Hardest Hole You Have Ever Played?

[Dan_Callahan]

Of the courses I have played, it isn't even close: The par 4 10th at Yale is far and away the most difficult. First of all, teeing off over a road always messes with my head. Then, the landing area is blind, and a shot to the right might very well kick farther right into the trees. The approach is about as uphill as it gets, and the green is fronted by incredibly deep bunkers. Just getting to the putting surface is a challenge, but once there, all the humps and bumps make a two-putt less than routine. For a hole that isn't even 400 yards (I don't think), it is a beast.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

A hard hole in my opinion is one where I'm liable to run up a cricket score quite easily. This usually means there's OOB or some other danger that can't really be avoided if you're trying for a par. You could set out to play a hard hole in a conservative way and get a bogey or even scrape a par, but in my opinion a tough hole really reveals itself when you're trying to get a score that equates with your expectations or ability. A tough hole should worry you even before you've reached the tee.

The 17th at TOC is a perfect example. There's OOB on the right (you could be reloading and hitting 3 or even 5 off the tee), the Road Hole bunker on the left of the green (you could take 2 or 3 or many many more to get out of this pit) and the road and OOB behind the green (more reloading or just trying to recover from the road or wall).

The holes that pose the most difficulty for me are on parkland courses where you have to hit a fairway curving left, but the tee is in a long tight funnel of trees. My natural shot is a fade, so this type of tee shot really worries me and I usually muck it up in some way. I recenly took 10 on a par 5 where you needed to hit it straight or draw it off the tee.

I don't think that a par 3 can be "the hardest hole" as it only requires one good shot to hit the green. Even if you three putt after that, you've still made a bogey. A tough par 4 or 5 forces you to string together a couple or more good shots. Also, the longer the hole, the more problems it can pose.

Dónal.

[Mark Chaplin]

All this talk of the 4th at Royal St Georges which isn't even the hardest hole on the course. The 8th is a real tiger played into the prevailling wind to a tiny 2 tiered green surrounded by deep doo doo.

[Garland Bayley]

Looking through the Colt Book "Creating Classics" last night, I saw a pic of Pine Valley No. 5 and recall standing on that tee saying it was the hardest hole I had ever seen.  The green looked unnattainable, and my tee shot did nothing to change my opinion.  I remembered the pit in my stomach the minute I saw the photo (although it looked a lot cleaner and less nasty than the day I played many years ago)

So, what one hole gave you that feeling of being the toughest you had ever played?  Doesn't have to be famous, doesn't have to be tough for anyone but you,but feel free to add a brief explanation of why!

For those who just can't make up their mind, I would accept toughest Par 3, Par 4 and Par 5. If you want, throw in toughest international hole, etc.  But, the fewer you put in, the better and the more you put in, well, the more it says about your golf game!

Funny you started this thread Jeff.  The hardest hole I have ever played isn't famous, quirky, or even long.  It's the 5th hole from your Wildhorse in Davis, CA.  Wedged between a pond, walnut grove and City of Davis recreation path, a tee shot in the normal 10-20 knot cross will psych out anyone.  Throw in a large mound at 280-ish that pinches the fairway to 15 yards right beside the walnut trees, and you have one tough par 5.  

I checked all my scorecards--which I keep--and I never, ever scored better than a six.  In 37 rounds!

Mr. 21.6 took a 4 there in his only round there.
 

[Bill_McBride]

Looking through the Colt Book "Creating Classics" last night, I saw a pic of Pine Valley No. 5 and recall standing on that tee saying it was the hardest hole I had ever seen.  The green looked unnattainable, and my tee shot did nothing to change my opinion.  I remembered the pit in my stomach the minute I saw the photo (although it looked a lot cleaner and less nasty than the day I played many years ago)

So, what one hole gave you that feeling of being the toughest you had ever played?  Doesn't have to be famous, doesn't have to be tough for anyone but you,but feel free to add a brief explanation of why!

For those who just can't make up their mind, I would accept toughest Par 3, Par 4 and Par 5. If you want, throw in toughest international hole, etc.  But, the fewer you put in, the better and the more you put in, well, the more it says about your golf game!

Funny you started this thread Jeff.  The hardest hole I have ever played isn't famous, quirky, or even long.  It's the 5th hole from your Wildhorse in Davis, CA.  Wedged between a pond, walnut grove and City of Davis recreation path, a tee shot in the normal 10-20 knot cross will psych out anyone.  Throw in a large mound at 280-ish that pinches the fairway to 15 yards right beside the walnut trees, and you have one tough par 5.  

I checked all my scorecards--which I keep--and I never, ever scored better than a six.  In 37 rounds!

