P3: (Tie)
Old Macdonald #2 and Common Ground #17. The hole at Bandon does a phenomenal job of presenting a classic problem to the player. Try to get it between the Hill and Strath, or whether to fly the Strath. From the tee the slope looks benign, then you get to the green and realize the danger of leaving it short. The hole is perfectly framed by the ridge behind it. The Eden at Old Mac is what every "island" green should aspire to. The long 3 at Common Ground is underrated by quite a bit. Three characteristics define the hole and provide a dozen ways to play the hole. 1) The crossing bunkers 150-200 yds off the tee confuse the eye into thinking it is a long carry and hide 2) the large amount of fairway short and right of the green. This huge "layup" area provides playability for the higher handicaps and provides a strategic conundrum due to the 3) huge hump in the middle of the green that effectively divides the green in two. Ask yourself, is the pin up or back. And if in front, par is the worst I should make, if in back, par is a birdie.
P4:
Old Macdonald #4 How can I not pick #13 at Pacific Dunes, or #7 at Ballyneal? Because I play each one the same every time. Pac Dunes #13 is always two busted shots into the wind, pray for two putts or an up and down. Ballyneal #7 is always a 3 wood over the bunker, chip and putt (or two). Old Mac #4, with it's insanely confusing tee shot--that you can hit a lot further left than you think--sets the tone. Succeed on the tee and a par can be had. If not, and you end up right of the hogsback leaving yourself 200+ yds (blind) to the green, the decision is about the second shot. There's a very nice place to layup in between the last centerline bunker and the valley of sin, but it will require accuracy. Then a terrifying in-betweener shot awaits for your third. The green surface is no picnic with seemingly every putt darting for the green edges.
P5:
Ballyneal #13 What's that you say? This isn't a par 5? Not only is it a par 5 from the far back tee to the right of #12 green, it's the best par 5 at Ballyneal and probably the best par 5 of Renaissance's that I've seen. The carry isn't as crazy as it seems at around 190 from the back. Once on the fairway, most golfers will be left with a 230-260 yd shot to a green that is partially hidden by a small dune with a bunker in its face. If the pin is tucked behind that dune, you have no chance at getting there. If the pin is in the center or front, there is a nice halfpipe feature that can help funnel a low slinging shot towards the hole. But beware, the isn't a ton of room in front between the dune and the bunker complex on the left for a miss short, and a miss right of centerline will leave a third shot almost completely blind to the green. The green isn't the toughest to putt at Ballyneal, but has been confusing to myself and many playing partners in the past. I still have no idea where a putt above the hole putting to the front of the green is going to break. The caddies don't either.
Some honorable mentions include: #2 at Stone Eagle, #16 at Old Mac, #3 at Ballyneal, #2 and #6 at Pacific Dunes, #8 at Common Ground. To come: #3 (P3), #4 #9 #14 #18 (P4) and #10 (P5) Dismal River. Lots of good holes there.
I need to preface this post because I haven't played a ton of Renaissance's work. Most importantly, I've yet to see Barnbougle, Cape K, St. Andrews Beach or Rock Creek. But the holes above stand out among the ones I have played.
PS--Maybe I like Old Macdonald more than I thought I did.
