[Adam Lawrence]

I was asked the other day 'What would you say were Harry Colt's best short par fours'.

Thinking about it, I realised that I did not generally pick out short two shot holes on Colt's courses. The tenth at De Pan was one that leapt out to me, but it isn't a very representative example, given it is totally dependent on the unique landforms that Colt used to create it.

Would like to hear other people's suggestions....

Adam

[David_Elvins]

11 at Swinley is reasonable. 

[Ally Mcintosh]

The 16th at Royal Dublin is a classic...

[Sean_A]

I say look to Royal Portrush Valley Links.  

#5



#s 8 & 9 too are very good.

Visually, #16 is awesome


I am also very fond of Harborne's 15th.  A very nasty green falling away from play.


Brian

I don't think the Rye's 9th is Colt.

Ciao

[David Davis]

Ok then I second the 10th at De Pan. I've not yet played Swinley Forest but I know already I will like it after having seen many photos. What's funny is that the two courses have a striking resemblance. The 10th is my favorite hole at De Pan.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

The present 13th at Rosapenna (OTM):


Rosapenna Old Tom Morris Links-15.jpg by kevin.diss, on Flickr

It used to measure 255 yards, but has since been lengthened to something like 345 yds with a different angle for the tee shot. From the 255 yds tee (tee just left of centre), the drive needs to be set off towards the left edge of the green and fed in using the slope of the green. Tom Doak mentioned in TCG that the green alone was enought to warrant a trip to Rosapenna. An easy 5 but a tough 3.

[Adam Lawrence]

Thanks for these. Brian, I assume you mean SGH 12, as the eleventh is a par three?

Adam

[Ally Mcintosh]

Donal, that hole is a good one.... Great green... 13th though...

[Scott Warren]

The 14th at Trevose is a hell of a good hole on a course that often gets overlooked. Good fairway crossbunkering, smartly bunkered at the green, makes fun use of the OOB it flanks/bends around.


If you accept the late Tom MacWood's confident assertion that Colt was at least equally as responsible for The Addington as Aber (which I came to do), then perhaps the 6th hole there, with Wodehouse's bunker, deserves a mention.

Another is the 6th at Royal Wimbledon. Bunkerless and with a really good green and surrounds, using the natural features of the land to build great interest. (one pic Philip Gawith's, the other mine)

[Frank Pont]

Eindhoven 2, Royal Hague 16, Tandridge 7, Kennemer C10

[David Davis]

Frank, I had a flash to Royal Hague 16 as well but isn't there a consensus that we can't really give Colt any credit for Royal Hague?

Eindhoven 2 yes that one is brilliant, can't believe my peanut brain didn't even think of it. Kennemer C1 I'm not certain about, I don't really like that one at all for some reason.

However, Eindhoven 2 and De Pan 10 would certainly be among the best. Do you have a photo of Eindhoven #2? That would be great to show.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Donal, that hole is a good one.... Great green... 13th though...

Thanks for pointing that out. I don't think I'll ever get used to the present numbering of the holes.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks for these. Brian, I assume you mean SGH 12, as the eleventh is a par three?

Adam

Adam, yes that's right.

The one I was thinking of is the 4th on the Red which would make it the 13th?

http://www.stgeorgeshillgolfclub.co.uk/playing_at_st_georges_hill/courses/red_9/hole_4_red

I remember thinking I'd never seen anything else quite like it. Still haven’t


Two lesser known ones
The
The 16th at Belfairs.  
Cut into mature forest the hole veers L-R getting narrower the closer you get to the green.

Maylands 12th (Morrison probably).
Down hill with the green benched into the slope.
http://maylands.imaginationtest.co.uk/clients/19/scorecard/scorecard.asp

[Ally Mcintosh]

Thanks for these. Brian, I assume you mean SGH 12, as the eleventh is a par three?

Adam

Adam, yes that's right.