Mr. 21.6 took a 4 there in his only round there.
 

And your point would be?

Another nail in the coffin of that sandbagging handicap of yours.

[Garland Bayley]

Looking through the Colt Book "Creating Classics" last night, I saw a pic of Pine Valley No. 5 and recall standing on that tee saying it was the hardest hole I had ever seen.  The green looked unnattainable, and my tee shot did nothing to change my opinion.  I remembered the pit in my stomach the minute I saw the photo (although it looked a lot cleaner and less nasty than the day I played many years ago)

So, what one hole gave you that feeling of being the toughest you had ever played?  Doesn't have to be famous, doesn't have to be tough for anyone but you,but feel free to add a brief explanation of why!

For those who just can't make up their mind, I would accept toughest Par 3, Par 4 and Par 5. If you want, throw in toughest international hole, etc.  But, the fewer you put in, the better and the more you put in, well, the more it says about your golf game!

Funny you started this thread Jeff.  The hardest hole I have ever played isn't famous, quirky, or even long.  It's the 5th hole from your Wildhorse in Davis, CA.  Wedged between a pond, walnut grove and City of Davis recreation path, a tee shot in the normal 10-20 knot cross will psych out anyone.  Throw in a large mound at 280-ish that pinches the fairway to 15 yards right beside the walnut trees, and you have one tough par 5.  

I checked all my scorecards--which I keep--and I never, ever scored better than a six.  In 37 rounds!

Mr. 21.6 took a 4 there in his only round there.
 

And your point would be?

Another nail in the coffin of that sandbagging handicap of yours.

You will be happy to know that Mr 21.6 has been reminted as Master 17.7 for the winter.
 

As far as sandbagging is concerned, my 114 at Rustic Canyon at KP was a primo example I am sure.

[Andrew Mitchell]

The Road Hole for me.

A blind drive over OB followed by a long iron approach to a narrow green protected by a deep bunker.  To paraphrase "Masterchef" (a UK cookery show) catchphrase "Golf doesn't get much tougher than this"

[Mark Pearce]

5th at Anstruther is the hardest par 3.  it makes 16 at Carnoustie look like a cakewalk.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have not read every response but 2 & 3 at Royal County Down are the two most difficult back to back holes I have ever played.  Unless, of course, you just start the course with three par fives. 

[Doug Wright]

Ocean Course #17 was the hardest hole I've played anywhere. And I played it without too much wind blowing. PV#5 pales by comparison because there is a lot of room short of the green. I actually think PV#14 is as difficult as PV#5.

Carnoustie #18 is brutal. Just ask VanDeVelde....

[David Lott]

I can't believe noone's mentioned 17 at TOC yet....

Hard to par at 4 but for us mid-handicap mortals a fairly easy par 5, which is how nearly everyone over a 10 handicap should play it. (Drive, second shot to right of green, chip.) Then a 4 is a birdie if you get up and down, which is difficult but quite possible with most pin placements.

I've probably played the hole 20 times with 5 the common score and more 4's than 6's. Don't think I ever had more than 6. No 3's. (Also in an entire summer I never played it in a strong wind.)

[J_ Crisham]

From recent memory the 18th at Interlachen is pretty stout. Very difficult driving hole if you can't work the ball left to right and the approach is all carry. Behind the green the adirondak chairs on the hillside is a great place to watch the boys come home.
                                                                                                                   Jack

[Ash Towe]

Par 3-16  at Cypress Point
        16 at Carnoustie
        6 at Cape Kidnappers

Par 4- 17 at the Old Course
         18 at Carnoustie

Par 5- Pirates Plank at Cape Kidnappers

[John Mayhugh]

The 5th at Prairie Dunes.  400+ yards.  Tee shot to a fairway that slopes left to right with gunch/ lost ball opportunities on each side.  Approach to a narrow green that's slightly uphill with nasty bunkers left and right.  Then you have to putt when you get there. 

[Brent Carlson]

What do you guys think about #18 at Royal Dornoch?  Straight forward enough, but so tough to get a four; green is killer

[Andrew Mitchell]

5th at Anstruther is the hardest par 3.  it makes 16 at Carnoustie look like a cakewalk.

Agreed!

[Anthony Gray]

  No. 9 at Pebble Beach. The approach is long and tight. Over the green is death. The front bunker is a monster. The run up area is as narrow as a nats colon. And you don't get a level lie on the fairway. Always a lay up for me, but you can't lay up less than 100 yards safely because of the lak of width.

  Anthony

[Bob_Huntley]

I could say it is the one I am currently playing.

