unique holes

[John Burnes]

All-

After my last post of teeing off over a preceding green, and the overwhelming feedback I got (thank you!), I was wondering if anyone could contribute to the following question:

Is there a unique hole (one) that stands out to you within the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP)?  This does not necessarily mean best hole (or worst hole), just unique.

I define unique as limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area. 

My parameters are:

One hole per course, within the GAP, and you must have played the hole.  Courses in the GAP can be found here:

http://www.gapgolf.org/clubs.asp?id=7&pid=118

As always, including a photo of said hole is encouraged.

In the interest of full disclosure, I might write a piece on this and use some of the input here.

John

[Powell Arms]

Well, the old #10 at Philly Cricket is one of the few where you can go double trunk on your tee shot.  Oak & Nissan, I believe.

Photo from Google Earth

[Bill_McBride]

Well, the old #10 at Philly Cricket is one of the few where you can go double trunk on your tee shot.  Oak & Nissan, I believe.

Photo from Google Earth

Luckily no one ever hits a double cross!

[Powell Arms]

Well, the old #10 at Philly Cricket is one of the few where you can go double trunk on your tee shot.  Oak & Nissan, I believe.

Photo from Google Earth

Luckily no one ever hits a double cross!

you quickly learn where to park

[Mark McKeever]

You're better off in the stone lot across the street than the first row of parking spots along the course.

MM

[Powell Arms]

1.  Stone Harbor - been noted here many times before





2.  Anything at Chester Valley where the local rule is that a shot hitting the power transmission lines gets canceled.

[Mark McKeever]

My nomination for a unique hole takes us to the Philadelphia City limits at a really neat little Flynn course called Bala GC.  The Third hole is a very unique short par 4 (~325 yds) with multiple options to arrive at the tiny sloping green.  A hybrid to the high side corner (see the defined shelf in the first picture) is the safe play off the tee avoiding the hill and creek, but leaves a longer shot into a tiny green well guarded by the creek that wraps in front and most of the way up the left side of the green.  One can also elect to hit a driver/3wood down the hill on the right side but flirt with the hillside/creek/100 year old trees guarding the corner of the hole in the creek bed.  The fairway is VERY severe and one of the most sloped pieces of mowed fairway in the area.  I found the hole to be very interesting and love the idea of multiple ways to attack it.  The shot DARES you to try to find that far right side...but you better be confident.  I imagine this hole produces a lot of surprise doubles.

Take a look at the pictures thanks to my playing partner that day, Doc. Bausch.  

[Adam Lawrence]

Could I put in a plea on behalf of the English language and remind posters that things cannot be partially unique, or more or less unique etc. Things are either unique or they aren't.

Sorry for the pedantry, but this is a small part of our language that seems to have been entirely forgotten and it gets on my wick!

Now, back to the interesting thread about unique holes in Philadelphia!

Adam

[Eric Smith]

Could I put in a plea on behalf of the English language and remind posters that things cannot be partially unique, or more or less unique etc. Things are either unique or they aren't.

http://youtu.be/ENgJZlmgI6U?t=21s

 

[Powell Arms]

My nomination for a unique hole takes us to the Philadelphia City limits at a really neat little Flynn course called Bala GC.  The Third hole is a very unique short par 4 (~325 yds) with multiple options to arrive at the tiny sloping green.  

Mark, that is a fun hole. It reminds me of 7  6 at Overbrook, without the water. Gives the illusion that you can gain a big advantage with driver, but I don't think you really do. Sort of like all the holes at Bala.

Even though we are only allowed 1 hole, since I have already broken the rules I will add another one:

18 at Mannies. Two greens and a cable car to get up to the elevation of the second green.

[Garland Bayley]

...It reminds me of 7 at Overbrook, without the water. ...

So it is only partially unique.

[Joe Bausch]

My nomination for a unique hole takes us to the Philadelphia City limits at a really neat little Flynn course called Bala GC.  The Third hole is a very unique short par 4 (~325 yds) with multiple options to arrive at the tiny sloping green.  

Mark, that is a fun hole. It reminds me of 7 at Overbrook, without the water. Gives the illusion that you can gain a big advantage with driver, but I don't think you really do. Sort of like all the holes at Bala.

Even though we are only allowed 1 hole, since I have already broken the rules I will add another one:

18 at Mannies. Two greens and a cable car to get up to the elevation of the second green.

Are you sure you mean the 7th at Overbrook?  I'm guessing maybe you are thinking of the 14th?

[Mike_Trenham]

Running Deer had a few candidates not sure if they have been softened.

[Powell Arms]

Are you sure you mean the 7th at Overbrook?  I'm guessing maybe you are thinking of the 14th?

Actually, I meant 6 at Overbrook.  The tee shot is presents similar challenges to Bala 3.  Overbrook 14 has a similar approach (downhill with water front) but really no strategic choices off of the tee.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Mark McK:

That is one of the worst cart paths I ever have seen.

[Powell Arms]

Mark McK:

That is one of the worst cart paths I ever have seen.

It really frames the hole nicely 

[John Burnes]

thanks guys, some good ideas here.  I never played running deer, so I'll have to check it out.

[Mark McKeever]

Guys, lets focus on the good aspects of the holes mentioned above.  The thread is not about picking apart or finding faults in the nominations.  


MM

[Joe Bausch]

thanks guys, some good ideas here.  I never played running deer, so I'll have to check it out.

Running Deer is pretty good Johnny my boy!  I finally played it earlier this summer:

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/RunningDeer/

[ChipOat]

While "drop par 3's" may not be everyone's idea of a great hole, they aren't as easy as they look and they are certainly unique.

#6 @ Merion West

#7 @ Pocono Manor East

There is also one into an old quarry? at Manufacturers - the # of the hole escapes me.

The fact that there is more than one does not disqualify them as being unique, IMO, although I will defer to Funk & Wagnals or dictionary.com on that.

[jeffwarne]

While "drop par 3's" may not be everyone's idea of a great hole, they aren't as easy as they look and they are certainly unique.

#6 @ Merion West

#7 @ Pocono Manor East

There is also one into an old quarry? at Manufacturers - the # of the hole escapes me.

The fact that there is more than one does not disqualify them as being unique, IMO, although I will defer to Funk & Wagnals or dictionary.com on that.

Speaking of unique, how about #5 at Merion West?

[Ronald Montesano]

Could I put in a plea on behalf of the English language and remind posters that things cannot be partially unique, or more or less unique etc. Things are either unique or they aren't.

http://youtu.be/ENgJZlmgI6U?t=21s

 

None of these holes has any chance, does it?

[BCrosby]

The 14th (?) at the PGA event at Lake Tahoe is a drivable par 4. The best play is to hit it over the green, leaving an uphill chip to an otherwise difficult green to hold with an approach from the front.

Good stuff.

Bob

[ChipOat]

Jeff,

I don't mean to argue semantics, but I can't give #5 at Merion West a "unique" adjective.

I think there are too many holes that 1) are designed such that the tee shot is better off in the rough than 1/3 - 1/2 of the fairway and 2) have a big tree on the direct line to the preferred driving area (the left rough in this case) such that only one type of shot shape is do-able (a draw around the tree on #5).

As you know, while I think the approach to the green on that hole is an excellent challenge, I am not a fan of the drive and what is required to achieve success for the second shot.  If that big tree on the left were removed, and the fairway was widened to the left, THEN #5 would be one of the best holes on either course.

I regret to say that I have seen a lot more of those holes (on some pretty good golf courses, BTW) than I have "drop par 3's".

[Sean_A]

Does LuLu's 4th qualify as unique around Philly?

Ciao