The one I was thinking of is the 4th on the Red which would make it the 13th?

http://www.stgeorgeshillgolfclub.co.uk/playing_at_st_georges_hill/courses/red_9/hole_4_red

I remember thinking I'd never seen anything else quite like it. Still haven’t

The 4th on the red is just the 4th, isn't it?... But yes, that's the one I'd go for too... 12th is a cracking hole though more of a drive and pitch type

[Jeff_Mingay]

The 5th at Ancaster, Ontario (Hamilton Golf and Country Club) is an excellent short par 4, by Colt.

[Jud_T]

Haven't played enough of 'em, but I'd nominate Knollwood Club #2 in Lake Forest, IL for consideration.  356 from the back, well bunkered and a severely sloping 2-tiered back to front green brings everything from eagle to triple into play.  Haven't seen many holes where being below the hole was so paramount.  A butt-puckering approach as can often be found on many of the really great short 4's.

[Jon Wiggett]

The 5th at Mandelieu close to Cannes.

Jon

[Sean_A]

I forgot about Northamptonshire's 8th - a devious drivable par 4.   

The fifth too is interesting with its near blind tee shot over gorse.  The green runs harshly away from play.



Mosely's 16th is a most curious hole.  It is just about drivable, but one must drive over a small wood.  There is a scrap of fairway left to aim for, perhaps not quite enough to create clear choices from the tee.  
 

As expected, the green is a small, narrow target which opens up from the right and requires a longer carry from the tee for this angle.


If one drives to the extreme right of the fairway he is rewarded with the best of angles.
 

Ciao
 

[Adam Lawrence]

Thanks for these. Brian, I assume you mean SGH 12, as the eleventh is a par three?

Adam

Adam, yes that's right.

The one I was thinking of is the 4th on the Red which would make it the 13th?

http://www.stgeorgeshillgolfclub.co.uk/playing_at_st_georges_hill/courses/red_9/hole_4_red

I remember thinking I'd never seen anything else quite like it. Still haven’t

The 4th on the red is just the 4th, isn't it?... But yes, that's the one I'd go for too... 12th is a cracking hole though more of a drive and pitch type

I did consider that hole but purely from an aesthetic viewpoint the bunkering on that hole seems so out of place on a heathland course - it's just jarring to me when I stand on that tee. Fun hole though...

I love Red 4 too. Brian, do the not dissimilar bunkers on 16 Old at Sunningdale jar with you also?

[Ian Andrew]

The 5th at Ancaster, Ontario (Hamilton Golf and Country Club) is an excellent short par 4, by Colt.

I second this.
One of the best holes in the country

[Sean_A]

Speaking of Sunny Old - how bout the 11th?

Ciao

[Adam Lawrence]

My reading suggests that Old 11 can be called a Colt hole, as he moved the green to its current position. The third, I am not so sure.

[Paul_Turner]

Brian

No the greens are almost certainly his but the routing of the 3rd and 11th are basically Park's

Similarly the 6th at Royal Wimbledon wasn't changed all that much by Colt.

Portrush Valley 5th is not a Colt hole (it's Babington's).  Although The Valley has several alternatives as fine short Par 4s:  9th, 17th

The lesser known Colt courses come to mind more than the famous ones;  

St Germain 10th; Moor Park West 3rd, 10th, 11th; Edgbaston 11th, Worthing Lower 10th, Royal Belfast 10th and I like the 1st at Belvoir Park for its green.

Of the famous ones...Muirfiled 11th is a goodun.

[Jonathan Davison]

I really enjoy the 1st and the 8th at Brancepeth Castle if 330 yards counts.

[Frank Pont]

I really enjoy the 1st and the 8th at Brancepeth Castle if 330 yards counts.

Funny enough I was thinking about them when I wrote my previous post, both can be driven of the tee with the right conditions.
Hole 8 also is one of the diagrams in Colts Some Essays book in which he explains the various ways to play a strategic hole...
(diagram II page 24)

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