[Greg Smith]

There are many great course routings or "flows" which feature an epic three-hole run as the centerpiece of drama.  Occasionally these three holes are a finishing run, but more usually the routing reaches its crescendo somewhere during the middle of the round, with maybe a secondary counterpoint near the end.

In these cases the "heart of the course" section will tend to dominate the golfer's thinking/viewpoint/context during a round, with individual points of action classified as coming "before", "during", or "after" the crescendo. 

The most straightforward example of such a routing flow is Amen Corner at Augusta.  I can think of some other possible three-hole groupings off the top of my head:

Pebble:  6th, 7th, 8th
CPC:  15th, 16th, 17th
Oakmont:  2nd, 3rd, 4th
Merion:  16th, 17th, 18th
NGLA:  2nd, 3rd, 4th
Brookline:  You might think 15th, 16th, 17th -- but I think it's really 3rd, 4th, 5th.

On the other hand, there are quite a few great courses where the riches are spread out much more evenly and the ebb/flow is not so pronounced:

Winged Foot West
Pinehurst No. 2
Shinnecock
Pine Valley
Riviera

Which type of flow is your preference?  Is there any inherent advantage to either model?  Do we think that the ODGs actually set out to either create or avoid such hole groupings?  If so, was it terrain alone affecting their choices? 

I realize I've only mentioned American courses here, and only the most famous sort of courses at that.  I think that the UK links courses have less of this sort of "created" drama/flow because so many of them arose by "natural" means. 

Educate me on some of your favorite three-hole groupings from places that aren't so famous.

[Sean_A]

I must admit I am partial to little runs of magic.  I am not sure there is any advantage to clustering cool holes unless there is an embrassing amount of riches that a run or two just has to be designed.  Not trying to hammer in the mega famous courses....

Huntercombe's 2-4 stretch is quite special because the land isn't anything that would turn an eye.  It is difficult to turn my eye for three holes in a row without some great land formations. The greens on these holes are exceptional though.

Kington's 12-14 stretch is very cool.  Excellent combination gravity golf mixed with man-made features.

Perranporth's 2-4 stretch is outlandish.  Same could be said for 5-7!  Ah, and 12-14.  For those that truly hold natural golf in high esteem Perranporth is a godsend.

In a more sedate way, Harlech's 15-17 stretch is excellent. 

Laytown & Bettystown's 4-6 stretch is wonderful. 

Littlestone's 15-17 stretch is very fine in a more built, strategic manner but expertly using what was given.

Bude & N Cornwall's 12-14 stretch is very cool for its variety. An old school runnr approach around a corner for 12 to a nasty short hole to a double blind short 4.  These three holes sort of feed the golfer to the end of the round.

Pennard's 6-8 stretch is most excellent...one needs to read the land well to succeed.

For me, Merion doesn't have an awesome 3 hole stretch...the quality is more spread around between the highlights 5, 9 & 16. Merion is an extremely well put together course which doesn't scream world class at the golfer...well not this golfer.  It just is world class.

Ciao

[Tom_Doak]

In my line of work, there is a particular fondness for these little stretches of holes, because they show how the course was routed.  Most routings are done in little stretches, where you have to get from one natural break to the next -- the natural break being a high point you don't want to play blindly over, or a little corner you have to get into and back out of.


Thus, a stretch like 6-7-8 at Pebble Beach [Great example! making the most use of that little peninsula] is more interesting to me than 8-9-10, which most golfers would identify as the best stretch of the course because you can see it all at once.


Every great course is going to have a stretch or two of holes like this, but thinking of it in terms of three holes [instead of 3 or 4 or 5] is kind of missing the point.  The best courses have multiple stretches of them.  Shinnecock has 10-13, followed right up by 14-16 ... indeed, Shinnecock is full of little triangles like that.  Pine Valley has the Woody Platt stretch from 1-4, as good a start as there is in golf.  Merion has 16-17-18 getting through the quarry, or even 15-18 if you like.


Crystal Downs has 2-3-4-5-6 using an awkward stretch of land brilliantly, and then 1-7-8-9 are another little loop grafted onto that.


