News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.

Pages: [1]   Go Down

Glenn Spencer

East vs.West, throw out NY
« on: January 15, 2008, 03:30:47 PM »
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.

Logged

J Sadowsky

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2008, 04:05:42 PM »
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 :).
Logged

J Sadowsky

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2008, 04:08:24 PM »
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.
Logged

TEPaul

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2008, 04:16:11 PM »
Glenn, whoever gets Fernandina Beach Municipal golf course will automatically win this contest. Want to flip for FBMGC?
Logged

Phil_the_Author

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2008, 04:21:25 PM »
Give me #2 at 5 Farms (it was used as the 18th for the Sr. championship)...
Logged

Glenn Spencer

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2008, 04:24:23 PM »
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.
Logged

Glenn Spencer

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2008, 04:25:40 PM »
East
#1- Augusta National Golf Club
#2- Baltimore Country Club
Logged

J Sadowsky

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2008, 04:28:23 PM »
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.  
Logged

Tom Birkert

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2008, 04:30:24 PM »
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...
Logged

Matthew Hunt

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2008, 04:31:46 PM »
Quote from: Justin Sadowsky on January 15, 2008, 04:05:42 PM
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?
Logged

Kyle Harris

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2008, 04:35:44 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2008, 04:36:52 PM by Kyle Harris »
Logged

Dan_Callahan

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2008, 04:51:01 PM »
For pure memorability and make-you-smile-till-your-face-hurts audacity, it's hard to compete with the opening hole at Tobacco Road.
Logged

J Sadowsky

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2008, 04:53:49 PM »
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.
Logged

Chip Gaskins

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2008, 04:56:08 PM »
Quote from: Justin Sadowsky on January 15, 2008, 04:53:49 PM
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
Logged

Matthew Hunt

Re:East vs.West, throw out NY
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2008, 06:12:20 PM »
Quote from: Justin Sadowsky on January 15, 2008, 04:53:49 PM
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.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
Tags: