No it is not the 13th at Holinwell! These are mostly dodgy devices there to complete a routing. Usually a drop shot par three is employed but I must say I almost always equate drop shot holes to throwing lawn darts and usually feel cheated playing them. And even the term is somewhat loose as sometimes a transition involves combinations of holes but I think, like smut, you know one when you see it.
I encountered three at Cavendish recently; a definite drag on an otherwise sporty Mckenzie layout another at hole 6 at Reddish Vale( not to mention the feckless 18th uphill finish) and the 13th At Sunny Old which is not a hole crying for a Kodak moment as the weakest hole by far on that venerable track.
I must say though that Hollinwell , in keeping with it's superlative golfing presentation all around,, has my favorite transition hole to date the par 4 11th. This hole is so inviting because the fairway follows an uphill hollow framed by stunning ridges similar to the ninth at Maidstone or the 12th? at Shinnecock to a plateau greensite under the 12th teeing ground. Perhaps someone with better skills will indulge me and post a picture of it. Just a stunning and very fun golf hole.
So will anyone else offer up their example of an inspired and successfully executed up or down transition hole