These are the kinds of things I will try to explain in my routing book, whenever I get time to finish it.  3-4-5-6 at Pacific Dunes is pretty good, or 6-7-8-9 if you prefer.

[Terry Lavin]

Off the top of my head from Chicago golf courses:


Shoreacres: 4-6 and 11-13
Chicago Golf: 2-4 and 12-14
Medinah #3: 2-4 and 10-12
Beverly: 5-7 and 16-18
OFCC North: 2-4 and 12-14
OFCC South: 5-7 and 10-12
Butler: 7-9 and 10-12
Bob O’Link: 4-6 and 14-16
Knollwood: 1-3 and 9-11
Flossmoor: 4-6 and 15-17

[Thomas Dai]

Some GB&I examples -



Scotland - any consecutive 3 from 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th at Cruden Bay
Ireland - any consecutive 3 from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th at Narin & Portnoo
Wales - any consecutive 3 from Morgan, Watkins, John, Bennett
England - 4th, 5th, 6th at Westward Ho!/RND


Atb

[Greg Ohlendorf]

Terry, I'm always a step behind you, but I was going to post some of the nice stretches in Chicagoland but you beat me to it. Would go play any of those tomorrow if I could (since it's a balmy 38 degrees here now!)


Greg

[Jon Cavalier]

Old Town Club has a few nice loops.


Although I know it’s not what we are discussing here, I am also a fan of courses routed such that you can manufacture your own three hole segments, like 9-10-18 at both Stonewall Old and North, for example.


Tom: do you ever consider that kind of “make your own mini-loop” thing in routing a course, or are you solely concerned with routing the best course you can 1 to 18 and if a few fun little loops come out of that, all the better?

[Tim Fitz]

Per usual the Judge represents Chicago well.


One of the things I like best about Shoreacres is that you can grab virtually any three hole combination (especially on the backside) and make a great case for why it is special. My inability to pick a favorite initially made me reticent to post a reply. I think the Judge posted two great examples, but I could also justify:


10-12 with a beast of a par 4(road hole), a short 4 over the tops of the ravine (twice) and the beautiful short down into the ravine.


11-13 based on my interpretation of Tom’s post as Raynor had to figure out how to get from one side of the ravine to the other and also had a corner to deal with.


13-15 with a blind tee shot par 4 out of the ravine, a long par 3 redan and a terrific par 5 original.


As for Beverly I agree with Judge Lavin but also love the 13-15 combo with a blind tee shot on a manageable par 4, a very short but very tricky par 4, and a beast of a par 4 with fairway movement that is very unusual for Chicago.

[John Kavanaugh]

There are three 3-hole routing segments left in the original Prairie Dunes 9 holes.


6-7-8
7-8-9
8-9-10


Of the three I most prefer 6-7-8.

[Terry Lavin]

There are three 3-hole routing segments left in the original Prairie Dunes 9 holes.


6-7-8
7-8-9
8-9-10


Of the three I most prefer 6-7-8.

I concur in your judgment.


8 is one of the best holes in America, so it belongs in any sequence.

[John Kavanaugh]

And I love hard golf but golf doesn't get any harder than 8-9-10.

[Terry Lavin]

And I love hard golf but golf doesn't get any harder than 8-9-10.

At the 10th tee one wants a “breather”. And a cocktail. Only one is provided. That is an awesome one shotter. Especially after that dynamic duo.

[Ted Sirbaugh]

One of the things I like best about Shoreacres is that you can grab virtually any three hole combination (especially on the backside) and make a great case for why it is special. My inability to pick a favorite initially made me reticent to post a reply.

There's only a couple of courses that I can think of where any three hole combination has a case for being the best. One of the best examples is Ballyneal. There isn't a three hole stretch where I would be shocked to hear that someone thought of it as their favorite (maybe 4-6, but I still think that's a nice stretch). Pine Valley is another where this may be true. That being said, both of those courses still have great flow to the routing, with some neat stretches of holes mixed in. I haven't played Shoreacres, but I agree with you in appreciating courses with that characteristic.

