I tried this exercise and came up with a 37-37 Par 74 with five par fives and three par 3s! I don't think an exercise creating a course like this really identifies the 18 best holes at the resort.
For instance, I think both #7s belong in the top 18, and I think an argument could be made for both #13s as well. So, I've made my list in a different way. My top 15 holes as I see them in groups of five, in numerical order, not a ranking order:
The Epics:
Blue 4 - This hole has it. I remember walking the site with Tom and asking "you're putting the green up there?" Yes. "Up there???" YES.
Blue 5 - Tom said some of the greens at Wolf Point were wild?...ah, this is one wild green in a great setting. Only negative i saw was the hotel screws up the backdrop. Photo shop the building out and you've got one of the great looks in golf.
Blue 6 - maybe the best hole on the property
Red 7 - The tee shot over the bunker cut into the bank above the lake is worth the price of admission. Throw in the odd sandy projection on the front of the green, then factor in the wild green itself, and you've got a golf hole that is very, very bold. This hole will wreak some scores but there is no question it belongs in the epic group.
Red 9 - Wow. First off, this hole should be the governor of which tees to play at SS Red. Choose a tee that gets you on or near the green, and then play that set all around and I think you'll have fun. I drove this green twice, and managed to walk away even par.
Great Holes:
Blue 7 - have to be honest, the routing feels odd in this stretch. And from the back tee and down the line look, its OK, but move up a set and play the hole in a more perpendicular look, and it comes alive.
Blue 10 - This is a cagey little one. the shaping in the approach and tie in to the left fronting bunker is master craftsmanship. My good friend Garry watched what he thought to be a perfectly weighted shot to a front pin come up just a fraction short and then start its long, slow, painful trundle into what Garry quickly named the "sphincter" bunker.
Red 13 - I'm a sucker for a green tucked behind a dune, and this hole doesn't disappoint.
Blue 16 - Another under the radar hole that will often lose out to the Red 16th. Problem is, IMHO, this hole works way better then the Red 16th. For one, its long enough to require a long club that can get the ball rolling to take advantage of the green slope, and its uphill! This is a long par 3 that requires (maybe doesn't require but at least favors) the low running approach. Throw in a perfectly placed bunker to gobble up any low runner that doesn't carry the proper distance and you have a great long uphill par 3. This hole has stones!
Red 17 - In the ecletic selections Blue 17 will be the popular choice, but I like this hole. Love the way the bunker gashes into the fwy slope, and I like the little pot that awaits a drive that doesn't catch the speed slope up high enough. Also like the waste area that runs up the entire right side. A beautiful golf hole.
Really Good
Blue 1 - Not a huge fan of the trudge up the hill as I think the hole is just as good from down below. But this green complex is very cool.
Blue 2 - Love the different levels in the fwy right around the corner from the rt fwy bunker. Hit the perfect power fade and be rewarded with a doable approach to a heavily defended green. Fade it just a bit too much and run down to the bottom where it gets a little more interesting. The left green fronting bunker is very well done.
Red 4 - I'm not the biggest fan of some of the longer 4s on the Red, but the short 4s and 5s more them make up for it. I found myself out of position twice on this hole but was able to use the contour behind the green to move the ball into makeable range. I don't hear much about this hole but i really like it.
Red 18 - Some are saying this 18th reminds them of the 18th at Talking Stick North, as if its already been done, it can't be good. I love the diagonal hazard, and I drove it up the left side twice. Once getting into position to reach the green with a 6 iron for an easy birdie, and once not clearing the bunker and pitching out. There is enough room left of the bunker to make that play if the conditions are right. The green is severe, with the fronting bumps requiring an aggressive approach and the back bunker all too ready to gobble up anything hit to far. I think it’s a very good par 5.
Blue 18- A beautiful hole that requires two excellent shots to get home. I managed to reach the green in my two plays, with a 3 wood, but both times I ran to the back. You do not want to be at the back of this green when the pin is front, middle, or maybe anywhere. I putted off this green while Garry was leaving his 8 iron third three feet under the hole and made a par. This hole kicked my butt, but I believe its pretty darn good.
Others of note
Blue 17 - lots of people really liked this hole, and I was in awe of the right fwy bunker, but there just seemed to be a lot of bunkers on this hole, or at least bunker square footage. It is a good hole, but seemed to be a bit too much for me to put in my top 15.
Blue 13 - I love short par 4s, and the left green side bunker belongs in the epic category. But for this hole to really work I think the turf on the approach and the turf on the green need to be a little closer in playability. It is short, but its very tough and I didn't see many players who could control their golf ball on this hole.
Red 2 - I thought this was a good par 5 and very similar in strategy to blue #2. But I liked the green complex on Blue 2 better.
Red 11 - Very cool driving hole with great use of the slope and bunker placement.