First hole

[Jim Johnson]

This has probably been batted around previously, but since the site's Search Engine and I don't get along at the best of times, I thought I'd ask anyway...

What do you like to see on the first hole of a course?

Par 3?
Par 4? Short? Medium-length? Long? Yardage from "your" tees?
Par 5? Reachable? Long? Yardage from "your" tees?

Elevated tee? Or, no, it doesn't really matter.

A fairly flat fairway, perhaps built that way courtesy of the archie to give one an "easier" start to the round, or a fairway with rumples, bumps, hollows, etc.?

Tight, challenging tee shot (i.e. trees/fairway bunkering), or a nice wide target to ease into the round?

A really difficult green to get you in shape for the next 17 putting experiences, or a fairly flat, subtle site that allows you to find your putting stroke?

A large green that produces more putting possibilities, or a smaller one which, in some cases, results in more chipping chances?

A green that presents a difficult target (i.e. greenside bunkers) right off the get-go or one that is fairly benign?

Water hazards on the first hole, or none at all?

JJ

[Mike Nuzzo]

I hope someone can find that picture with the tanks....

[Lloyd_Cole]

If the course has a decent practice area not far from the first tee - meaning - pretty much all players would have time to hit at least a few balls - then pace of play is my only overriding concern - the hole must not be slow to play. However, if there is not practice area, or access is to the area is not quick and easy - I'd say NO Water and NO OB. Or Tanks. And of course I know Machrihanish (never been, I wish..) and I'm sure they have no range. But that was then and, I assume, this is now.

[Adam Clayman]

Certainly nothing as formulaic as listed.

The best openers are those that gently introduce the golfer to uniqueness of the remainder.

[ed_getka]

Mainly I just want to get away at a decent pace of play. I'd agree with Adam that a gentle suggestion of what the course holds in store is a nice way to start.

[jeffwarne]

one with close proximity to the 19th

[Daryl David]

I like a par 4 that is fairly friendly off the tee.  Interesting second shot but not overly long.  Speeds play and gets the juices flowing.  No OB or water to slow things down.

[Bill Shamleffer]

I was about to state, whatever the architect thinks works best on the property, but NO water and NO o.b.

Then I though, well that 1st hole at St. Andrews is pretty good, and it has both.

So I guess I will fall back to whatever the architect thinks works best (but please try to avoid any water or o.b. ).

[John Foley]

Best post on this years ago was by John Kavanugh speaking about Pinehurst.

It went something about a nice warm hug to let them know that this one was a little on the easier side and it was going to get more difficult quickly!!

[Pat Brockwell]

I like the first hole to set me on the right track for the rest of the course.
Can I go for it all day or should I be ready to play within myself. Be bold, or be humble, can I take what comes or should I put on my thinking cap?  I want the first to send me a message!

[Forrest Richardson]

A par-3 is the absolute best in terms of pace as it regulates the pace. This is, providing it is nothing too odd — the 275-yard-er, etc.

However, most find this offensive. (As evidence, even Tom D. has not done one to my knowledge!)

I prefer a 380-yard par-4 or there-abouts. Reason: It easily handles three groups of varying abilities and will rarely handle more than three groups (tee, fairway and green). I have done par-5s, but rarely as they can pose problems of handling only three, or as many as five groups depending on ability and hitting distance.

I wrote extensively about opening holes in Routing the Golf Course. I recommend you buy this book. At once.

[Tim Bert]

I like a memorable hole that doesn't get glossed over when I think about a course I've only played once or twice (or every week.)  Preferably easy enough that it doesn't sabotage my round, but difficult enough that I wish such a good hole came a little later in the routing when I was warmed up.

Some of the 1st holes that are burned in my memory:

Sand Hills
Pacific Dunes
Bandon Trails
Ballyneal
Rolling Meadows CC - this was my pick on the "if you could only play one course" thread.  It's a sentimental favorite for me and I've always enjoyed the starter.


Some that didn't get me into the round / didn't make their way into my long-term excitement memory despite really liking the course:

Banff Springs (oh, to play the original routing!)
Whistling Straits
Newport National
Wintonbury Hills

 

[Forrest Richardson]

Anyone who has played Tobacco Road will never forget Mike Strantz's wonderful indoctrination.

[Jim Johnson]

I prefer a 380-yard par-4 or there-abouts. Reason: It easily handles three groups of varying abilities and will rarely handle more than three groups (tee, fairway and green).

I wrote extensively about opening holes in Routing the Golf Course. I recommend you buy this book. At once.

Forrest,
I do have your book in my library. Great reading BTW.

I agree with your choice of a 380-yard par-4 hole as an opener. I wonder what others have to say.

JJ

[Bob_Huntley]

I must say that everything I have read here confirms that we are the luckiest folks in the world where we have such riches before us. But seriously, can there be a better opening hole than The Old Course at St. Andrews? I have played the second with a wedge and at another time with a three wood.

Standing there, with the starter announcing your name and the Members looking out of the Great Room with their jaundiced eyes at some whippersnapper showing off with a wristy swing and the nonchalance of youth, wondering whether the ball would get airborne. The tension is palpable. There is no place quite like it.

Bob

[Jeff Doerr]

JJ

I like a hole that can be played at or before first light. The player with good or even basic knowledge of the course can tee off when the fairway can barely be seen. By the time the green is reached, you can read the first putt.

It could be driver/wedge or 4iron/7iron. It should not be reachable off the tee. I like the 1st and 2nd to be fairly easy, but with some challenge at the green to make the player earn an opening birdie.

[paul cowley]

I like them all....3's, 4's, 5's,....hell 2's or 6's too, if someone still had the cajones.

Just get those little doggies out of the gate.....shoo them out before you beat their butts.

y'all think too much.

[MHiserman]

Are many people here opposed to the friendly/sometimes reachable par 5 as an opening hole?  

Some that come to mind Riviera, SFGC, Pasatiempo (original 1st hole) & Olympic (Lake).  A hole where one could birdie if one played to the better side of their ability.

Challenging opening holes often create the same score, if bogied.  
Some that come to mind are PV, Winged Foot (West), Plainfield, Stanwich, & Augusta National.

Both types of opening hole offer the same reward of played well and have a chance to better the field or match opponent.

[Andrew Mitchell]

This is the 1st, at my home course Northcliffe GC.


It's got most of the features mentioned so far on this thread:
- driveable par 4 (200 yards to the green directly over the trees & OB)
- deep ravine between the tee and the fairway (approx 100 yard carry)
- OB and water left, trees right.

Whilst the first hole can hardly be a round breaker it's amazing how the fluctuation of scores on the hole sets the tone for the rest of the round.  A birdie or a solid par gives you confidence for the rest of the round whilst going OB and running up a 6 or worse tends to lead to despair.

[Jim Johnson]

Andrew,

Do you not find that this is a "slow" playing hole, right at the start of the round? If it's a driveable par-4, anyone optimistically-minded will stand on the tee and wait for the green to clear, which, I think I've read somewhere, will take approximately 12 minutes, so unless the tee-time intervals are 12 minutes or more apart, creates a backlog from the get-go.

'Course, it would help open up things after that, for a few holes anyway.

I guess it would be similar to having a long par-3 hole as the first hole.

JJ

P.S. It looks like the cart paths are in o.b. land. Interesting.

[Ally Mcintosh]

i think andrew's is perhaps the slowest opening hole possible with there also being what looks like a limited view of the green...

...although i do see forrest's logic in regulating play with a par-3 (as long as it ties in with spacing of tee-times), a driveable par-4 creates too much uncertainty and takes too much time... a short par-5 creates the same problem...

...i guess there's not a formula for this is there?... but i like the idea of a relatively wide (or easy) medium length par-4 that isn't facing in to the sunrise and gives a flavour of what is to come whilst giving confidence to the golfer...

[Phil Benedict]

A par-5 that is reachable in two with good shots.  Chance to make birdie although par is a more likely result.

I love the first at Pine Needles (which used to be the 10th).  500-yard par 5 that can play a little bit longer due to terrain.  The lay up option on the second is complicated by a big bunker on the right side of the lay up area. Easy to miss the green to the right.  Wonderful starter, IMHO.