Doak's best finishing hole

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Many years from now, this hole could very well join the conversation with Pebble , Merion, RM, Shinny as being among the great finishing holes.  This is the new Dismal River Red 18th.  The hole will have the ability to play from about 490 yards down to 300ish depending upon the appropriate tee.

[William_G]

looks great! nice pics

[Tom_Doak]

I thought you were going to say Sebonack.  I think that's going to be a great finishing hole for the tournament this weekend.

The hole at Dismal is a tough one, and a beautiful one, too.  I would also put the 18th at Streamsong (Blue), the 18th at Stonewall (Old), and the 18th at Old Macdonald as candidates.  Not too shabby for a guy who used to be criticized for not caring about the 18th hole!

[William_G]

no doubt it will be big deal to have a Doak (Nicklaus) course on TV all weekend...sweet!

[Ed Brzezowski]

I thought you were going to say Sebonack.  I think that's going to be a great finishing hole for the tournament this weekend.

The hole at Dismal is a tough one, and a beautiful one, too.  I would also put the 18th at Streamsong (Blue), the 18th at Stonewall (Old), and the 18th at Old Macdonald as candidates.  Not too shabby for a guy who used to be criticized for not caring about the 18th hole!

18th Stonewall is a beauty. Great two shot hole, fits into the landscape perfectly. Cannot wait for the 2016 Mid Am , I will have my chair set up here for a few days.

[Scott Warren]

Tom,

Those holes you referenced must be something special if they're better than the 18th at St Andrews Beach.

Full size: http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6116/dscn0496e.jpg

[John Kirk]

Dang!  Left out of the conversation until reply #6,

Signed,
Ballyneal and Stone Eagle

[Phil McDade]

Robert:

The ticky tacky buildings on the horizon mar the view.

[Tom_Doak]

Dang!  Left out of the conversation until reply #6,

Signed,
Ballyneal and Stone Eagle

Matt Ward would have voted for Stone Eagle.  That's most likely the hardest finishing hole I've ever built ... although the hole at Dismal feels like it's going to be pretty tough, especially with that gauntlet in front of the green.

I do enjoy the holes at Ballyneal and St. Andrews Beach a lot, too.  Couldn't keep naming holes forever, though.  Perhaps by now I've made up for the dreaded 18th at High Pointe.

[Ronald Montesano]

Sebonack's 18th would be better as a par four...

[Terry Lavin]

Pacific Dunes.

[Richard Choi]

Pacific Dunes.

Oh, hell no...

[Mike Wagner]

Dang!  Left out of the conversation until reply #6,

Signed,
Ballyneal and Stone Eagle

Matt Ward would have voted for Stone Eagle.  That's most likely the hardest finishing hole I've ever built ... although the hole at Dismal feels like it's going to be pretty tough, especially with that gauntlet in front of the green.

I do enjoy the holes at Ballyneal and St. Andrews Beach a lot, too.  Couldn't keep naming holes forever, though.  Perhaps by now I've made up for the dreaded 18th at High Pointe.

Tipped out, I'd vote for Tumble Creek as your toughest finish (that I've played).

[ed_getka]

Of what I've played I'll go with Pacific Dunes.

[Josh Tarble]

I know Cape Kidnappers is a bit controversial, but I really enjoyed it. Very fun way to end the round.  I could see why some don't like it though.

[John Kirk]

As a whole, it's a pretty tough group.  The 18th at Ballyneal is medium difficult.  The 18th at Pacific Dunes is very difficult for a par 5, especially from 570-590 yards.

I like the 18th at Old Macdonald very much.  It's a rarity, an unusually easy long par 4.  I thought the 18th at Streamsong (Blue) had some similar elements.

 

[ed_getka]

I know Cape Kidnappers is a bit controversial, but I really enjoyed it. Very fun way to end the round.  I could see why some don't like it though.

  If 17 were the final hole it might get my vote, but the way the 18th green gathers golf balls makes a mediocre shot just as likely to turn out well as a good one.

[Cliff Walston]

... although the hole at Dismal feels like it's going to be pretty tough, especially with that gauntlet in front of the green.

My only concern with 18 at Dismal Red is that looks like ball eating wooga in front of the green.  What's the likelihood of a lost ball in that stuff?If you could loose a ball there, it seems like an awfully harsh penalty for being 10 yards short on an almost 500 yard par 4. But maybe its not as thick as it looks. Guess I will find out in two days!  Looking forward to seeing it finished after walking it at last year's fifth major with Tom.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

I have always thought extremely highly of Ballyneal and Stone Eagle--they are GREAT!  I forgot about Stonewall, which was flying under the radar until a couple days ago-that was my first Doak played back in the mid-late 90's.  

[Tom_Doak]

I know Cape Kidnappers is a bit controversial, but I really enjoyed it. Very fun way to end the round.  I could see why some don't like it though.

  If 17 were the final hole it might get my vote, but the way the 18th green gathers golf balls makes a mediocre shot just as likely to turn out well as a good one.

Actually, it depends on the hole location.  If the hole is on the left side of the green, you can't bounce one in there, you have to hit a great shot that lands at the bottom of the bowl.  We used the same feature on the 18th at Streamsong.

[ed_getka]

I know Cape Kidnappers is a bit controversial, but I really enjoyed it. Very fun way to end the round.  I could see why some don't like it though.

  If 17 were the final hole it might get my vote, but the way the 18th green gathers golf balls makes a mediocre shot just as likely to turn out well as a good one.

Actually, it depends on the hole location.  If the hole is on the left side of the green, you can't bounce one in there, you have to hit a great shot that lands at the bottom of the bowl.  We used the same feature on the 18th at Streamsong.

I'll take your word for it Tom. I only played the course on one day during my trip down under. I hope I have a chance to see it again some day with my son.

[Ben Sims]

They left a tree on the preferred line at Common Ground.  I'll vote for that one.   

[Carl Rogers]

The 18th green at Riverfront has at least several themes, counter-themes, domains, domes, slopes, counter-slopes etc  on supposedly "flat-ish" terrain.  I contiunue to wonder why many of you on the east coast have never played the course.

[astavrides]

Dang!  Left out of the conversation until reply #6,

Signed,
Ballyneal and Stone Eagle

Matt Ward would have voted for Stone Eagle.  That's most likely the hardest finishing hole I've ever built ... although the hole at Dismal feels like it's going to be pretty tough, especially with that gauntlet in front of the green.

when you said in the earlier post in the thread that you've been criticized about your 18th holes, I was going to guess you were talking about Matt Ward.  That dude always had something to say about the 18th hole on just about every one of his course reviews.  Why care so much about 18?  It's only 5.56% of the course.

[Kevin_D]

The only other one I've played is Streamsong, but this just never gets old for me