What are your favorite Bay Area (SF and South) golf holes?

[Tom Huckaby]

I'd counter and say that 10 DeLaveaga DOES belong on the list - it is a great hole and a difficult hole.  But to each his own.... and Steve, I've never claimed to have any knowledge of good GCA.  

[Steve Pieracci]

It is nicknamed "De - Lousy - Ega" for good reason.  

And, if one hole from that course had to be picked, it would be the 10th.  But don't make me pick one    

[Tom Huckaby]

It is nicknamed such only by those who spray the ball.  Of course that is most players, so yes it does have that nickname.    It also gets it because conditions are generally pretty marshy.  Weird me, I tend to love the course.  But then again I also do like courses where I have to think on the tee rather than just bang away.

Of course we've covered this all before.  

In any case, I would put #10 on my list of great par fives in the area... but no, no other hole makes the cut.  Still I do enjoy that course.  

TH

[Kalen Braley]

It is nicknamed such only by those who spray the ball.  Of course that is most players, so yes it does have that nickname.    It also gets it because conditions are generally pretty marshy.  Weird me, I tend to love the course.  But then again I also do like courses where I have to think on the tee rather than just bang away.

Of course we've covered this all before.  

In any case, I would put #10 on my list of great par fives in the area... but no, no other hole makes the cut.  Still I do enjoy that course.  

TH

Saying its a bit marshy is being quite gental.  With the constant wetness/dampness/fog in the area, combined with the lack of light the course gets due to all the trees, its constantly wet.

Perhaps its not liked because it violates two of the basic premises of good golf course architecture: wide fairways and fast and firm conditions.

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen:

You have that all correct; I don't deny it.

I still do enjoy playing there, outside of the worst marshy times.  It's different.  It requires thought.  The greens are actually pretty good in terms of contour/interest and conditions.  The price is pretty good.

BTW, wide fairways mean good architecture if there remains some meaning to the tee shot; that is, an angle must be found, some benefit of placement can be derived.  Wide fairways with difference no matter where you put the ball cannot be called good architecture; and sadly we have a LOT of that around here, particularly on the munis.  Thus give me DeLaveaga, if only for the change of pace.

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Kalen:

You have that all correct; I don't deny it.

I still do enjoy playing there, outside of the worst marshy times.  It's different.  It requires thought.  The greens are actually pretty good in terms of contour/interest and conditions.  The price is pretty good.

BTW, wide fairways mean good architecture if there remains some meaning to the tee shot; that is, an angle must be found, some benefit of placement can be derived.  Wide fairways with difference no matter where you put the ball cannot be called good architecture; and sadly we have a LOT of that around here, particularly on the munis.  Thus give me DeLaveaga, if only for the change of pace.

TH

Good point about the fairways, you are right about most munis. It really takes playing a hole just across the way from there at pasa to realize that on some holes you are in the fairway but completely screwed.

And yes the neighborhood down there is a much better spot to be than say east san jose.

So have you ever been able to get out to SilverCreek?  They have a nice collection of interesting holes out there.

[Tom Huckaby]

We're on the same page, Kalen.

And yeah, I've played Silver Creek several times.  Some cool holes there for sure - but patently unwalkable and I tend to hate the McMansions that surround it - thus on the overall it doesn't float my boat.  But thinking about this more, it might have a hole or two that merit mention...

TH

[Mike Benham]

I think your disdain for the other 17 holes, which I can't fault you on, influences your viewpoint on 18.  It is breathtaking standing on that tee.  And if anything adding that hotel behind the 18th green took away from that hole!

[Tom Huckaby]

Notice all that green-colored area to the right and behind the current green?  That's where the old green went - right up to the cliff.  Now?  BORING....

Also take note of the little creek running across the fairway - as I recall it's about 210 off the tee... so not worth trying to get across... pretty mandatory layup.  BORING....

It is a nice view though.  I kinda like hitting approach shots with a castle in the background.

 

[johnk]

I'm going to try to list the holes in the SJ-BA that I love to play, and especially try and avoid the ones that are extra beguiling based on difficulty (like, say, Pasa #3).

I  realize I'm partial to downhillers.

So:
 - Stanford #13.  I saw someone mention this.  Great driving hole and a tougher than-it-looks approach.  Tough around the green.  

 - Stanford #5 from the (restored) back tee.

 - Pasa #1.  I think it's underapreciated due to it being #1, and due to the trees.  It's difficult, yes, but it's downhill and thrilling the whole way.

 - Pasa #2.  See above.  Great fun to bounce the ball in and watch it drain left.

 - Pasa #4.  Great look, fun.  One of the easier holes, but aesthetically one of the best at Pasa.

 - SFGC #4.  I could play this 18 times in a row.

 - San Juan Oaks #13.  I love the long approach that has to be cuddled into the swale to the right front of the green.  Great fun on the drive, too.

 - Harding #14.  A visually sweeping hole, downhill drive and long approach up.  Right is bad.

 - Spyglass #4, #12, #14 - I know these are a bit outside the area, but I really like these sporty little numbers.  Poppy #14, too, and no more Monterey mentions, even though..., never mind.

[Kevin_Reilly]

- SFGC #4.  I could play this 18 times in a row.

