I've thought about this for a few days. My first thought was the 13th fairway at Pacific Dunes, and I haven't thought of one that fits my current ideals any better. While I appreciate the rumpled fairway look, and the way they offer different stances for slightly different shot results, my tastes have evolved over the years to appreciate a bit more subtlety in design.
The 13th fairway has almost everything one would desire. The best line of attack is down the left side, guarded by the largest water hazard on Earth. Down the left side, the fairway crowns gently, insuring that players are sure to face uphill, flat and downhill lies for approach shots. The fairway is perhaps 100 yards wide at its widest point, and the ball tends to fall down the hill, resulting in shorter approaches from an inferior angle. And there's lots of micro-contouring out there which changes one's stance just a bit. The fairway also features a significant rise (false front) short of the green. Approach shots must fly up to the green or greenside bunkers. Finally, the hole usually plays significantly upwind or downwind, so players will regularly face different challenges and strategies.
This photo was taken from The Obsessed Golfer website,
www.theobsessedgolfer.com. If there are any problems, please let me know and I will remove the picture.
