The best nine in golf - frontside or backside - one course.....?

[Will MacEwen]

I'm not going to say it's the best in golf, but my favorite nine holes is the front nine at Pacific Dunes.  After the first hole which is interesting but not especially strong, each hole is unique and very good to great. 

I'd take the back over the front.  The par 3s add to the unique flavour, 13 is grand, and 18 is a great and demanding finish.

You can't go wrong with the front though.

Will,

Interesting you say that--I tend to think of the front as clearly better, but what do I know?  As a rule, I prefer par 4s so that obviously plays a part in my analysis.  Overall, though, I'd say that the back nine has more holes that have some limitations--#10, #12, #14 and #18--versus the front, where I'd only put #1 and possibly #5 in that category (keep in mind, I'm nitpicking with regard to all these holes; I don't think PD has a weak hole).  I suppose I also don't love #9 to the upper green. 

I think I have played the upper green seven times, the lower one once.  Is that normal?  I am finally comfortable teeing off on that hole.

What do you know?  Likely more than me...

[David Stamm]

Back 9 at Pasatiempo is pretty special

Right you are, John. I'll add:


Front at Colonial
Back at Riviera (although I think the front is pretty damn good)
Back at LACC North
Back at Rustic Canyon
Front at Spyglass Hill
Front (present sequence) at Ojai
Back at Soule Park

[Tim Pitner]

I think I have played the upper green seven times, the lower one once.  Is that normal?  I am finally comfortable teeing off on that hole.

The first 4-5 times I played the hole, it was always to the upper green and the next 4-5 times I played it, it was always to the lower green so I'm not sure how they handle that.  I do prefer the lower green, lower tee on #10 combination. 

[Sean_A]

There are far too many good 9s to be forced into choosing one.  However, just to be contrary, I will nominate the 9 of Machrihanish.

Ciao

[Mike Boehm]

Limiting to what I've played:

Back 9 at Pacific Dunes
Back 9 at Oakland Hills
Front 9 at Pacific Dunes

[Kalen Braley]

Will,

I'm with you as well.  I'll take the back 9 at Pacific Dunes in a hot 2nd...just great stuff.  Which is not to say the front 9 is chopped liver, just the back is off the hizzle-dizzle-fa-shizzle!!   

[Michael Robin]

Another vote for the back nine at Shinnie.

[Matthew Delahunty]

Front Nine at Royal Melbourne (either West or original composite - either will do me).
Front nine at Machrihanish
Back nine of TOC

[Gene Greco]

  BACK NINE AT SAND HILLS

[Tom Huckaby]

  BACK NINE AT SAND HILLS

Concur.  If I had to go with one, and only one, that's it. 

[Bill_McBride]

I'll join John Foley and Dr MacKenzie too - back nine at Pasatiempo, my favorite nine holes in golf.

[John Kavanaugh]

I'll go with the child and say the back nine at Augusta.  The question really should be the best nine besides the back nine at Augusta.

[Tom Huckaby]

I'll go with the child and say the back nine at Augusta.  The question really should be the best nine besides the back nine at Augusta.

Hmmm... that's a contender for sure, but on the overall I still take Sand Hills.

And I say this with full recognition that playing Augusta has to be one of golf's greatest thrills - because of all that it means.  I give full credit to the Masters in this... and I STILL take Sand Hills.  It's that good.

I guess this now means the whole world will acknowledge Sand Hills as the greatest course on earth?  I do have such power, John.

TH

[Mark_F]

When you putt out on one hole, the next is even better.
MM

That's not exactly difficult given the starting hole.

I am surprised you think 1st East is a better hole than 2 West.

[Jeremy Rivando]

Augusta National back nine.  I'm sure playing it would be better than walking it, but it's pretty awesome.

2nd shot at 10
2nd shot at 11
Tee shot at 12
1st and 2nd shot at 13, + the green
14 Green
2nd shot at 15
Tee shot at 16, + the green
Eisenhower tree at 17
1st and 2nd shot at 18.

Not sure how it could be better anywhere else. 

  I'm still a bit new, I won't get in trouble for complementing Augusta will I 

[Jed Peters]

Back 9 at Pasatiempo is pretty special

Probably my favorite "9" as well.

[Scott Szabo]

I'll go with the child and say the back nine at Augusta.  The question really should be the best nine besides the back nine at Augusta.

Hmmm... that's a contender for sure, but on the overall I still take Sand Hills.

And I say this with full recognition that playing Augusta has to be one of golf's greatest thrills - because of all that it means.  I give full credit to the Masters in this... and I STILL take Sand Hills.  It's that good.

I guess this now means the whole world will acknowledge Sand Hills as the greatest course on earth?  I do have such power, John.

TH

The front nine is pretty good as well.....

[Jim Nugent]

You guys who rate ANGC's back nine as the best in golf -- how do you rate the whole course, on the Doak scale? 

[Ben Stephens]

Links course - I would say the back nine at CARNOUSTIE - very hard and fair, any shot with marginal error would be punished. For example I had 2 cracking shots on 14 to give me an eagle and then lost those 2 shots gained on 15 on one bad drive! Second - Front nine at Brancaster/front nine at St Enodoc.

In England - the links like front nine at WOODHALL SPA (the back nine is treelined) with bunkers so massive and deep that you could bury a couple of elephants! Second - Back nine at Ganton - a great stretch from 13 to 17.

[Steven_Biehl]

I am surprised the front nine at Crystal Downs has only 1 vote.  I'll make it 2 votes.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Just to add to the mix (and not necessarily competing with those already cited):

Back nine Ballybunion Old
Back nine Notts
Royal Worlington (the whole thing)
Swinley Forest 5th-13th
Royal Troon 7th-15th
Alwoodley back nine
Hunstanton 6th-14th
Royal Cinque Ports back nine

[Andrew Mitchell]

Based solely on the courses I've played

The front nine at Royal Aberdeen

and to complete the composite course

The back nine at North Berwick

[Tom_Doak]

I did the top-ten front nines and back nines in the back of The Confidential Guide.  I'll stand with those.

However, my FAVORITE nine holes is the front nine at Crystal Downs.  A beautiful, diverse package of holes and you can see the whole thing from the pro shop.

[Bill_McBride]

I did the top-ten front nines and back nines in the back of The Confidential Guide.  I'll stand with those.

However, my FAVORITE nine holes is the front nine at Crystal Downs.  A beautiful, diverse package of holes and you can see the whole thing from the pro shop.

Hard to argue with that. 

Let's see....Pasatiempo back nine, ANGC back nine, Crystal Downs front nine, Cypress Point back nine.  Dr MacKenzie looks pretty good!

[rjsimper]

David,

I'm a huge so-cal homer too and you know we both love many of the same things, but did you honestly just throw the back nine at Soule Park on this list?

C'mon bro....