shot, Zoomed In


From Fairway


From Fairway, Closer

[Adam Clayman]

18th at Cypress Point Club.   

Why?

Because it meant I played the previous 17.

Certainly a most confusing, unique, and, interesting look.

Friars Head, Sand Hills, Merion, Old Mac and Greywalls all deserve mention. For differing reasons.

Who's definition of best, anyway?

[Ben Sims]

The Home hole at NGLA is pretty stirring. 

[John Ezekowitz]

The old 18th hole at Springdale. A 380-yard uphill par 4 with two fairway bunkers that narrow the fairway just where you wish to drive it. The two-tiered green set right next to the patio of the old clubhouse, where members were often eating lunch. The re-routing necessitated by Princeton taking back the old clubhouse means that this is now the 16th hole, which is a shame.

(note: sorry about the bad light in the picture)

[jonathan_becker]

For just the sheer thrill of trying to hit two shots in a row farther than you ever have before....

[Frank M]

I have to nominate my home course closing hole, Summit just north of Toronto. They might consider changing the mowing pattern, but otherwise pretty good IMO.

Par 4 436 Yards

[Philip Caccamise]

18th at Winged Foot. No photo needed.

[Philip Caccamise]

Bethpage Red...many had wished that the powers could somehow find a way to finish US Opens on the Red 18th, versus the Black 18th.

It's very doable. With the new (2005) back tee, it's an absolute beast. About a 300 yard walk from the 17th green. Plus it's got that great amphitheatre...

[Alex Miller]

Never been to Bethpage, but looked at google earth and it seems you could build and subsequently tear down a special tee box short right of Red #1 turing the 18th for the U.S. Open into a 490 yard dogleg left par 4 playing to Red #18's green.


Given photos I've seen of Red #1, and now Red #18 it seems possible and much better than Black #18

[Michael Tamburrini]

Never been to Bethpage, but looked at google earth and it seems you could build and subsequently tear down a special tee box short right of Red #1 turing the 18th for the U.S. Open into a 490 yard dogleg left par 4 playing to Red #18's green.


Given photos I've seen of Red #1, and now Red #18 it seems possible and much better than Black #18

The USGA considered this before the last US Open held there. If I remember correct, the reason they didn't do it was that it would mean the public would be unable to play the same course that the pros did.

[Michael Tamburrini]

Here's an article on changing the 18th at Bethpage.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golfdigest.com%2Fgolf-courses%2F2009-06%2Fbethpageblack_ronwhitten&ei=jGMjUJqGEKuR0QXD4IDoDg&usg=AFQjCNFi8dg7I1Yk2j-HX49G9uCyDdxSRA

[Mark Pearce]

I'll post this before Sean gets there. 

I thought of a lot of great 18th holes - Muirfield and Carnoustie get considered, but the best 18th hole I've played?  Kington.  See Sean's profiles for pictures of a simply wonderful golf hole.

[Ronald Montesano]

One problem with 18 Red as a final hole would have been the placement of the grandstands. Unlike 18 Black, you could not build grandstands between the amphitheater rise and the entire green surround without removing the trees that horseshoe the amphitheater in the back right. Perhaps enough on the hill left side and left back would have been... enough. Who knows? It sure is a great finishing hole, by my estimation, the best I've played.

[JMEvensky]

18th at Winged Foot. No photo needed.

First one I thought of too.

Southern Hills ain't bad either.

[Terry Lavin]

I'll go with 18 at Riviera.

[Dan_Callahan]

Maybe cliche, but Pebble's 18th is the best I've played.

[Ronald Montesano]

Aren't all of Winged Foot's par fours identical? How about a photo? That way, i can find a distinguishing point...

[David Cronheim]

I go back and forth on this one, but one that I like is #18 at Lookaway in PA.



It is impossibly hard for women though. The closest you can get to the marsh is maybe 150 from the green. Hitting the green from there requires, as you can see, a carry of 150 yards straight uphill to a green that doesn't hold. There is no fairway or bailout. It's so hard for women and hackers it's really unfair and makes me think less of the hole. For a scratch golfer though, I think it's a fun shot because it rewards a more aggressive shot closer to the marsh with a short play to the green. It's also quite pretty.

[Jason Topp]

I love the 18th at The Old Course as a closer.  The setting is magic and most believe they should make a 3 but do not - even at the professional level.

[John Kirk]

My favorites are:

Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Old Macdonald (punchbowl, a fun, relatively easy long par 4)
Stanford University

[David Cronheim]

I'll go with #18 at Harbour Town. There simply is no more fun closing tee-ball in the game. If the first shot at the Greenbriar's Old White is the best opening tee shot, #18 at Harbour Town has to be the best closing tee shot.

[Steve Lapper]

My Top 18 best 18ths:

Sand Hills
Merion
Pine Valley
Oakmont
Old Moray
Shinnecock
NGLA
Trump Scotland
Royal Dornoch
Mountain Ridge
Riviera
Southern Hills
Royal Melbourne Composite
Pebble Beach
Winged Foot West
Yeamans Hall
Muirfield
Shadow Creek

[Ronald Montesano]

Steve, buddy, don't confuse us...pick the one best closer...is your order top to bottom? middle to top? bottom to top? alphabetical?

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()