[Anthony Gray]

  Discuss

[Tom_Doak]

The best hole?  I don't know.

The one hole that you can't find anywhere else?  Absolutely.

[SteveOgulukian]

I think so.  The main drawback is that it's a boring tee shot, uphill and blind.  However, that being said, there's something great about it as well.  You know that the "best second shot in all of golf" lies ahead of you but he can't lose focus on your task at hand which is to position your tee shot in an ideal location.  An aspect that I think is overlooked is that everyone who plays that hole wants their tee shot to end up basically in the same spot, and since that spot is only 220ish from the tee, anyone playing it, whether a tour pro or a 25 handicap, has the ability to put the ball there.  

Let's say the tees were moved 100 yards back to a floating tee box...tour pros would be hitting driver or 3 wood to get into perfect position.  However, amateurs would have to almost play this as a par 5 since the chances of hitting the green in 2 from back there would be very tough, and thereby eliminating the thrill of playing this hole.

There's not much to say about the approach that hasn't been said before.  Personally, I found the green to be much smaller and more elusive than how it appears on TV.  The challenge doesn't end there and there is a subtle but severe slope to the green.  When I last played it, the pin was in the back right.  I ended up above the hole, 4 feet away, and thankfully sunk the lightning fast putt (unfortunately, faced with a similar situation on 11 I didn't fare so well).

[Tim Nugent]

I don't know Anthony, what are it's merits? Sure, it has a unique setting and demanding 2nd shot.  But what of it's strategy?  Can a layup hole be the best on the course? Maybe.  Is it better than 9? or 10? or does the fact that those holes follow impact ones impression of 8?

[Kalen Braley]

If a hole is only a layup hole for 10% of golfers....is it really a layup hole?

Its my understanding the vast majority of golfers can safely hit driver, even if the pros have to layup with 5 wood

[Adam Clayman]

I'll tell you what, when the wind is blowing over 12 mph, there are few holes anywhere, that have as much "mojo". That being, an intimate knowledge of how the ball should be properly played.

It's mostly a guess for most, probably because they don't get to play it enough to know it that intimately. A great caddie, who has figured your game out perfectly, still wouldn't be 100% sure of how to convey the exact proper advice. Playing for par in these situations, is extremely prudent.


I'd argue that the drive on this hole is not as ho him as some portray it, either. Maybe it's another hole at Pebble that has been improved with the distance advances of technology? Because now, the drive is also a Risk reward shot.

 Back on my initial play, the sign said "Cliff 245 yards" I was instantly confused, but calmed, because that would've been the extent of my driver. SO I hit it, and had a bout 5-10 yards to the edge of the cliff in perfect position.

[SteveOgulukian]

Hypothetically, if the 8th was converted to a par 3 I wonder how it would rank amongst the top par 3's in the world.  Or to narrow it down, how it would rank against 15 and 16 at Cypress Point.

That being said, I wish they could elevate the tee box at 17.  Though it wouldn't be a natural use of the landm in my eyes, it would be a welcome change which would improve this hole.

[Jeff Tang]

It's right up there for me. It was a lay up for me but I think it's a challenging one. I've only played it once and if I remember it correctly the correct line is much further left than I would have guessed. I just couldn't commit to hitting it that far left knowing the green was "over there" to the right ultimately and of course I blocked it right and was about 5 feet from going over the ledge going towards the green and was close to the cliff to the right as well. Kind of a cool shot from there but not the ideal line. A position tee shot and a heroic second makes it a very cool hole.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

It is to me.

[Brett_Morrissy]

On my one and only play, there is one thing where the 8th would win - BEST, best longest wait to tee off. 2 groups on the tee, one group wandering down the fairway, as we left the 7th.

Spectacular setting.

Blind tee shot, with total penalty if you get it wrong, I.e. over a cliff. Definetely not my kind of hole.
- so, you are the left with a reliance on a caddy, which is nuts.
- on the tee, not only are you aware that there is a cliff in play, but it sets up with a massive left to right slope(toward the cliff), and as Jeff noted above the correct line is much further left, but that requires you to play toward the cart path!! 
I note on a Google Earth that there are tees up on the bluff back toward 6 green, maybe for first timers this should be mandatory...

Love the approach shot, rewarding the heroic shot across the cliff to a green open from that direction, but challenging the layed up approach shot, from short iron distance.

So for me, it is not the best P4 (think Tim maybe on the right track there with 9&10), and certainly not the best hole on the entire course, but the wait was "best"

[Gene Greco]

It is to me.

+1

[Jim Franklin]

It is mine too. You can hit driver and aim left, but you will be in the rough. The first time I played there, I hit 3 iron, 6 iron to a foot and loved it ever since.

[JMEvensky]

It is mine too. You can hit driver and aim left, but you will be in the rough. The first time I played there, I hit 3 iron, 6 iron to a foot and loved it ever since.

I holed my 6 iron .

[Kris Shreiner]

For my money it is #9.

Better tee shot. Still has some mystery off the tee, as quite often the finish of the ball is unknown if it trundles down over the fairway ridge.
Probably the best combination of fairway rumple, shotmaking required, AND distance reward of ANY hole out there. Awesome panoramic views the entire hole. Green approach gives you options, but you better be sharp in executing. A number lurks every step of the way...but birdie is also a realistic possibility if one plays from the correct tee.
The green itself can be a handful. Vexing, subtle and yet having quite a bit of pace and break in certain areas, especially when it's firm.

It may lack the high drama of that epic second shot over the chasm that #8 has, but in totality #9 asks more and provides more variety in total.

Cheers,
Kris

[Brad Isaacs]

I think it demands decision making with the tee shot. How hard are you going to push the drive to the edge.  Left or right? A more thoughtful shot than your first impression. Then the second shot that is long, tough and deceptive in that it is level not down or it always has played that way for me and I play it better if I play it that way.  Hard to argue against it being the best hole(oh yea in my opinion.).

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