Your single favorite hole ever....

[Simon Holt]

I've only just realised that in the past few years, Bill. 

Growing up I always wanted to play big parkland or US courses that I saw on TV.  Literally, the grass was always greener etc.  Well, that got old pretty quickly.  I guess like many things, you have to be away from something before you truly appreciate it.

[Bill_McBride]

I've only just realised that in the past few years, Bill. 

Growing up I always wanted to play big parkland or US courses that I saw on TV.  Literally, the grass was always greener etc.  Well, that got old pretty quickly.  I guess like many things, you have to be away from something before you truly appreciate it.

Simon, I obviously meant #9 as a favorite par 5.   Where to drive?  Dare the wall left or the hay right?   One of my favorite centerline bunkers.  The approach is fun because of the slope of that green, which will help one get close to most any pin. 

[Tommy Williamsen]

Brother, there are so many, some well known and some not.
#5 Pine Valley
#16 Cypress Point
#13 at CC at Woodmore (Palmer MD)
#6 and 7 at Musgrove Mill
#9 at Royal North Devon (similar to #2 at Ballyhack)
#4 at Ballyhack
#8 Pebble
#1 Sand Hills
#9 Four Streams (Smyers MD)

[Josh Tarble]

Great thread! Cool to see very few of the same holes listed.

My #1 is 14 at Cape Kidnappers. Funny but it's actually one of the few away from the cliffs on the back. The strategy is brilliant, short par 4, the closer to the ravine the better angle to avoid a NASTY road hole-esque bunker.

#2 is 15 at Crooked Stick.  Fun drive and amazing crescent shaped green.

#3 is a tie between 18 at Harbor Town and 16 at TPC Sawgrass.

[jim_lewis]

I have already listed my favorite hole, but if I could hit only one more shot, it would be the tee shot on the Road Hole.

[Will Lozier]

The obvious cliche answer is...Cypress Point's 16th.  Partly because it's the most awe-inspiring shot in the world - ultimate failure or glory but, either way, it is a hoot to play!  Partly because you get to hit driver on a par-3...over 200 yards of ocean!  Partly because you can hit a 5-iron pitch!  And lastly because I made 3 the first time round en route to a 79!

[John Mayhugh]

This is a great thread idea.  I've enjoyed seeing many of the answers.

Tough call, but my first thought was #1 at National Golf Links so I'll go with that. 

[Tom ORourke]

Pine Valley #2. Great landscape, wild green, unique, but still playable. Anything from a 3 to a 7 is very possible.

[Bruce Bearer]

Got to be #10 at Riviera.  It's all right there in front of you and doesn't look so tough............

[Bob_Huntley]

I do wish we could keep it to one hole and not a plethora of second, third and other choices.

My choice, the 15th at Cypress Point.

Bob

[Joe Leenheer]

Top 3

5th at The Country Club (Pepper Pike) - 1st Hole in One

17th at Oakmont.

18th at Pebble - proposed to wife on green

[Doug Siebert]

#16 Carnoustie.  My lifetime average on the hole is 1.5, so I gotta make it my favorite!

[Hugh Griffin]

4th @ Barnbougle Dunes. Not only because of the various strategies on offer but also the sheer size of the fairway / dunes / bunker that give it a colossal feel, yet its such a short par 4. Plus regardless of what score you make you get to walk to the 5th tee afterwards...

[Mark Pearce]

My first thought was 15 at CPC.  Then I considered a host of others, many of which have been mentioned here (including Muirfield 9, Huntercombe 3, RCP 16, Dornoch 14, Golpsie 9 (I think), Elie 13, RSG 4 and Ganton 14).  Then I decided I was right first time.

CPC 15

[Sean_A]

I'm a bit stuffed because no single hole popped into my head when I read the title of the thread.  If I picked one today it would be #18 @ Kington.

Ciao

[Mark Chaplin]

16th at Deal

[JR Potts]

#12 at Medinah #3 for me.

[Bill Brightly]

The 6th at The Creek Club

You’re thrilled to be at the top of the bluff looking at one of the great vistas in golf. There’s the great holes below followed by the holes in the dunes and finally the sound beyond.

We all love the thrill of a big drop off the tee on a long hole. The tee shot appears fairly simple because there is tons of room out on the right and the bunker barely comes into play so there’s little intimidation, but you really need to be on the left to have a reasonable chance at approaching the green. That’s where the complications begin. The forest on the left of the hole defends the ideal line and a shot into the forest is a lost shot. Therefore you must hit a light draw around the tree line to gain position on the flatter plateau for the approach.

The approach is a stunner. The green is a reverse redan falling hard to the back right and Raynor has lifted the entire surrounds to create a deep punchbowl setting for the green. This is the most unique and wonderful green complex I have ever seen.

The shot is either a fade into the approach to access the front pin, or to the front half of the green to access the back pin position. The ball will release and run a long way from both spots, although short right will take off right and into the bunkers.

The joy of the hole is that it uses the rambling hillside to define the locations of the landing area and then a diagonal ridge to dictate the approach. Since the hole goes with the grade the whole way everything blends in magnificently.

It is my favourite hole because of the audacity of the punchbowl redan green site.

I need to give the question more thought, but this is my favorite Punchbowl by far. Interesting that you mention Raynor and not Macdonald.

[Michael Ryan]

14th hole at Shinnecock Hills...

Mike

[Steve Wilson]

While this is akin to confesssing, at a literaru soiree in Paris, that I am the author of a novel based on a screenplay, my favorite hole ever is the 10th at Preston Country Club in Kingwood West Virginia.  I will neither describe nor attempt to justify my plebeian tastes beyond saying it just fits my eye.   

[Michael Herrmann]

7th at Ballyneal, narrowly edging out #15 at Shoreacres.

[Scott Szabo]

Mine is the 7th at Sand Hills, there are so many different possible outcomes (for me) for such a short hole. Plus, it means I am at Sand Hills.

Mine would be #4, but if you are at Sand Hills, all else is irrelevant.

[Mark McKeever]

The all world "shipwreck" 5th hole at Boston Golf Club.  An almost drivable par 4 with an incredible amount of strategy present.



Mark

[Matthew Petersen]

I will join in the chorus for #8 at Pebble.

[Ben Jarvis]

#6 Royal Melbourne West

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