Best final 3 holes

[Eric LeFante]

I think Merion has the best closing three holes anywhere. 14 and 15 are very good but 16-18 are a notch above.


Some other contenders:


NGLA
Pine Valley
Shinnecock
Pebble Beach
Riviera
Sawgrass
Sand Hills
Oakland Hills
Carnoustie
Muirfield




Thoughts?

[Cal Seifert]

Harbour town’s are not the best out of the courses you listed but worth a mention.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Ireland isn’t that blessed with great finishes (for all 3 holes) on its best courses. Perhaps I’d put the best three as:


- Waterville
- Portrush (new routing)
- Carne

[archie_struthers]

 


Merion really tough to beat the finish , one great hole from column A B and C


it's quite a layout

[Tim Gallant]

Hard to see past the old course! 16 is my favourite hole on the course, and I think the variety of ways the holes could be played means I would never grow tired of them.


As a bit of a left field option, but I've always loved the close at Kilspindie. In match play, it's such a fun finish - a brawny par 4 with a front to back tilting green, followed by a quirky 4, and finishes with a drivable (somtimes with an iron!) par-4 with OB behind the green and right of the hole. Anything is possible!

[Jason Thurman]

Does the new Harvester Club belong in the conversation?


I haven't seen it post-renovation, but it sounds like 16 has been transformed from the least interesting drive on the course to one of the most fun tee shots in all of Iowa. 17 and 18 might be a little gauche for Taylor Swift, but it's a really fun, scenic, high-risk-high-reward finish that holds your full attention for a solid 40 minutes. I can't think of a more exciting trio of holes to close out a close match.



Teeth of the Dog and Pinehurst No. 2 both deserve mention. It's too bad Cabo Del Sol Ocean moved 17 and 18 off the waterfront, but Punta Espada probably deserves consideration too.


A lot of good choices out there, but those stand out among the courses I've played.

[Ian Galbraith]

Hard to see past the old course! 16 is my favourite hole on the course, and I think the variety of ways the holes could be played means I would never grow tired of them.


As a bit of a left field option, but I've always loved the close at Kilspindie. In match play, it's such a fun finish - a brawny par 4 with a front to back tilting green, followed by a quirky 4, and finishes with a drivable (somtimes with an iron!) par-4 with OB behind the green and right of the hole. Anything is possible!

...and potentially a beer drinking audience within striking distance on 18 to add a little spice 

[Tom_Doak]

Ireland isn’t that blessed with great finishes (for all 3 holes) on its best courses. Perhaps I’d put the best three as:

- Waterville
- Portrush (new routing)
- Carne

You might have to revise that one next year   

[David Wuthrich]

Eric,  I like your list!

[Kevin Neary]

Essex County Country Club — doesn’t get much better than that.

[Ted Sturges]

Yale
Pacific Dunes

[jim_lewis]

Eric:


I have played all the courses you listed except
Rivera, and my vote goes to Carnoustie.


Jim

[Tom_Doak]

From The Confidential Guide:


Vol. 1:  St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Muirfield
Vol. 2:  Cabo del Sol  , Seminole, Harbour Town, Riviera
Vol. 3:  NGLA, Sand Hills, Cabot Cliffs (!), Merion, Jasper, Davenport, Dismal River (Red)
Vol. 5:  Cape Wickham, Royal Melbourne (East), Commonwealth

[Dan Boerger]

Eric - From my (somewhat limited) experience I fully agree with your Merion Call with PV just behind it.

[Stephen Davis]

From The Confidential Guide:


Vol. 1:  St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Muirfield
Vol. 2:  Cabo del Sol  , Seminole, Harbour Town, Riviera
Vol. 3:  NGLA, Sand Hills, Cabot Cliffs (!), Merion, Jasper, Davenport, Dismal River (Red)
Vol. 5:  Cape Wickham, Royal Melbourne (East), Commonwealth

The only one I would add to Vol. 3 is Ballyneal. I am biased, but the final three holes there are as good as any of the others in that Volume.

[Ben Stephens]

St Enodoc last 2 holes are awesome not too sure about the 16th


Cavendish has a pretty strong finish.


Hunstanton is a very challenging last 3 holes especially off the back tees with 17 and 18 into the wind.


Ganton


Rye

[Tim Martin]

Yale
Pacific Dunes

Ted-I love Yale 17 and 18 but I’m hard pressed to include 16 which to me is pedestrian among so many good/great holes.


I like the last three at Canterbury.

[Thomas Dai]

Carnoustie?
Might be worth confirming it with the likes of Jose Jurado, Johnny Miller, Jean van de Velde, Andres Romero, nearly Padraig Harrington and a few others as well.

Atb

[David Ober]

I love Bandon Dunes' finish, though 16 confounds me.

[Pete Lavallee]

The last 3 at Capilano are very strong.

[Ira Fishman]

As Ally noted, Waterville is really good. And among the courses that are not private, Streamsong Blue is really good too.


Ira

[David Ober]

As Ally noted, Waterville is really good. And among the courses that are not private, Streamsong Blue is really good too.


Ira

I loved Waterville, but don't especially remember the finishing holes. Remind me ....

[David Whitmer]

Double Eagle and Old North State Club each have three strong finishing holes. Also agree with TOC, Muirfield, and Sand Hills already mentioned.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Cavendish has a pretty strong finish.

It has, but arguably the finish of the original MacKenzie routing is even stronger.

14 - the par 5 with the wall and raised green

6 - excellent  par 4 from elevated tee playing to green in the pine trees

18 - the second best finishing hole in English golf (after Kington)

There is serious talk about us reverting to the  original order of holes.

[Adam Uttley]

The finish at the new JCB is excellent with 3 very strong holes.


In addition to those already mentioned I’m a big fan of the finishes at Cal Club, Pennard and Castle Stuart.