Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Scott Warren on November 23, 2010, 10:31:36 PM
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Each morning I drive past a hole that I don't believe I have ever seen the equal of in terms of sheer horror - playing characteristics or aesthetics.
It belongs to Hudson Park golf course in suburban Sydney. I'm not sure what hole number it is, because I've not played there, but my journey up Centenary Drive each morning takes me up the hill towards the tee, giving a great view of the hole.
It plays slightly uphill, measuring 192m. The gap between the trees 70m from the tee is 20m. Just short of the green that narrows to just 14m.
The road, as you can see, hugs the RHS of the tee, while a railway line flanks the left, beyond it - a graveyard.
Directly behind the green - and I mean directly - is one of those massive steel electricity towers, which because the hole plays uphill, is the major feature I can see from my vantage point behind the steeing wheel. I am guessing the view ain't much different from the other side of the fence on the tee.
(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4963/hole.jpg)
I wonder if anyone can suggest a worse all-round golf hole?
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I wonder if anyone can suggest a worse all-round golf hole?
Certainly, Scott.
There are 18 splendid examples of atrocious golf holes at The National Golf Club's Ocean Course, on the Mornington Peninsula.
5-10 is easily the worst six-hole stretch in the game.
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no. it is much better than 17 at sawgrass and it's twin at PGA West.
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Don't you think you should play it before you declare it "the world's worst golf hole"?
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We'll, I've effectively stood on the tee of it every day for the past two weeks, waiting in traffic.
It's a pretty horrific sight: six lanes of traffic, a power staunchon and a railway line with a sliver of golf hole running through it... My question was light-hearted.
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May not be the world's worst visual from the tee...that might be #11 at Chippewa GC in Ohio. This was posted on the board last year.
(http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/dfjb23/DSC02014.jpg)
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that is not the place for a thunderstorm.
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Suggested tee shot shape: :)
(http://i49.tinypic.com/20jqvdg.jpg)
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no way, that shot shape brings way too many wire stand thingies into play
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I certaainly don't want to get competitive with the best "mediocre" but the concept of this construction irks me. ...
(http://www.robbinsgolf.com/images/CC_East_Concept_LWR_9_Edit.jpg)
BTW It is NOT the most bizarro hole of the course.
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The cart paths that go through the bunkers are very troubling. What if carts get stuck in the bunkers? :)
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the flowers under the trees look nice
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The versatility of the hole is nice...play it as a short par three from the forward tee. That is tee box #6 if you are counting.
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I certainly don't want to get competitive with the best "mediocre" but the concept of this construction irks me. ...
Why?
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What about this honey?
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn209/joellahrman/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
It's par 4 that basically forces you to hit 8-iron, 8-iron. Space may have been tight, but of all the halfway interesting holes that could have been built, this is what we get.
I haven't played this hole since I was a sophomore in high school and I still remember its awfulness.
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Probably not a great or even good hole, but the worst hole is a very high bar.
I would generally prefer a hole that is quirky, even a bit bizarre or slightly stupid to one that is mind numbingly dull and forgettable, and there are plenty of those around.
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Scott, as a Sydneysider have you had the pleasure of playing Northbridge? Pick a hole, Any hole. You could make a nice hall of shall 18 out of lower north shore courses alone (lane Cove, Chatswood).
My favourite was the golf /housing devlopoment posted on this site a couple of years back (looked like a Florida style design) which had a dog leg around (or over) 6 or 7 houses. Nice planning.
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Dieter,
I issued to play in an annual cancer charity tournament at Northbridge that saw you play four rounds in 24 hours. Perhaps not surprisingly, the most enjoyable rounds were always the ones in the dark!
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Scott,
Have a look at Breedon Priory nr Derby. Its one of the worse conditioned course I have played. You cant see any fairways as they seem to cut it all semi rough!!
Hole 16 is a dogleg left par 4 - 450 yards. The drive is only 150 to 175 yards to the centre of the fairway and then a monster second shot of 275 - 300 yards to the green!! the corner cannot be cut as there is a line of 100 ft high trees close together in a line along the course boundary. I though it was ridiculous even though par 3 17th was straight on behind the 16th green. The better design would to have a 175 yard par 3 to the corner area and then a long par 4 to the 17th green.
Cheers
Ben
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I'm impressed with two things about that amazing photo of the 11th at Chippewa GC in Ohio. The first thing is that you can also play the hole with a low draw off the tee, so it's at least strategically flexible. The second thing is that with all of the high tension wire towers there, they've bothered to assemble a wall of arbor vitae in an effort to hide something, probably an irrigation box. What landscape moron would think that's needed?
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If the course is near your house, and fits your budget, you probably don't notice as much, and get on with playing golf.
It actually looks like the grounds are well maintained.
It looks like the staff is doing a great job with what they have.
Forget about berating everything and everybody for 1 nanosecond, and play golf.
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well said John, some local people may have to play that hole, and they probably enjoy their experience.
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Who's berating anybody? Certainly not I. It was a light-hearted laugh at an unfortunate hole. Of course some people will enjoy playing it, I don't recall ever suggesting otherwise...
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I'm impressed with two things about that amazing photo of the 11th at Chippewa GC in Ohio. The first thing is that you can also play the hole with a low draw off the tee, so it's at least strategically flexible. The second thing is that with all of the high tension wire towers there, they've bothered to assemble a wall of arbor vitae in an effort to hide something, probably an irrigation box. What landscape moron would think that's needed?
LOL
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Who's berating anybody? Certainly not I. It was a light-hearted laugh at an unfortunate hole. Of course some people will enjoy playing it, I don't recall ever suggesting otherwise...
Scott,
Judging by your avatar you appear to have gotten a bit too big for your britches. Is it possible to hook one into an oncoming train? That in itself would make it a great hole in my book.
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I say build up the front right side to create my fantasy hole - the Treedan.
Bogey
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John,
I'll have to defer to you on the subject of being too big for one's britches, both literally and figuratively ;)
You can hit a train, a headstone, a car or two... let it not be said this hole doesn't offer the golfer options.
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What about this honey?
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn209/joellahrman/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
It's par 4 that basically forces you to hit 8-iron, 8-iron. Space may have been tight, but of all the halfway interesting holes that could have been built, this is what we get.
I haven't played this hole since I was a sophomore in high school and I still remember its awfulness.
I resemble that hole!
Actually, it looks to be a lesser version of a neat one at Old Hickory CC, northeast of Madison, one of the originals from Tom Bendelow's initial 9-holer there.
It's a shortish hole, 316 yds from the tips, and a sharp dogleg to the right. This is the view looking back toward the tee, from where the fairway runs out, about 250 yards or so.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr120/philmcdade/10-2-08oldhick079.jpg)
After the tee shot, the approach is a 90-degree turn to the right. Here's a look at the short approach shot, usually a wedge or 9-iron at most. The shot is not onerous, but the bunkers eat up the slight mis-hit, and the green is slanted quite severely from back to front; the player with a short iron in hand should be able to keep the ball below the pin, but if not, a three-putt on this sharply sloped green is a real possibility.
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr120/philmcdade/10-2-08oldhick080.jpg)
Here's a look at the hole, from about 100 yards out from the tee. The bold player, off an elevated tee, can take a whack at the green with a strong fade, but over-cooking the shot or mis-judging the length leads to a watery grave. The course has done a good job of thinning some of the older and taller trees here, so players can try to play over them for a shot at the green (the tee is elevated much more so than from this vantage point).
