The Best 18 Holes I've Actually Played (Back 9)

[Tom Huckaby (Guest)]

Here's the back nine:

10.  Riviera CC – 320 yard par 4, angles, angles, angles.
Honorable Mention: Bel-Air CC, Lehigh CC, Monterey Peninsula (Dunes), Pasatiempo, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews (New), Yale University GC

11.  Ballybunion GC – Old – 440 yards par 4, along the Atlantic, one of the world’s great par 4’s
Honorable Mention: Cypress Point, Falsterbo GC, Lehigh CC, L.A.C.C. (North) Pasatiempo, Ojai Valley, Shinnecock Hills, St. Andrews (Old)

12.  Lehigh CC – 410 par 4, one of the more “natural” holes I’ve ever seen, laying along the side of a stream, strategic tee shot as well.
Honorable Mention:  Chicago GC, Royal Birkdale, Royal Dornoch, Shinnecock Hills, St. Andrews (Old)

13.  Pacific Dunes – 400 yard par 4, ocean on left, incredible sand dune on right.
Honorable Mention:  Cypress Point, Muirfield, National Golf Links of America, Spanish Bay

14.  Royal Dornoch GC – “Foxy” – 420 yard bunkerless par 4, incredibly difficult approach shot and maddening green, perfection.
Honorable Mention:  Applebrook GC, Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula CC (Dunes), National Golf Links of America, North Berwick (West), Pebble Beach, Portmarnock, ), Royal Portrush (Dunluce), Shinnecock Hills, Spanish Bay, St. Andrews (Old), Western Gailes, World Woods (Pine Barrens).

15.  Cypress Point Club – 139 yards par 3, incredibly beautiful pitch over the ocean to one of the world’s finest green sites.
Honorable Mention:  North Berwick (West), Cypress Point, Turnberry (Ailsa), Royal Birkdale, World Woods (Pine Barrens)

16.  Cypress Point Club – 233 yards, par 3, the most thrilling hole on this earth.
Honorable Mention:  Carnoustie, Cog Hill (Dubsdread), Half Moon Bay (Ocean), L.A.C.C. (North), La Quinta (Mountain), National Golf Links of America, Olympic Club (Lake), Pasatiempo, PGA West (Stadium), Shinnecock Hills, Turnberry (Ailsa)

17.  St. Andrews Old – THE Road Hole.
Honorable Mention:  Ballybunion (Old), Bel-Air CC, Cabo del Sol, Carnoustie, Cypress Point, County Sligo (Rosses Point), National Golf Links of America, Old Head, Pelican Hill (North)

18.  Pebble Beach GL – no description needed.
Honorable Mention:  Cabo del Sol, Carnoustie, Muirfield, National Golf Links of America, Olympic Club (Lake), Riviera, Royal Birkdale, Shinnecock Hills, St. Andrews (Old), Troon North (Monument), Wilshire, Yale University GC

Comments?

TH

[BillV]

That's really your answer for #18???


We need a smiley that RAOFL.

[Tom Huckaby (Guest)]

Yep, I can't go against PB #18, sorry Bill.  But hey, you did notice #12, didn't ya?

18 is a tough choice but I'll stand by Pebble.  Which would you put here, kind sir, either using my courses or broadening it to the many more you've played?

BTW, anyone notice how the foul-language filter butchers the course adjacent to NGLA?  Oh man... I typed it in its proper name and it comes out Shinnethingy.  Good God....

TH

[Mike_Cirba]

Shinnecock  

[BillV]

SHINNEC*O*C*K

[BillV]

I am trying for Startrooper Status (I noticed that # of posts determines status around here.

Too bad it's not by the word or TomEPaul will be six stars with his first post!  

As for #18 NGLA, SHINNEC*O*C*K, Yale are all more inspiring........

[Tom Huckaby (Guest)]

I remain a "guest" until I get a damm password.  Clorox email being on the fritz, God knows when that will be...

