Tom
I note in you original comments your nomination of certain holes at Pacific and Barnbougle Dunes , and would love to hear why you nominated those particular holes above others . With my connection to barnbougle I have played the course as much as nearly anyone , and have many holes I look forward to playing as the round progresses including the 2 wonderful holes you have put forward , but also including 7 , 9 , 12 , 15 & probably 3 as personal favourites. Is there a particular reason you have elevated 4 and 13 above the others - perhaps because they are maybe a little more unique in the world of golf?
On another thread I noted Mark F had some reservations about the merits of hole 2 and can advise that it is a hole that grows in merit with experience - the green complex is a class act , and one I now look forward to playing - surely this is the ultimate test?
i.e. that the golfer comes to respect and enjoy a hole more with playing?I think it was Mike Keiser who dubbed hole 2 an "architects hole" because it was a transition between key dunesland terrain?
IMO this is a very good golf hole and I salute the design team because I think it works very well - I would place hole 3 at Pacific in the same category - a transition between dunesland - and am intrigued that you would nominate such above holes that blow me away like 11 , 5 & 14 , although I have only played Pacific 3 times...
I also would like to nominate hole 2 at ST A B , and holes 1  and 14 at Cape K as particularly clever holes  , given the terrain ...
Your comments please

Peter:  I had pretty much given up on this thread, because it's clear that there is nothing close to a consensus forming about what are the best holes by any modern designer.  Several of the holes which have been nominated make me want to puke, but I'm not naming names.

Tom,

Why are my ears ringing?  

I think it's tough.  I'm not sure there are enough people who have played enough courses by enough modern designers to settle on any consensus choices.  

For instance, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't feel comfortable naming Dye's best hole when I haven't played The Golf Club.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't feel comfortable with you having not played Cape Kidnappers, Barnbougle, etc.

With Fazio, not having played Shadow Creek I'd be guessing.

Etc.

... I just like the tee shot and the central bunker... green is pretty cool also.

Perhaps it is because I don't like being in that bunker

Oh, and I thought Jim Franklin's list is a fine attempt.

Attaboy sweeney, way to get silva in there...

I'll throw out 17 at red tail, 1 at red tail, 4 at Black rock (OMG what a HOLE!!!  That hole is worth a fit of hysteria..as Mackenzie liked to say...)

For strantz, I'll do 1 and 2 at RNK, 5 at RNK, 1, 13, 14, 16 and 18 at The Road

For engh - 10 and 18 at Pradera, 12 at Fossil, 14, 15 and 18 at Red Hawk.

Garland:  I'll pick out one hole just to show you how much flak it causes, and why I don't pick out more.

Jay:  The first hole at Royal New Kent???  You've got to be kidding!

Yeah, tough to see this one as Strantz's best hole.

...
Where's the hole!

Rich,
I think it must be hidden in that deep shadow in the depression on the right. That's what makes the hole great. What a deception!!! Everyone thinks it has to be off the end of the fairway and hits it there!  
That is of course assuming the hole plays to the bottom of the picture.

Dear Tom:

Absolutely the 1st at RNK!  Why?  The best and most severe false front green I have ever seen;)  I love it.

Where's the hole? Thats the idea!  You stand on the first tee and all you see is heaving mounds and a sliver of fairway off in the distance angling off from right to left.

...totally follows Mack's line of charm concept.  You can cut the corner, but heavy risk!  Plus the hazard in the way between tee box and green is really interesting.  On the approach, you can bunp and run OR hit a lofted shot.  Serious peril around this green.  Short right is DEAD as the bunker is deep and you'll have  too far and uphill a shot to get close often.  Over faces a delicate chip down the hill.  Left is no good with severe mounding.

OK, OK, it is certainly not his best, but it would be a good pick for a "one hole from each architect as interesting.  there's a little architorture in there, but God loves wonderous variety.

Tom,

I think that some of us can't participate because there is just too much work built recently, and we haven't seen enough for almost every architect. A long while back we had a match play between the best colection from a series of architects. Ran did Raynor, I think you did Dye, I definately did Thompson - it's much easier when you can stick to what you think you've seen enough of.

Well I can give you Thompson's best and Doug Carrick's because I've seen just about everything possible.

18 holes from 18 moderns is impossible for me. Why it works for the "dead" guys, is that years of filtering by others focuses us on what we should see and compare. Most of this work has not had enough vistors to let us know what really does stand the test of time. It's too new and still have a hype surrounding that needs to disappear.

Doug's is the 6th at Greywolf mentioned by Mike Nuzzo, and I think it's worthy of the list.

Bill and Garland:

I dont know how far you can hit a drive, but if you can hit a drive and wedge to that green, then it outta be you guys david feherty is throwing a banana too in that cobra commercial!

Seriously, for the mere mortals of us, that'd be over a 300 yd drive...absolutely straight...with a little good luck to boot, those fairways can roll the ball to some interesting places.

If you wanna disagree, its all good, but its still one I like...but your point is valid...my taste is a little different once in a blue moon...

Crystal Downs AND pradera?  Sure...I can like them both;)

1   Seville 518   Arthur Hills
2   Desert Forest 429  Red Lawrence
3   Morgan Hill  239  Kelly Moran
4   University  Ridge 446   RTJ II
5   Bedminster 488  Tom Fazio  
6   Stonewall  143 Doak  Brian Schneider
7   Pradera  594  Jim Engh
8   Silver Leaf  569  Tom  Weiskopf
9   Friars Head  387  Coore  Crenshaw

10  NCR 535  Dick Wilson
11  Harvester 385  Keith Foster
12  Firethorn 413  Pete  Dye
13  Rochelle Ranch 597 Ken Kavanaugh
14  Biderman 443  Joe Lee
15  Boston 554   Gil Hanse
16  Wolf Run 132  Steve Smyers
17  French Creek 237  Bill Kittleman
18  Diamond Springs 375  Mike DeVries