I've never met TEPaul, but have seen some of his thoughts on this site over the last year.  I'm not sure I'd agree with the statement, "The entire foundation of the TEPaul Maintenance-type "Meld." is based off of this type of play."  I believe TEPaul's interest in the Maintenance Meld is about opinions and enjoyment of the game.  

So there are two pieces to this:
a) the course layout must actually allow multiple options to get the ball close the hole and eventually in the hole.  By air or by ground offers those types of options
b) if the course satisfies "a", then the maintenance of the course should be kept such that it can continue to offer those options because it affords the greatest variety of skill-level and enjoyment of the game.

#10 Lehigh

yes, another great hole!  Downhill approach (over the PN bunker) to a fallaway green.  SE PA is doing very well so far.

#14 at Pacific Grove-Slightly Downhill with knolls on both sides 30-40 short of the green. On a short 2 shotter an adept touch is often required but won't guarantee boo. The make-up of the turf between these knolls is a key factor in the decision to play the ground.

#3 Wild Horse Gothenburg, Ne. With two centerline nasties gaurding the approach to this par 5 the decision on which way the land will throw your ball is indeterminant save for the influence you put on it.

#3 Sand Hills. This one shotter has to be one of the most exciting ground game shots on the planet. Aim left and behold your attention is fixed for a good long time as your ball finally comes to rest.

#10 Black Mesa This dwnhill two shotter has a turbo boost approx 60-70 yards short of the green which can be used effectively to run up onto the left side shelf of this diabolically designed green within a green.

#1-18 at TSN Just kidding but I swear the option to play the ground at Talking stick seemed everywhere.

Adam,

It's #3 at Sand Hills of which you speak. How soon you forget... I'm kinda partial to #7 at Sand Hills for ground game challenge and fun.

I haven't played it, but I sure enjoyed watching the ground games around the greens at Oakmont during the US Amateur.

Just about anywhere in Scotland and many places in Ireland.

Greensides @ Pinehurst #2.

Best,  

Probably two of the best or certainly most intense ground game holes I'm aware of are the 1st and 10th of Oakmont. When that course is in it's real tournament set-up (which it is a lot of the time) playing the ball at those greens basically takes huge thought and execution and probably what might be considered a ground game surgeon's touch.

If Ben Hogan thought so in the US Open there (which he won) that sure is good enough for me because there ain't anybody anywhere who can deny that Ben Hogan sure did have the "thought" and he sure did have the "touch"!

TEPaul,

How could you forget the 8th hole at Hidden Creek ?

You're losing it, which is a compliment, because it implies that you once had it, which is doubtful  

I've never met TEPaul, but have seen some of his thoughts on this site over the last year.  I'm not sure I'd agree with the statement, "The entire foundation of the TEPaul Maintenance-type "Meld." is based off of this type of play."  I believe TEPaul's interest in the Maintenance Meld is about opinions and enjoyment of the game.  

So there are two pieces to this:
a) the course layout must actually allow multiple options to get the ball close the hole and eventually in the hole.  By air or by ground offers those types of options
b) if the course satisfies "a", then the maintenance of the course should be kept such that it can continue to offer those options because it affords the greatest variety of skill-level and enjoyment of the game.

Anyways, since we like to make lists, here goes (in no order):

1 - 17 at St.Andrews (Old)
2 - 13 at Pine Valley
3 - 9/14/18 at Shinnecock
4 - 12 at Oakmont
5 - 14 at Royal Dornoch

Brian,

Would you mind clarifying why Shinny #9 fits the ground game? As I recall from the '95 Open setup, it was a second shot carry all the way over the grassy embankment fronting the green.

#7 at Myopia and #11 Charles River would definitely be in the top 5.......

5 Solid Canadian Examples from Five very different architects.

1. 3rd at Lookout Point (Travis)

Features a green running away from you that is 25 feet wide and 100 feet long; and on a 30 degree diagonal to the right. The hill leading in falls towrds the gren and to the right at about 9% cross-slope. The fall off behind the green is 30 feet straight down.

2. 2nd at Kawartha Lakes (Thompson)

Features a fairway running downward (and to the left) into a two tiered green. The higher tier is in the front and the lower tier is in the back (3 feet lower). The green also banks fairly strongly left with wonderful flash ups from which you can steer the ball in. The prudent shot is a run in for almost all approaches.

3. 4th at Toronto Golf (Colt)

Toronto's only true Redan style hole, requires extreme precision to get the correct bounce in. Balls flown to the green are discarded for their arrogance.

4. 9th at Weston (Park Jr.)

Like the 18th at Weston, the hole falls downhill from tee through the back of the green. The 9th has a "run-in slope" about 10 yards short of the green, that guarantees a green in regulation. Hit short and you finish short in a slight swale. Fly to close to the greent and the ball is kicked hard, resulting with rolling through the green. The wonderful thing is that you can use different parts of the entry slope to access different corners of the green, due to its increasing bank the higher you play.

5. 6th at the National (Fazio-74')

Short five with a small turtle back green. A large roll is place front centre on the direct line into the green. Flop shots have to be very precise because many of the rolls, the front in particular, have a tendency to knock the ball off to the side. The bump is fairly wide which sets up well for a long bump and run, which takes out all the crazy bounces of a ball flown in.

Tom

I sort of agree with you re: Foxy.  Firstly, you cannot effectively play the ground game off the tee.  The numerous  bumps and humps in the fairway make a slinging hook tee shot far too risky.  Secondly, because of the interfering dune lines, unless you hit your drive to the left hand slot, you have to play the aerial game on your second shot (or lay up left).   Thirdly, even if you do hit the ball left and long, the higher percentage shot is the aerial one, if you have it in your bag (I will grant that the ground game is a very robust option from that place, though).  However, where the ground game does really come into play on the hole is on the 3rd shot.  I would estimate that the GIR on the hole for elite golfers is no more than 10-15%.  For players who are not a plus handicap it is probably less than 5%.  So, the hole creates a lot of chances to practice up and downs!  And, due the the great green siting, and the wild internal contours, and that great gnarly hump you mention that guards the right middle of the green, one's imagination can run wild.  In this circumstance, the percentage play is the ground game, usually the putter.  However, if you want to get it close, the lob wedge off the hardpan fairway is still the weapon of choice.

PS--as I've said on another thread, I think that the 4th is the best "ground game" hole at Dornoch (or anywhere else I have seen, for that matter).

   I would say #5  at Friars Head fits the bill as an excellent ground game hole. Short par 4 with a long fairway bunker bisecting the hole, slightly downhill. The green is a masterpiece with a knob in the front center that makes any pin placement in the back half a real bear. You could play that hole  a thousand times and play it a thousand ways, a really "under the radar" hole.

Archie,

You have some excellent ground game holes at Twisted Dune.  My faves were the downhill approaches to fallaway greens on #9 and #15.