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr120/philmcdade/10-2-08oldhick057.jpg)
I like the hole, and think it's a good one, because the bold player can try the aggressive play, and have a shot at birdie and perhaps even eagle, but lots of trouble lurks in the form of water especially and the bunkers, along with the task of avoiding some trees by hitting over them. The more conservative player can safely play long-iron/utility off the tee, and be left with a simple wedge, but the green still holds a lot of interest and challenge because of its severe slope. A solid, short par 4 from a course that dates to 1920.
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What about this honey?
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn209/joellahrman/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
It's par 4 that basically forces you to hit 8-iron, 8-iron. Space may have been tight, but of all the halfway interesting holes that could have been built, this is what we get.
I haven't played this hole since I was a sophomore in high school and I still remember its awfulness.
Mike Cirba once described a hole (I believe it was on a course in central PA) that was more like forced 5 iron, 5 wood (think fairway running out around 180 or so, followed by 230 yard carry to green), so I think that would be more ridiculous than yours. :)
Scott, there was a little 9 hole mom and pop course near me that closed a few years ago; it was officially named Green Valley, but semi-affectionately called Death Valley by those who partook of its charms. Holes directly alongside major roads, common fairways where you took life in hand each time you strolled them...what a fun course! They appealed to one's ego by posting some of the worst yardages known to man. If the scorecard is to believed, I hit my 4 iron approx. 250 and can reach 510 yard par 5s with 2 well struck 5 irons - that's positively Matt Ward-ian!
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Scott, there was a little 9 hole mom and pop course near me that closed a few years ago; it was officially named Green Valley, but semi-affectionately called Death Valley by those who partook of its charms. Holes directly alongside major roads, common fairways where you took life in hand each time you strolled them...what a fun course!
George, here was a hole posted by Mike C a couple of years ago...Mount Pocono...this is a par 3 where there are no barriers to the adjacent road or parking lot:
(http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/MountPocono3.jpg)
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Thanks, Kevin.
If you look closely, you will see Mike's white car on the proper side of the building... :)
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I thought I heard my name...my ears were burning. ;) ;D
Kevin,
Thanks for posting that beautiful aerial of the par three 7th hole at Mount Pocono Golf Club.
If it isn't the worst golf hole in the world, I do believe it's the most dangerous.
I'm now going to go to Google Earth and see if I can't get a proper snap of a serious contender for worst golf hole, which is the one George mentioned.
Ironically, it's within 30 miles of this beauty. ;)
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What about this honey?
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn209/joellahrman/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
It's par 4 that basically forces you to hit 8-iron, 8-iron. Space may have been tight, but of all the halfway interesting holes that could have been built, this is what we get.
I haven't played this hole since I was a sophomore in high school and I still remember its awfulness.
Mike Cirba once described a hole (I believe it was on a course in central PA) that was more like forced 5 iron, 5 wood (think fairway running out around 180 or so, followed by 230 yard carry to green), so I think that would be more ridiculous than yours. :)
Scott, there was a little 9 hole mom and pop course near me that closed a few years ago; it was officially named Green Valley, but semi-affectionately called Death Valley by those who partook of its charms. Holes directly alongside major roads, common fairways where you took life in hand each time you strolled them...what a fun course! They appealed to one's ego by posting some of the worst yardages known to man. If the scorecard is to believed, I hit my 4 iron approx. 250 and can reach 510 yard par 5s with 2 well struck 5 irons - that's positively Matt Ward-ian!
I found the yardage...this hole plays at 238 from the back tees. So it's probably 9 iron-wedge. There are all sorts of fun things they could have done with 238 yards of space here, and they made a 9-iron-wedge par 4 hole. I am not going to reveal the course in order to protect the guilty parties. As I recall, the tree on the right side of the fairway is tall enough that it would require a superhuman slice to try to go for the green, which isn't worth the risk with the pond right up next to the green.
It's a truly wretched hole.
