David M.,
It is rare that you don't substantiate your position on an issue. In this case, you show a pretty picture, complete you post with a sarcastic remark and don't address any of JK's issues as to why or why not 19th holes are bad.
You feeling OK?
I'm fine, thanks for asking. Maybe I am getting a little bored with the website in general and with Barney's agenda in particular. Just all getting a bit cliched for my tastes.
Plus I think that this particular 19th hole pretty much speaks for itself, especially if one has actually seen how unobtrusive it is to the rest of the course.
Wayne Kozon pretty much covered it in his post, but since you want me to exercise my fingers here it goes . . . This 19th doesnt make the 18 hole walk longer because it plays outside the loop of the course; doesnt slow up play for the same reason; doesnt enter into handicapping or the 18 hole bet; it certainly is not the finishing hole.
Barney hates everything about 19th holes . . . here are a few things I liked about this one: This 19th is a good hole and fun to play . . . it provided a less experienced shaper a great hands on experience and a chance to show his stuff . . . It gives one a chance for a quick warm-up without venturing to the range . . . It also gives a foursome something to do while waiting for the foursome in front to clear the first hole, or while waiting for fellow golfers after the round . . . it is situated directly below the after-round gathering/drinking spot so it provides the potential for a heckling, betting gallery. . . It is a great place to settle grudge matches or bets . . . It provides the place some flexibility of another hole has to be temporarily shut down avoided.
I can easily imagine situations where a 19th hole would not work at all, but a blanket dismissal of the concept is much to draconian for my tastes.
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Barney, to answer your question, I dont think a 19th needs to be the least best on "the course." It fact it isnt really part of the course at all. "The course" ought not to be evaluated by some silly notion of the quality of each individual hole. Unless the 19th could actually replace an existing hole without diminishing the whole, your analysis makes little sense.