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Ira Fishman

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #50 on: June 26, 2017, 04:57:46 PM »
Although 18th not the best, rest of Back Nine at Ballybunion is pretty special.


Ira

Sam Krume

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #51 on: June 27, 2017, 04:24:27 AM »
Got to throw in Deal....

Sean_A

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #52 on: June 27, 2017, 04:33:31 AM »
Off the top of my head

TOC
West Links
Notts
Pennard
Hunstanton
Deal

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Frank M

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #53 on: June 27, 2017, 04:38:51 AM »
The one I'm playing.

Thomas Dai

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #54 on: June 27, 2017, 06:57:56 AM »
Assume your playing for loads of money but to win it you have to play the back-9 in level par or level handicap.
Which course would you least like to be playing? For me, Carnoustie.
Atb

thomaslaffont

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #55 on: July 01, 2017, 10:44:06 PM »
Bel Air's back nine in the late afternoon with the sun shining through the canyons is one the most magical in all of golf.

Standout holes include:
  • #10 - a 200+ yard Par 3 requiring a 150 yard forced carry over a ravine. A quick peak to the pin location on 18 is a fun feature of the walk on the Swinging Bridge.
  • #14 - Par 5 with exquisite bunkering surrounding the green
  • #17 - Downhill Par 4 to a sloping fairway features two of the best shots on the course.
  • #18 - Uphill Par 4, a tough finishing hole with a great view on the Swinging Bridge.
I can't wait to see Tom Doak's restoration of this George Thomas gem. I hope the members give him free reign.

The margaritas from the hut off 14th green aren't bad either!
« Last Edit: July 01, 2017, 10:50:13 PM by thomaslaffont »

Duncan Cheslett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #56 on: July 02, 2017, 12:32:51 AM »
Probably not the best back nine in England, but still a wonderful surprise is the back side at Hillside, adjacent to Birkdale, which may be as good as either nine at its neighbor. The reason it is such a suprise is because the front side is relatively nondescript.


It doesn't get a lot of love on here, but if you were to ask a cross-section of serious golfers in northern England for their pick as the course with the best back nine, most would say Hillside.


It plays through spectacular terrain but, in common with many links courses, there is just not enough spectacular terrain to accommodate 18 holes. Hence a rather dull, flat front nine which accentuates the drama of the back.


Another example of this  - albeit a couple of notches down the quality scale - would be Prestatyn. It starts with some rather unmemorable flat holes (and some convoluted internal OOB) before being lifted to real quality in the dunes on the way home.


This phenomenon is not limited to the coast, either. Mottram Hall in Cheshire is a resort hotel course with a dull front nine on a flat field. Its back nine however, on fabulously undulating land behind the hall, is terrific with some holes that would be highly regarded by the most discerning of GCA nerds.


I guess that if you've only got enough land for half a good course, it makes some sense to save it for the back nine. I tend to prefer the approach taken at Wallasey however, where the dunes are visited several times in the round, interspersed with periods on less exciting ground.

« Last Edit: July 02, 2017, 12:39:10 AM by Duncan Cheslett »

Sean_A

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #57 on: July 02, 2017, 05:10:56 AM »
Duncan

I will take Hillside's front nine over the back anyday.  I find the back nine a bit dull in that too many holes plow through the dunes.  For me, Hillside is the most disappointing course up that way.  Its good, but I can't help feeling an opportunity was lost.

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Adam Lawrence

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #58 on: July 02, 2017, 05:57:12 AM »
The big problem with Hillside's back nine is that the golf is disconnected from the spectacular landscape. Take the par five eleventh, which really ought to be the best hole on the course and one of the best anywhere. There is a bunker on the left side of the fairway that threatens the drive. It is well placed, but a tiny round pot at the bottom of a huge and imposing dune that ought to set up a fabulous driving challenge. But the bunker is so small and insignificant -- and separated from the dune -- that it fails to do so.


A couple of good shapers could transform Hillside pretty quickly and for not much money simply by expanding the bunkers to connect them better with the landscape. As it is, I feel it is comfortably the most over-rated course I have seen in GB.
Adam Lawrence

Editor, Golf Course Architecture
www.golfcoursearchitecture.net

Principal, Oxford Golf Consulting
www.oxfordgolfconsulting.com

Author, 'More Enduring Than Brass: a biography of Harry Colt' (forthcoming).

Short words are best, and the old words, when short, are the best of all.

Neil White

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #59 on: July 02, 2017, 06:06:48 AM »
Cavendish.

Duncan Cheslett

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #60 on: July 02, 2017, 06:53:12 AM »
For me, Hillside is the most disappointing course up that way. 


Surely Hesketh has to take that particular accolade...


Duncan Cheslett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #61 on: July 02, 2017, 07:15:07 AM »
Cavendish.


Good call Neil.


I played Cavendish on Friday and was even more impressed than ever. The back nine is consistently excellent.


How are you fixed this month for a 36 holer at Reddish Vale and Cavendish?

Brett Wiesley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #62 on: July 02, 2017, 08:14:45 AM »
I'd put a vote out there for Ballyneal.  Not mentioned yet, and the course wasn't even a twinkle in TD's eye at the time of the original post.  The front nine isn't too shabby either, but for me when you make the turn you are in for a roller coaster of fun golf holes.

Richard Fisher

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #63 on: July 02, 2017, 11:17:50 AM »
Harlech - and to be played in the par of 33 shots too. As tough, on those terms (as cited by Thomas Dai), as the back nine at Carnoustie. Aberdovey's back nine is pretty good too.

Bill Raffo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #64 on: July 02, 2017, 02:06:00 PM »
Having just played North Berwick I decided to look at this thread and bump it. I don't know if North Berwick's back 9 is the best but it was the most fun back 9 I have ever played. I played it into the teeth of a stiff breeze which I hear is the opposite of the usual wind and maybe that has something to do with it. Every hole from 13-18 is fun and wild with incredibly memorable and strategic features. And into the wind 10-12 were turned from maybe just good under normal circumstancesto as hard as you could ever want. I thought into the wind the holes probably played the way they origionally played with the old ball and equipment downwind. I can see how Cypress  Point could top it but I haven't played there. I have seen and walked in person both the Old Course, Augusta, and played Royal Melbourne West and while they are all great, I still stand behind North Berwick as most fun and for me that equals the best.


I'd also like to hear other peoples' opinions on this one. What in your opinion is the best back 9 in golf?


I love the back nine at NB, as well. Probably not the best but it sure is fun. I would say there is not a better set of back nine's, accessible to the public, in such a short proximity as NB, Gullane 1, Dunbar and Muirfield. And as fun as NB is, Dunbar might just be my favorite. Seemingly always into the teeth of the wind, long, grinding and exhilarating...almost entirely on the coast line.

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #65 on: July 02, 2017, 06:38:48 PM »
For me, Hillside is the most disappointing course up that way. 


Surely Hesketh has to take that particular accolade...

Duncan

Hesketh isn't touted anywhere near as much as Hillside...so I didn't have nearly the expectations. 

Adam

I would take your point even further, what is the point of the left bunker?  Plus, none of the bunkers fit the landscape on that hole.

I recall someone telling me the archie wasn't paid for designing the back nine.  Instead, he was allowed to keep the excavated sand...hence the hatchet job through the middle of dunes on so many holes. Even if this isn't true, what a loopy design concept.

Ciao
« Last Edit: July 03, 2017, 04:03:13 AM by Sean_A »
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Ian Andrew

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #66 on: July 03, 2017, 08:52:26 AM »

I'll make my vote for Shinnecock Hills.


10th is one of the best fours I have seen
11th is one of my four favourite threes in all golf with the 11th
12th , 13th , 14th , 15th  are just an amazing set of great fours
Iconic par five 16th is among best in game
17th is strong three and perhaps the only "average" hole among the set.
18th is really good finishing hole





With every golf development bubble, the end was unexpected and brutal....

Wayne_Kozun

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #67 on: July 04, 2017, 12:50:12 PM »
To add another course that was nowhere near being conceived when this thread began - Cabot Cliffs.

David Wuthrich

Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #68 on: July 07, 2017, 11:15:27 AM »
I agree with Ian, Shinnecock.

Thomas Dai

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Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #69 on: July 07, 2017, 12:04:37 PM »
The back-9 at Pyle & Kenfig has in the past oft been mentioned in such discussions but not until now in this thread.
Atb

Ian Andrew

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Best Back Nine in Golf
« Reply #70 on: July 07, 2017, 04:53:45 PM »

I went to see Kirtland CC in Cleveland yesterday, largely on the back of this thread.
So Thanks.


Great back nine, yes, some epic holes, definitely, amazing setting, would agree ....
Best back nine ... unfortunately no.


But for anyone in the area ... this is a must play and the back is worthy of a passing mention on this thread.
I love being surprised and this one had some ideas and holes that I though were fantastic.
I think 12th might be the best green site I've seen in my travels this year.




While I actually don't like lists on GCA, they do uncover places to go and things to see.
So perhaps, I should give those threads a little more credit.
With every golf development bubble, the end was unexpected and brutal....

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