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Back a few years when I was just learning the game, I used to play at Lake Park Executive, a nine-holer in Lewisville, TX. An unusual course to be sure, with bent greens and 8 par-3 holes and 1 par-4 hole. I can't say there are any bad holes here, just bad locations for holes. For example, I was playing with another beginning golfer, and we're on #2, a very short par-3 hole. It is the green on the top of the screenshot near the word "Hole". We had only a dim idea of how far our clubs flew, so my friend takes out his pitching wedge, makes a mighty swing and the ball easily clears the road and bounces into the parking lot on the other side of the street. Oops!
Next hole, #3, runs south along N Mill St. I'm on the tee with probably a 7-iron. I'm taking my usual huge overswing when some dork in a pick-up truck driving down the road yells "FORE!". I hooked my tee shot into traffic. Oops!
The other interesting "feature" is hole #5, which runs along the south side of the Army Corps of Engineers building. This was at one time a short par-4, probably 280 yards or so. Naturally, nearly everyone is trying to drive the green. Well, some lady playing hole #6, along the railroad track, got hit by a slice and the hole was subsequently converted to a par-3.
(http://bettygrastymd.com/jgrasty/wp-content/uploads/lake-park-exec.png)
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(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc120/Slag_Bandoon/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
Bel-Wood 7 modified. Heck, maybe it's worse.
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I've not been there, but I saw this on the website of a new golf complex that has opened near me. It's the 7th hole;
(http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg157/dantovey/Document1.jpg)
Further travesties can be found here;
http://www.thenorthwestnational.co.uk/
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I've not been there, but I saw this on the website of a new golf complex that has opened near me. It's the 7th hole;
(http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg157/dantovey/Document1.jpg)
Further travesties can be found here;
http://www.thenorthwestnational.co.uk/
Amazing! That's the first time I've seen "pot ponds" and ponds sprinkled around like bunkers at Whistling Straits.
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I have not much to add other than this thread is absolutely hilarious ;D
For any Albertans out there, I would humbly submit the abominable #10 of Sirocco Golf Club in Calgary.
b.
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What about this honey?
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn209/joellahrman/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
Did you know that is a template hole.
Here is the 225 yard long reverse version but with strategic black plastic and aesthetic palm trees.
Only a bad hole if you are an architecture snob. Is actually a bit of fun.
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z17/Digby_Jeffrey/golf0.jpg)
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z17/Digby_Jeffrey/golf1.jpg)
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z17/Digby_Jeffrey/golf3.jpg)
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(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc120/Slag_Bandoon/Bel-Wood_7.jpg)
Bel-Wood 7 modified. Heck, maybe it's worse.
Damn, nothing gets past this board. It's actually #6 but I will give you full credit.
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I nominate #8 at Nairn. The hole layout itself is not that bad, but the green, as it was in Fall '98, is the worst I've ever had the displeasure of playing. I hit a perfect 16 degree Raylor from the tee, downwind, to the green apron on this par four...and had virtually no shot to a middle pin, which was on this tiny corner of a plateau, fronted with the biggest mess of a contorted excuse for a putting surface ever created! Alas, I had no camera. Simply, it was awful. You couldn't putt it, run it, chip it, or lob it and have any chance of finishing anywhere near the hole...from perfect position to a middle pin. I still laugh every time I think of the miracle bogey I made on that wretched green! ;D
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Worst hole I have played is at Patterson River CC in Melbourne Victoria. Redesign of the whole course by Phil Ryan I believe. The 5th hole is about 395 metre par four. You have to hit a 5 iron off the tee otherwise it will run intak a lake that runs down the left on the drive then cuts across the fairway. From there you are left with a 190 to 200 metre shot up hill to a green guarded on the right by bunkers.
The drive though is what is appalling, no choice!!
The redesign of this course is what irks me the most. They had a substantial amount of money to do something creative and worthwhile given that the course had sand once you got past the layer of peet but they stuffed it up big time. Now its a pseudo resort course that charges a fortune and thinks that money well spent is resurfacing the car park!!
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Ashley,
That hole is a shocker.We played a lot of golf there at juniors and it was a pretty decent course in the 1970s.