Here is a good test for anyone thinking about it. The 17th, the Road Hole at St. Andrews has, I believe, given up two 2s in its existence. The first was back in 1926 and the other, about ten years ago by Dr. Benjamin Dowdey of Birmingham, Alabama. He used a four iron and the flag was top, middle. It was in an R&A Tournament.

I would say that that is a good example of hard!


Bob

[Steve Salmen]

I think the most difficult golf hole I've ever played is the 18th at the Belfry.  470ish par 4 with a diagonal water hazard that's a forced carry, bunkers on the right.  Then you have another forced carry to the large three tiered green.

Is this the hole where four Americans dumped tee shots in the soup in the 1989 Ryder Cup?

[Matt_Ward]

The 5th at PV is really quite simple when held against the likes of either the 17th at The Ocean Course or the 8th at Wolf Creek,

Much more at stake in terms of mega high numbers on the two holes I just lsited.

[John Mayhugh]

Large numbers are certainly possible on the 8th at Matt's Wolf Creek. 

The first photo is from the next to back tee, about 220 out. There is a little bit of bail out area short and right, but not much.  Especially when you consider that you have the risk of hitting the cart path if your tee shot strays right.


This photo is from around 130.  The sub-200 tees are on this line.



NOTE:  My posting of these pics should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Wolf Creek.  Visually stunning, but Matt & I don't quite agree on its playing characteristics.  I do agree with him that large numbers are possible on this hole.

[John Moore II]

The hardest hole I have played is #3 at the new NCSU golf course in Raleigh, 550+ Par 4. I've detailed it in another thread but I don't feel like looking for it right now. Its a pure beast, uphill, closed off green, hazard fronting the green. Just a lovely hole.

[James Boon]

Everyone here is lying, no way the hardest hole you've EVER played is on a course everyone has heard of.

The hardest holes are found on the Painswicks of the world, i.e. the type of courses that no one who lives further than 100 miles away ever hears of, unless they become world famous amongst 1500 or so people worldwide

Doug,

We aren't all lying  I agree with you that some of the hardest holes are on those courses no one has ever heard of. Hence me posting earlier on a course I suspect no one on here has heard of (8th hole at Chevin, Derbyshire) rather than listing a load of tough holes at great courses.

Sean,

For what its worth I'm with you that par should be ignored. As discussed already, a long and tough par 4 may be a real brute to a scratch player, but if a wise 18 handicapper can layup in two and make a steady 5 (net 4), then how can the hole be that hard? You could argue that the system of 'par' is actually making the hole easy for the 18 handicapper? However, say 17 at TOC, thats a hard hole as it tough for the scratch guy to hit the green, and even if the 18 handicapper lays up short right, there is still every chance of the undulations bringing the road or the bunker into play on his chip to the green.

Cheers,

James

This is why I listed #4 at Sandwich as my choice for "hardest hole."  It's a brutal 4 for the best players and can be an equally difficult 5 for the higher handicapper.  The tee shot for the better players needs to take on that immense bunker for them to have a crack at the green in two shots, and the green can make it difficult for the lesser skilled once they get there.  All this with no water hazards or OB.

Bill,

I haven't played Sandwich, only walked it behind the ropes at an Open, so I couldn't be sure if its 4th fits the bill as a tough bogey, hence mentioning 17 at TOC as well. I hope to get there one day?

I'm interested, Sean A, how you measure a difficult hole then, if par is moot?

How can even the most difficult sub-250yd hole be tougher than any hole measuring 500yd+ if the score expectation for their relative length isn't part of the equation?

Scott,

I wont answer for Sean, but for me the issue isn't par but net par. Some holes that are a tough par for a scratch or low handicap have an easy option for a high handicap to make their net par. Its the holes that don't offer this alternative for an easy net par that you could say are the real tough ones! I would love to be able to ignore par and say its just a number, but we are pretty much stuck with it these days... 

Cheers,

James

[Jason Topp]

Large numbers are certainly possible on the 8th at Matt's Wolf Creek. 

The first photo is from the next to back tee, about 220 out. There is a little bit of bail out area short and right, but not much.  Especially when you consider that you have the risk of hitting the cart path if your tee shot strays right.

A few additional data points on this hole:

The 220 tee is the one most of us would use.  You play from 150 only if you are playing 5800 yard tees.

The desert is all considered ESA at Wolf Creek (I can't remember if you are supposed to play it as ob but I would guess most play it like a lateral water hazard or they would never finish)

[Scott Warren]

PAGING MR ARBLE. I'll re-post my question.

I'm interested, Sean A, how you measure a difficult hole then, if par is moot?

How can even the most difficult sub-250yd hole be tougher than any hole measuring 500yd+ if the score expectation for their relative length isn't part of the equation?