A question about opening & closing holes, inspired by Pine Needles

[Scott Warren]

I have been reading up ahead of a visit to the US in March and April and in this website's Courses By Country profile of Pine Needles, Ran notes:

Today’s Home hole was originally the course’s first and it make some wonder: has there ever been a better architect at designing first holes? Probably not. Just in Pinehurst, there are three superior ones and that’s before one starts to consider Plainfield and French Lick and Inverness and Salem and Essex and Hogan’s favorite at Oak Hill, etc. Ross clearly liked to set the tone early. As it is, this hole perfectly captures the charm of Pine Needles, and thus makes for a great closing hole.

What are the qualities golfers want from either the first or last hole and are they the same? Do we ask different things from opening holes than we do from closing holes?

Are there distinct features or attributes we want from the first or last hole that aren't important for holes 2-17?

[Tim Gavrich]

At Ross' Hartford (CT) Golf Club, the first hole is probably the second-toughest par 4 on the course. It's a slight bender to the right with the fairway reverse-cambered just a bit. I like that it immediately requires two good full swings to get away from the clubhouse, and that it's more than a gentle handshake. It sets the tone nicely.

[Scott Warren]

That's an interesting example and reasoning, Tim.

I think the transposition of starter and finisher makes sense the way Ran describes if you take that view that the opening hole should be a challenge rather than a handshake.

The first hole at Royal Melbourne West, for instance, would be a terrible finishing hole, but the first at Friar's Head would be amazing.

[Tom_Doak]

I’ve got two projects in planning where the client has moved the clubhouse site on me, so what was my 18th hole is now the opener, and the old 17th becomes the 18th. (The new course at Sand Valley is one of these.)


Neither is built yet, of course, so it’s fairly simple to think about the difficulty of the hazards and green contours in light of the new order.  And I might not build the back tee as far back for the new opener as I would have for the finisher.  I think it’s those sorts of adjustments, more than the general length, that really determine whether the hole is a good opener.