[Ira Fishman]

Great thread.


Lahinch—3-5.
Pasatiempo—10-12 and/or 14-16.
The Island Club—13-15.


Ira

[V. Kmetz]

Too many to judge, so my take (from the white tees) is:


1,2,3 - Merion = by the time you've finished #3, you're really golfing, with opportunities and risks, and all but a couple of clubs used to chase a par of 12 strokes.


4, 5, 6 - Apawamis = a disarming stretch of awkward short irons, small violent greens played in an environmental of craggy, arcane features...and a model of how this entire unique course plays.


7, 8, 9 - Pebble = for what a three hole stretch can be, few could be more pleasing as a matter of golf or human amusement.  CC of Fairfield's charming Soundside stretch ending in a fine Redan was a close runner up, but ultimately, that Stillwater Cove and Ocean is too Olympian.


10,11,12 - Augusta National - the steady, gorgeous and exacting descent culminating in the famed Amen Corner and the end of the second act in the drama, Oakmont is close consideration, but is slightly more brutish and cowing to the golf. More than just the acclaim, I think many a golfer longs to play the shots of that ANGC stretch, the slinging tee shot off #10...the risking mid-iron into the 11th green...the sink or swim beauty of the short iron 12th.


13, 14, 15 - Quaker Ridge - like the Ardmore Ave opening three, you're going to play every club in the bag on this troika, with a heavy empasis on the longer irons and fairway metals which can be hit on all three tee shots and are often a neccessity on the perfect strategic beauty of the 14th. ANGC's stretch of 13-15 is also world class in the spirit of the topic, but the Quaker three are a more refined, sublime joy that ought to be sampled.


16, 17 and 18 - Sawgrass...while WFW's and Merions' closers represent the most demanding tests that should finish a day of golf, Sawgrass' have that edgy, exotic note that make the end of the match a thing of zest.  If you can get to that 16th tee alive, a spectacular reversal and win is in the offing.


cheers   vk

[Phil McDade]

Lawsonia has a few:


-- Perhaps the best is 6-7-8: long, downhill par 4 with a blind-outcome tee shot, and a severely pushed-up green with significant contours; the famed boxcar par 3, a true Short to a volcano green; and a wonderful short par 4 where the line of charm distracts from the best line of approach, hidden from the tee.


-- I've always liked 2-3-4: dogleg right par 4 with a blind tee shot to one of the few non-pushed up greens there, but one with plenty of subtle contours; dogleg right par 4, with the second shot framed by a simple Wisconsin farmhouse, one of of the more iconic views on a Wisconsin golf course; a terrific Redan-esque par 3 that plays uphill and is very tough. (Almost any 3-hole combo on the front nine has merit at Lawsonia.


-- I could make an argument for any 3-hole combo that includes the majestic par 5 13th, a great long hole with three demanding shots in a row.


At Milwaukee CC, the stretch of 8-9-10 is very good, with a target par 3, a gambling par 4 that can be driven, and the much-improved par 4/5 10th with lovely views of the river.

[Tom_Doak]

4, 5, 6 - Apawamis = a disarming stretch of awkward short irons, small violent greens played in an environmental of craggy, arcane features...and a model of how this entire unique course plays.

I like how you set up your "course" ... and I would not argue a bit with 7-8-9 or 10-11-12.


But you haven't traveled if you've got Apawamis above 4-5-6 at Royal Melbourne (West), which is as clear-cut a winner as Pebble and Augusta for anyone that knows the course.


I'm pretty sure there's a better last two stretches, too.  For some people, Merion would win the last three.

[Mark Kiely]

La Quinta (Mountain) 14-15-16

[Tim Martin]

Shinnecock 9,10,11
Yale 8,9,10

[Peter Pallotta]

Honest question:
Is the number "3" important? Is there some significance to "3 hole stretches", some inate symmetry that is particularly relevant/suited to golf? Or is it just practical, ie more impressive and telling than "back-back" holes, and/or more likely to be achieved (by architects) and noticed (by golfers) than a great "4-hole-stretch"?
I can understand architects tending to work in small 3 part packets/triangles; but I'm not sure how golfers (consciously) notice that, or what we might be noticing. Is it like a new chapter in a book -- a good time to take a breath?
Also: do you think it's true that the greater the course the longer the stretches?

