East vs.West, throw out NY

[Glenn Spencer]

If you did the 18 best holes that correspond to number with 23 Eastern States and no New York, against 24 Western States, who would have the better golf course at the end of the day? Illinois and Wisconsin go to West. Mississippi and Tennessee to the East.  I will take #1 at Cherry Hills for the West opening hole and #1 at NCR for the East.

[J Sadowsky]

A good opening hole should set the stage for the entire course.  It should be interesting but not too hard, scenic, and should put the golfer in the mood to golf.

I'll take #1 at Augusta National for East, and #1 at Spyglass Hill for the West.  East +1

#2 is harder.  I probably think #2 is the least likely place on a golf course you're likely to see a memorable hole.  This would be much easier if the East could keep NY (Garden City's great faux-Redan).  I am going to hold off on #2 till I go home and look at some of my books - two that come to mind are Sand Hills and Pinehurst #2, others include Spyglass, Rustic Canyon, Oakmont, Pasatiempo, Scioto, and Ballyneal.  Just looking at that list makes me thing we're going to be back even after 2 .

[J Sadowsky]

PS - that makes Ohio and Michigan in the east, right?  I think the East may clean up overall - just too much great variety there, whereas the West is going to depend mostly on the pacific coast, sandhills, vegas, and maybe some desert courses.

[TEPaul]

Glenn, whoever gets Fernandina Beach Municipal golf course will automatically win this contest. Want to flip for FBMGC?

[Phil_the_Author]

Give me #2 at 5 Farms (it was used as the 18th for the Sr. championship)...

[Glenn Spencer]

Justin,

Nice picks. Yes, Ohio and Michigan go to the East. Waiting to see if Spyglass holds up.

#1 East- Augusta National Golf Club

TEPaul,

I don't know the joke, but I will take heads on the flip.

[Glenn Spencer]

East
#1- Augusta National Golf Club
#2- Baltimore Country Club

[J Sadowsky]

Hey - I didn't know we'd have a time limit on this!

I'd put #2 at Pinehurst over #2 at Five Farms, personally.  

[Tom Birkert]

Like the thought... Unfortunately I don't live in the US so I find it hard to make suggestions suffice to say that Pebble Beach and Cypress Point would have to figure pretty highly for the West Coast - could easily do 15, 16, 17 and 18 between those two on their own...

[Matthew Hunt]

A good opening hole should set the stage for the entire course.  It should be interesting but not too hard, scenic, and should put the golfer in the mood to golf.

I'll take #1 at Augusta National for East, and #1 at Spyglass Hill for the West.  East +1

Do you fee the 1st at Augusta is the best in the US? I feel this is one of the worst holes on the course. The land or the scenery are not great and it doesn't a lot produce a hole of such limited strategic or architectural interest. I wonder apart from the ‘old course syndrome’ what does this hole do for you that makes you hold it in such high regard?

[Kyle Harris]

Hello,

I'm Philadelphia.

East wins.

Sincerely,
Pine Valley, Merion, Huntingdon Valley, Aronimink, Gulph Mills, Stonewall North and South, Applebrook, Manufacturers', Rolling Green, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia Country Club and our local muni, the venerable and elite Warminster's Five Ponds Golf Club.

[Dan_Callahan]

For pure memorability and make-you-smile-till-your-face-hurts audacity, it's hard to compete with the opening hole at Tobacco Road.

[J Sadowsky]

Matthew - for what it is, I think its a great hole.  And yes, I think its the best opening hole in the US.  Now if it wasn't Augusta, and it wasn't an opening hole, would it have more strategic or aesthetic value than every other #1 hole  so removed - tougher call.  But for my criteria, I think its a great opening hole.  It's one of those times that Augusta's over-gaudy too-white bunkers actually works for the hole instead of against it.

[Chip Gaskins]

Matthew - for what it is, I think its a great hole.  And yes, I think its the best opening hole in the US.  Now if it wasn't Augusta, and it wasn't an opening hole, would it have more strategic or aesthetic value than every other #1 hole  so removed - tougher call.  But for my criteria, I think its a great opening hole.  It's one of those times that Augusta's over-gaudy too-white bunkers actually works for the hole instead of against it.

good point

[Matthew Hunt]

Matthew - for what it is, I think its a great hole.  And yes, I think its the best opening hole in the US.  Now if it wasn't Augusta, and it wasn't an opening hole, would it have more strategic or aesthetic value than every other #1 hole  so removed - tougher call.  But for my criteria, I think its a great opening hole.  It's one of those times that Augusta's over-gaudy too-white bunkers actually works for the hole instead of against it.

So in affect it is a bit of 'Old Course Syndrom' because if I personally saw this on a another course this is the kind of  hole I struggle to rember in years to come.

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