As for 18, each of those works for me, Bill - they are all great holes indeed.  But Pebbly-poo just still wins out.  It is indeed VERY close against NGLA - jeez when I came off that green last month I was ready to declare it the best 18th in the world - but perhaps I was just feeling too NGLA top-heavy here... 18 at Pebble's gonna have to stay.

TH

[Ran Morrissett]

Three monster par fours and 16 at Cypress Point - all on the same nine? Tooooooo hard!

[Tom Huckaby (Guest)]

Well, I obviously didn't adjust the holes to form an overall "course" - this is simply a list of the best first, best second, best third, etc.

You're right though, the back nine particularly would be VERY tough.  I'd like to see the big boys try and meet the 35 strokes here....

The cool thing is, it really isn't overly LONG.. and each of these holes individually sure could be called "fun."

I'm liking this nine more and more!

TH

[Ran Morrissett]

I am surprised to see the Eden hole at NGLA make your honorable mention list - what do you like about it so much?

[Tom Huckaby (Guest)]

Ran - you're probably getting the idea that all 18 holes at NGLA could make my HM list - I could make an argument for that most definitely.  BUT... I tried to be sparing on this, I swear!

I do like the Eden at NGLA, almost more than the Eden at TOC.  Sacrilege?  Well.... we've basically taken TOC version and added water to the mix.  On the other hand, the bunker at TOC makes that hole... the one at NGLA is far too tame.  I wonder if that has been modified over the years... In any case, you have the same "fall off" behind and the same sort of wonderful internally contoured green...  Yep, to me NGLA's Eden works very well.

In the end, my list of 13's was just woefully short, so that too might factor in here!

I need Augusta to straighten this out... Pine Valley...

TH

[Hidden_Gem (Guest)]

Tom -

In reviewing your list, I am amazed at my retention level on how I played some of these holes. At #18, Carnoustie - hitting my second shot in the 'drink', taking a drop and chipping in for par! What a way to finish!
 
In playing #18 at Yale, I had not lost a ball all day. I hit my second shot to the plateau exactly as I intended. I jogged up top to find "NO Ball!" Being my first crack playing here, I did not know what to think. I then see some kid scurrying into the woods, suprised that I saw him. I'm thinking he took my ball as "it had to be in the middle of the fairway"  My playing partners snuffed at such a thought with a match on the line. I drop in the fairway, (not assessing a penalty) land my approach, two putt and walk away with par. My company laughed at that. I then proceed to the clubhouse and voice my complaint to the pro shop. 10 minutes later, 3 kids are brought in for questioning. I believe they were charged with conspiracy to ruin a golf match. One guy, hidden at the base of the hill, would walkie-talkie two others up on top after completion of the second shot.

I guess they had a good thing going until I arrived.

We all have some interesting and strange stories, but this was definitley a first for me!

[Kevin_Reilly]

I remain a "guest" until I get a damm password.  

Tom H...the new "America's Guest".  I forget which player was the original.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Man, those quotes are hard to read in the black boxes!

[Tom Huckaby (Guest)]

THE America's Guest is the inimitable, legendary....

MIKE CIRBA!

I would be happy to be a humble second to his greatness.

TH

[Glenn Spencer]

Tom,

If Pebble didn't have the ocean on the left and the view, would it still be your favorite finishing hole?

[Tom Huckaby]

Glenn - why dig that up?

Hmmm.. here I am five years later, and well.... I don't see all that many changes to add.

But to answer your question Glenn:  of course not.  But I don't see the ocean nor the view going away any time soon, nor me going blind or losing my soul.  Do you?  And if so, care to fill me in re the last part and when that's gonna happen, so I can prepare?

 

TH

[Glenn Spencer]

Tom,

Fortunately, I don't have that information. Just wondering if anything had changed in 5 years. I have not played it, but the design of the hole seems kind of bland. Truth be told, I can't imagine in a thousand years, someone making bogey to lose or fall into a playoff. I would think that a great golf hole should have that element in play, No? Sorry, to dig up and you are always good for a quality comment, so I thought what the hell.