What about this hole do you like ...I've never looked at #4 as a hole that would appear on a list like this.

[Tom Huckaby]

John K:

Those are some interesting submissions... seems I considered each (except the Spyglass ones given the guy said specifcally that Monterey doesn't count) and in each case, they didn't make the cut.  I think each would if I was to submit a much larger list... but in each case it seems I went for different holes from these same courses.

Pasa 1, 2, 4 - all great holes, but I prefer 10, 11, 16...

Stanford 5, 13 - also both very good holes, but I prefer 12.

SFGC 4 - I too can't see the greatness of this. I prefer 12.

SJ Oaks 13 - again, very good hole, but I prefer the split-fairway 14.

Harding 14 - again good hole, but if I had to pick hole from that course it would be 16 or 18....

Interesting.

TH

ps - Pasa 3 is a great hole and a difficult hole.  I just also found a relative dearth of great par threes in the area... so it made my list.  Expand this to include Monterey and it gets deleted.

[Mike Benham]

With Barry Bonds now signed and the deadline for submitting this list being today, here are my list of 18 Bay Area (per the boundry definition) holes that are my favorite holes to play, favorite holes to kick my ass and ones that you want to play again and again ...

Par 3’s:
- 3rd at Olympic Club Lake Course – 217 yards:  Just plain difficult with the breeze, the elevation change and bunkering.  And the view ain’t half bad either.
- 5th at Pasatiempo – 175 yards:  A forgotten hole at Pasa, one of the best greens on the course with great bunkering.
- 4th at Monarch Bay – 198 yards with a medium sized pot bunker fronting the horse shoe shaped green.  
- 11th at Pajaro Dunes – 180 yards:  Table top green with huge false front with flanking bunkers makes the green target appear very small.  

Par 4’s:
- 10th at Pasatiempo – 440 yards:  Very little explanation needed.
- 11th at  Pasatiempo – 400 yards:  Even less explanation needed.
- 5th at Olympic Lake – 450 yards:  Can’t wait to see how this will be played with the new back back tee box … and it has a really small green for rifling a long iron into
- 12th at Stanford Golf Course – 475 yards:  The tree or actually, the trees … It was an easy par last week with driver, choked down 4 wood and two putts on a raining afternoon.  
- 18th at Olympic Lake – 335 yards:  Wish they wouldn’t have flattened the green and the bunkering in Tully’s photos are superior to the current style.
- 12th at Olympic Ocean – 385 yards:  Uphill, slight dogleg right to a table top green reminiscent of Donald Ross’ greens at #2 Pinehurst.  No greenside bunkers but shaved collars give options of putting or chipping the ball back onto the green.
- 18th at Stanford – 465 yards:  An excellent finishing hole for a course that has many strong par-4s.
- 3rd hole on the Mountain 9 at Cinnabar Hills – 437 yards:  I’m a sucker for downhill tee and approach shots and this one gives options on how to play the second shot.
- 6th hole at Crystal Springs – 427 yards:  Another downhill tee shot, like a big downhill ski run …
- 2nd hole at Poplar Creek – 420 yards:  Loved by few, hated by many with the Beverly Hillbilly style cement ponds the coup de grace.
- 7th at Olympic Lake – 285 yards:  Should be renamed “My Nemisis” for the bogeys I have taken …


Par 5’s:
- 16th at Olympic Lake – 600 yards:  The never ending dogleg left …
- 12th at Monarch Bay – 550 yards:  Great bunker style on this course and a downwind approach into a slightly Redanish green.
- 16th at Shoreline – 550 yards:  Semi-Alps on the second or approach shot with a smallish sloping green.
- 1st hole at Stanford Golf Course – 525 yards:  Just don’t top your tee shot …







 

[Tom Huckaby]

Interesting list.

I'll give you credit for being different, that's for sure.  And you sure do LOVE downhill golf holes.

I do like the inclusion of 5 Pasa - the more I think about it, the more that should have been on my list instead of 3.  Just remember I took all of 15 minutes to do my list, you took two months and went through countless iterations.  

Not sure I see the greatness in 4 Monarch Bay, or 11 Pajaro for that matter.  Oh, each are tough shots... but I like 8 Cinnabar Canyon better than either of these.  But vive l'difference.  

I'd pick 5-6 other holes before 2 at Poplar Creek.  It is the most difficult hole on the course for sure.  It's just ugly with the cement pond and freeway view; and stupid with the in-course OB right.  Other than that it's just wonderful.  Just trying to be different with this one, my friend?  

We seem to live in an area with few great par 5s.  I don't think any of the ones you mentioned are all that great (including the one you copied from me)... but then again neither are the ones I mentioned - not in a "greatest in the country" sense anyway.  

Other than that, fine list.  You have my approval.  I know that's what you wanted by FINALLY posting your list here.

 

[Sean Leary]

Mike,

Nothing from SFGC? Really?

[Mike Benham]

Mike,

Nothing from SFGC? Really?

I last played SFGC 10 years ago and this graying head of mine doesn't remember all that much of the hole by hole play.

You don't think Poplar Creek is a suitable substitute?

[Tom Huckaby]

I haven't written these words in a long time as they were getting stale... but that got audible yuks, Mike.