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David, you win. That is the funniest thing I have seen in ages. This looks like a Trump hole if the Donald had taken a bath in the GFC. Perhaps we could add a soaker hose along the top of the black plastic behind the green to get Donalds waterfall in. I do like the way they managed to make the palm tree blend with it surroudings and the whole green site reminds me of 13 at Augusta with Rays creek.
Magnificent
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I might go with #18 at 'Fox Run' in Covington, KY. Hills course that is very good for 17 holes, then has a most mysterious and confusing finish. Don't have a picture of you might tell me how to play it.
Doug
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Recently I went to see George Bahto's work at Knoll West only to have missed a shotgun start.
I ended up playing the neighboring course, Knoll East, which I found to be joyfully awful in terms of architectural madness,
If time permits thus weekend, I think some of you would enjoy reveling in the horridness that is undeniable at this Hal Purdy gem from the 1970s.
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I've not been there, but I saw this on the website of a new golf complex that has opened near me. It's the 7th hole;
(http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg157/dantovey/Document1.jpg)
Further travesties can be found here;
http://www.thenorthwestnational.co.uk/
Amazing! That's the first time I've seen "pot ponds" and ponds sprinkled around like bunkers at Whistling Straits.
That is the same hole as the 7th hole at Key Biscayne, and the 18th at Bloomingdale Golfers Club in the tampa area... Florida courses love these sort of holes for some reason..... I can remember seeing quite a few of these at different courses down there.
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David, you win. That is the funniest thing I have seen in ages. This looks like a Trump hole if the Donald had taken a bath in the GFC.
You are not far wrong, it is a "Mom and Pop" course measuring 2000 metres but it is HEAVIlY influenced by US desgin (I you cross water on 8 out of 9 holes). I am reticent to criticise the course because it is completetely unpretencious, built by an amateur and yearly membership is $150. The course is unique, interesting, challenging and picturesque. But from a snobbish architecture point of view, it is riddled with ridiculousness (or quirk). eg, On how many courses can you experience the gorse of dornoch, the pines of Augusta and the palms of Kapalua on the same hole?
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z17/Digby_Jeffrey/golf5.jpg)
anyway it is great fun and great value for money. I would highly recomend playing it. I will write a review of it soon, because it is a truly unique course, but it is really hard to express the way I feel about it. I don't want to get stuck into it because it is great fun but there is so much stuff on it that is out of the ordinary.
Perhaps we could add a soaker hose along the top of the black plastic behind the green to get Donalds waterfall in.
You are close to the mark here too. the irrigation hose and plant on top of the embankment led to a difficult recovery shot.
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z17/Digby_Jeffrey/golf4.jpg)
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One I can recall from my "local" when I was in England - one of the worst uses of trees that I can recall.
The P4 17th at Stockwood Vales GC. Uphill from the tee one is presented with OOB and trees left, a row of bushes/trees right and a lone tall tree smack bang in the middle of the fairway. The google earth picture shows it with not many leaves but the second pic shows it in all its glory. There is usually relatively long grass right and left past the stright line of trees to only add to the holes issues.
Overview
(http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad65/kpallier23/Stockwood/SV1.jpg)
Approach
(http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad65/kpallier23/Stockwood/SV2.jpg)
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Unfortunately my home state of Georgia has the dubious distinction of two holes in Tom Doak's "Worst 18 Holes in America" list ::)
While certainly deserving of their place in his book, maybe these holes can give those two a run for their money :)
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This definitely has my vote. 15th at Somers Pointe Golf Club, Somers NY.
(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/mmimran/hh.jpg?t=1290911417)
A "U" shaped par 5 where you must hit 3, 5 irons. To top it off the hole if flanked by condos. YUCK!!!!