[Tim Martin]

Honest question:
Is the number "3" important? Is there some significance to "3 hole stretches", some inate symmetry that is particularly relevant/suited to golf? Or is it just practical, ie more impressive and telling than "back-back" holes, and/or more likely to be achieved (by architects) and noticed (by golfers) than a great "4-hole-stretch"?
I can understand architects tending to work in small 3 part packets/triangles; but I'm not sure how golfers (consciously) notice that, or what we might be noticing. Is it like a new chapter in a book -- a good time to take a breath?
Also: do you think it's true that the greater the course the longer the stretches?

Peter-All thought provoking questions and I can’t claim to have the answers. The last question regarding the greater the course the longer the stretches is the most vexing. Although I’m sure everyone has an opinion I can’t think of a greater 5 hole stretch especially at the finish than 14-18 at Merion.

[Terry Lavin]

Honest question:
Is the number "3" important? Is there some significance to "3 hole stretches", some inate symmetry that is particularly relevant/suited to golf? Or is it just practical, ie more impressive and telling than "back-back" holes, and/or more likely to be achieved (by architects) and noticed (by golfers) than a great "4-hole-stretch"?
I can understand architects tending to work in small 3 part packets/triangles; but I'm not sure how golfers (consciously) notice that, or what we might be noticing. Is it like a new chapter in a book -- a good time to take a breath?
Also: do you think it's true that the greater the course the longer the stretches?

I don’t know, but it’s a great topic. Easy to relate it to a bunch of courses. And best of all, it allows amateur gca wannabes to think about routing. Which is pretty central to this concept that pulls us together.

[James Brown]

Dornoch 3-4-5 is pretty awesome.


Given that a 3 hole stretch is gonna average something like 4000-5000 feet in track length, it’s seems rare to have a great land feature last longer than that.

[Peter Pallotta]

No doubt, Terry - that's why our predisposition to think in terms of "3s" seemed worth asking about.

Tim - I only know Merion (mostly) from discussions about its attempts to stay relevant as a US Open venue; but IIRC it may be one of the very very few courses that the level-headed Sean A -- not prone to hyperbole in such matters -- considers a "10".   

[Sean_A]

Not going to the big guns or I would have jumped on Sunny New's 4-6 stretch immediately, I thought of Formby's 6-8 stretch yesterday because it plays through an awkward stretch of land which is quite hilly and it seems tome 8 & 9 don't really have proper fairway corridors.  To push the boat out the fantastic 5th could be included as it transitions into the land used for 6-8.  The 6th is a very old hole with a sunken green and 7 & 8 from the late 70s over rollicking land.  Thinking on it, Formby also has 13-15...again a sunken green on 13, a new hole from the 70s on 14 and an outrageous 15th with a blind 2nd to another sunken green.  It is easy tack on to Colt's fantastic 12 in the stretch as well.  Formby is very fortunate to have a great stretch on each nine with such great land...and I think this is very rare.  I wonder too if any club was as sucessful in remodeling a course in the late 70s as was Formby?  This may well have been the last work Frank Pennink was involved with as he died in 1984.



Pietro

I think sometimes it takes three holes (or more) to use a certain piece of the property and once there are that many holes the stretch is simply easier to remember and savour.  I really don't know about greater courses = longer stretches of cool holes.  My inclination is to say not necessarily probbaly because the really top notch great courses tend to have so much great stuff that it is hard to call them stretches.  Though, I don't think this is the case for Merion.  To me Merion is much more about the total package and how it challenges without resorting to brutal tactics.  Yes, there are great holes, all great courses need great holes, but very few turn my head in a wow fashion.  Probably the 5th is the one hole which really turns my head because of the severity of the green.  Merion isn't flashy...its parkland magic.   

Ciao

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