[Tom Huckaby]

Glenn:

No hassles, it's a fun list and it reminds me I ought to update it.  Not for posting here, but for my own personal fun.  I do think I kept it somewhere... that is I have the front nine also...

In any case, it matters not to me if a pro won't bogey a hole to fall into a playoff.  What has occurred with the modern ball though is this:  the hole is so reachable these days for the big boys that can't you see a US Open where a guy is one down and has a birdie to tie, eagle to win scenario?  Whooo boy... that to me would be pretty cool and would set up one hell of a decision for the second shot.

But that doesn't matter all that much to me anyway... these holes are MY favorites based on how I see things, and how pros play them doesn't factor in much to me.  I also do very much value views, scenery, feelings.

Others treat this very very differently - just ask Pat Mucci.  

TH

[Phil Benedict]

Tom,

I'm a bit surprised by your inclusion of 18 at Yale in the honorable mention category.  Pretty funky hole.  What do you like about it?  I love Yale but find 18 the least lovable hole on the course.

[George Pazin]

I can only assume you needed free orthopedic advice, or maybe something from someone else, in choosing Lehigh's 12th.

Beautiful hole, one of my few pars that day, but it didn't seem especially intriguing.

The 12th at Oakmont is obviously better, but you haven't had the pleasure. I'm just surprised you choose Lehigh's over the 12th at The Old Course.

[Garland Bayley]

Tom,

Fortunately, I don't have that information. Just wondering if anything had changed in 5 years. I have not played it, but the design of the hole seems kind of bland. Truth be told, I can't imagine in a thousand years, someone making bogey to lose or fall into a playoff. I would think that a great golf hole should have that element in play, No? Sorry, to dig up and you are always good for a quality comment, so I thought what the hell.

Guess you don't remember Phil needing birdie to win and putting his second in the ocean. Nor do you remember Arnie playing a recovery off the beach. You know, back when the ball actually turned in the air.

[Tom Huckaby]

Oh man... look what Glenn hath wrought...

1.  Re PB 18 - yup, completely forgot about Phil's screwup, and I surely don't remember Arnie playing off the beach.  But each works for my argument, so thanks.  

2. Re my #12 choice, I just really did like how #12 Lehigh sits against the hill, so perfectly carved also against the river.  It's just such a NATURAL looking hole... and requires two thouughful and well-played shots... I just have an odd fondness for it.  #12 TOC likely is the superior golf hole, and if I am allowed to change this, maybe that does get the nod - good call.  But I'm not ashamed of putting Lehigh's on here... it's my list and I have definitely weird reasons for liking golf holes.  And of course I have never played Oakmont, damn likely never will.  

3.  #18 Yale to me is just so damn unique, I had to love it.  There aren't many holes that allow one a choice of up and over or skirting a mountain.  

TH

[Tim Leahy]

I have not played it, but the design of the hole seems kind of bland. Truth be told, I can't imagine in a thousand years, someone making bogey to lose or fall into a playoff. I would think that a great golf hole should have that element in play, No? Sorry, to dig up and you are always good for a quality comment, so I thought what the hell.

Kind of bland? There's a hazard down the left side that runs the length of the hole, it's called the Pacific Ocean. OB right the length of the hole. Tree blocking 1/2 the fairway on the right. To have a chance at getting on in two, you have to go over the hazard. Even playing safe, you cannot go left. Saying take away the ocean and it's an ordinary hole is like saying take away Rae's Creek and 12 at Augusta is just another short par three.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tim - thanks, total agreement here.  I always find pretty funny comments like "take away the ocean holes and Pebble sucks".  Well hell, take away the best part of pretty much any course and it's gonna suck... and of course none of that is going away any time soon....

I was also curious what was bland about PB 18.  I guess one can play it 4iron-4iron-8iron and that could make it bland... I understand that.  But to me there is a lot more going on on the hole than how one could play it using extreme caution.

TH