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Back a few years when I was just learning the game, I used to play at Lake Park Executive, a nine-holer in Lewisville, TX. An unusual course to be sure, with bent greens and 8 par-3 holes and 1 par-4 hole. I can't say there are any bad holes here, just bad locations for holes. For example, I was playing with another beginning golfer, and we're on #2, a very short par-3 hole. It is the green on the top of the screenshot near the word "Hole". We had only a dim idea of how far our clubs flew, so my friend takes out his pitching wedge, makes a mighty swing and the ball easily clears the road and bounces into the parking lot on the other side of the street. Oops!
Next hole, #3, runs south along N Mill St. I'm on the tee with probably a 7-iron. I'm taking my usual huge overswing when some dork in a pick-up truck driving down the road yells "FORE!". I hooked my tee shot into traffic. Oops!
The other interesting "feature" is hole #5, which runs along the south side of the Army Corps of Engineers building. This was at one time a short par-4, probably 280 yards or so. Naturally, nearly everyone is trying to drive the green. Well, some lady playing hole #6, along the railroad track, got hit by a slice and the hole was subsequently converted to a par-3.
(http://bettygrastymd.com/jgrasty/wp-content/uploads/lake-park-exec.png)
Is this the course fairly close to The Tribute and Old American?
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http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hunters+Ridge+Bonita+Springs&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.219929,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hunters+Ridge+Dr,+Bonita+Springs,+Lee,+Florida+34135&ll=26.322326,-81.740148&spn=0.002433,0.004823&t=h&z=18 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hunters+Ridge+Bonita+Springs&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.219929,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hunters+Ridge+Dr,+Bonita+Springs,+Lee,+Florida+34135&ll=26.322326,-81.740148&spn=0.002433,0.004823&t=h&z=18)
17 at Hunters Ridge in Bonita Springs, Florida. The hole is about 300 yards, 150 out, 150 to the left. The whole course is pretty horrendous as you can see from the rest of the photo, with 17 of 18 holes including water. 18 is an island green.
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I think this one has to be in the running.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee260/350dtm/Bond%20Head/BH-N2.jpg)
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http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hunters+Ridge+Bonita+Springs&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.219929,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hunters+Ridge+Dr,+Bonita+Springs,+Lee,+Florida+34135&ll=26.322326,-81.740148&spn=0.002433,0.004823&t=h&z=18 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hunters+Ridge+Bonita+Springs&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.219929,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hunters+Ridge+Dr,+Bonita+Springs,+Lee,+Florida+34135&ll=26.322326,-81.740148&spn=0.002433,0.004823&t=h&z=18)
17 at Hunters Ridge in Bonita Springs, Florida. The hole is about 300 yards, 150 out, 150 to the left. The whole course is pretty horrendous as you can see from the rest of the photo, with 17 of 18 holes including water. 18 is an island green.
A case could be made for that being the world's worst golf course, let alone golf hole! :o :o
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The third hole at Airways Golf Course in Suffield, CT is my personal standard of “worst hole” against which I compare all others. The conditioning of the course is evident in this picture. The hole is a 90° dogleg right with no chance to cut the corner (mature trees line the entire hole). Out of bounds runs along the entire left side of the hole. The tee shot is severely uphill, and the approach plays to a green with a ridiculous falloff right. As you can see in the picture below, a direct line approach from the center of the fairway is not possible. There is a bell at the landing area you are supposed to ring after you play your approach. Only play is a 5-iron off the tee, with a longer play into the green. I played this course twice when I was younger. The red line below is the path I took from the 2nd green to the 4th tee when I skipped the hole the second time around.
(http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz1/PSUGolfNut/Misc/Airwayscopy.jpg)
(http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz1/PSUGolfNut/Misc/236946641_1a363a55a0_o.jpg)
(http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz1/PSUGolfNut/Misc/236946638_ff8bf63f0a_b.jpg)
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After taking a look, I would agree that the third at Airways GC is most definately one of the worst I have seen. Another one to be considered is the Par 5 5th hole at Holly Tree Country Club in Simpsonville, SC. 250 straight away, then a 90 degree turn to the right about 225 downhill over a lake. There is a creek and ravine behind the green. If you want to layup you have to hit Sandwedge about 85 yards to a rock hard landing area about 20 yards wide. All this with OB on the right. I'm not quite sure what George Cobb was thinking on this one.
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Some of these are amazingly bad holes. But at least none of them has a twenty-foot-high mesh fence that is an integral playing feature of the hole.
The description of the 210-yard par 3 14th at the Juniper Hill Lakeside course in Northboro, Mass., quoted from the course's promotional site:
"THE TOUGHEST HOLE ON THE COURSE is nearly surrounded by wetlands. The fence (an obstruction) behind the green is a target for those that can't hit the small landing area around the green."
(http://juniperhillgc.com/golf/proto/juniperhillgc/course_tour/lakeside_detail/lakepop14.jpg)
It's hard to see in the photo, but the fence is over the back right corner of the green. The green is directly surrounded by marsh front right, front left, and long left. The fence about forty feet long -- so not a particularly large target to hit about 230 yards away from the tee -- and is in a narrow strip of hard pine needles between the green and more marsh -- so if you miss it left or right, the ball is long gone. There also are a few trees there, and if you do manage to hit the fence there's a decent chance you'll end up behind one.
But it really is true that the only reason the fence was put there is so that players can aim at it! Not for safety (there is nothing behind it except). Not for any environmental reason. Not because of a lawsuit.
They put it in about 10 or 15 years ago, in response to complaints that the hole was too hard. Which it was. But now it's only very slightly easier, and also is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on a golf course.
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Jay-
I believe there was a thread a few weeks back in response to Whitten's article about the lack creative new trends in GCA. The hole you reference is an excellent example of out-of-the-box creativity that will bring golf to the masses--the hybridization of billiards and golf. Brilliant!
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Mike: You brought up earlier my favorite of awful golf holes - #4@ Country Club of the Poconos, the annual winner of couses that should never have been built. 7 iron off the tee to a 5 wood/hybrid approcach to the green, due to sensitive wetlands..
This course should be on the annual list of site visits for all budding golfcourse architects as a study in "what not to do".
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Bruce,
One might imagine given 12 miles from first tee to eighteenth green that Jim Fazio might have been able to find a good golf hole or two but that would be a mistaken assumption.
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http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hunters+Ridge+Bonita+Springs&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.219929,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hunters+Ridge+Dr,+Bonita+Springs,+Lee,+Florida+34135&ll=26.322326,-81.740148&spn=0.002433,0.004823&t=h&z=18 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hunters+Ridge+Bonita+Springs&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.219929,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hunters+Ridge+Dr,+Bonita+Springs,+Lee,+Florida+34135&ll=26.322326,-81.740148&spn=0.002433,0.004823&t=h&z=18)
17 at Hunters Ridge in Bonita Springs, Florida. The hole is about 300 yards, 150 out, 150 to the left. The whole course is pretty horrendous as you can see from the rest of the photo, with 17 of 18 holes including water. 18 is an island green.
A case could be made for that being the world's worst golf course, let alone golf hole! :o :o
Zooming out from that google image, one can see dozens upon dozens of neighboring candidates!
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Back a few years when I was just learning the game, I used to play at Lake Park Executive, a nine-holer in Lewisville, TX. An unusual course to be sure, with bent greens and 8 par-3 holes and 1 par-4 hole. I can't say there are any bad holes here, just bad locations for holes. For example, I was playing with another beginning golfer, and we're on #2, a very short par-3 hole. It is the green on the top of the screenshot near the word "Hole". We had only a dim idea of how far our clubs flew, so my friend takes out his pitching wedge, makes a mighty swing and the ball easily clears the road and bounces into the parking lot on the other side of the street. Oops!
Next hole, #3, runs south along N Mill St. I'm on the tee with probably a 7-iron. I'm taking my usual huge overswing when some dork in a pick-up truck driving down the road yells "FORE!". I hooked my tee shot into traffic. Oops!
The other interesting "feature" is hole #5, which runs along the south side of the Army Corps of Engineers building. This was at one time a short par-4, probably 280 yards or so. Naturally, nearly everyone is trying to drive the green. Well, some lady playing hole #6, along the railroad track, got hit by a slice and the hole was subsequently converted to a par-3.
(http://bettygrastymd.com/jgrasty/wp-content/uploads/lake-park-exec.png)
Is this the course fairly close to The Tribute and Old American?
Yes, Lake Park is on the west side of Lake Lewisville, and the Tribute on the east side of the lake.
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Bump.
Too funny to let slip into oblivion.
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I think this one has to be in the running.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee260/350dtm/Bond%20Head/BH-N2.jpg)
Garland, what is so offensive about this hole that could possibly qualify it as the 'world's worst'?
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I need to know more about that hole before I would say it's so bad, it looks like it might have some potential.
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I think this one has to be in the running.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee260/350dtm/Bond%20Head/BH-N2.jpg)
Garland, what is so offensive about this hole that could possibly qualify it as the 'world's worst'?
Artificiality. It is butt-ugly IMO.
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I think that photo is Ballyhack, right?
I haven't played it, just seen some photos. But every single time, the first that strikes me regarding photos of Ballyhack is the mowing patterns. I think they need to mow right up to the bunker and not leave a ring of rough around the bunkers. And in this photo, the center line has that finger of rough jutting out. I don't get that. I would think it would be more enticing to a golfer to mow out all that grass in the middle and lure them to bomb it up the middle. Make the turf fast and firm and could it become a real issue of rolling into those centerline bunkers? If that would be the case, wouldn't the optional routes of right or left become interesting options rather than an either or play?
Like I said, I haven't played it. Maybe I am way off especially on distances. But I really do think the grass around the bunkers needs to be mowed.
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Mac:
I don't know where the photo was taken but it isn't Ballyhack.
I understand your critique of the maintenance practices but only in the context of the photograph you reference. If you're talking about Ballyhack's bunkers I recommend a visit so you can round out your opinion of the Superintendent's maintenance standard. Please let me know when you'd like to make a trip.
WW
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Mac, the picture is of the second hole at Bond Head (North) near Toronto. I played the course once and swore never to go back. Five years later I went back for one more round thinking I may have been too quick to judge. Once again, I swore I will never go back.
The hole pictured is awful, though I don't think you can know it from the pictures.
It is 240 yards to to carry the hazard at the nearest point. 250+ over the first bunker on the right. For all but a handful of golfers that makes the left side and any possibility of strategy, irrelevant.
If you come to Toronto (and please do!), we'll play somewhere else.
http://www.theclubatbondhead.com/thecourse.html#
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Oops...
wrong course.
My bad!!
:-[
Wade...I might just be taking you up on that offer.
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I think this one has to be in the running.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee260/350dtm/Bond%20Head/BH-N2.jpg)
Garland, what is so offensive about this hole that could possibly qualify it as the 'world's worst'?
Artificiality. It is butt-ugly IMO.
Where do you lay up ?
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Gotta add this one...not quite up to some of the ones posted earlier...but still worthy to note...
Tee shot...
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/PHHillsVI.jpg)
Approach...
(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/mplumart/PHHillsVII.jpg)
:) :) :)
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I think this one has to be in the running.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee260/350dtm/Bond%20Head/BH-N2.jpg)
Garland, what is so offensive about this hole that could possibly qualify it as the 'world's worst'?
Artificiality. It is butt-ugly IMO.
Where do you lay up ?
Just cause I say they're butt ugly doesn't mean you have to "lay up" with them Anthony.
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There are no bad golf holes...... just unimaginative golfers