I think the two 18s might be the toughest matchup on the card. They are both very excellent finishing holes and are great match play finishers. 18 at Dismal red is a really great hole that finishes in a fantastic spot. Some people might be turned off by the fact that it doesn't fiish where it started, but who cares? That would be important if this was a local course where people are looking to play 18 and head, home, but Dismal is not that place. The setting with the clubhouse out in the distance and up the hill is just fantastic! The hole is a great hole tee to green and there is not much to find fault with, EXCEPT the fescue "pods" as JK called them that inhabit the mounds on the right side of the fairway. They are true head scratchers. Without them there the ball rolls to the right edge of the fairway and the golfer has a difficult shot at a difficult angle. The way they are now, they are almost a full stroke penalty due to the thickness of the growth. I love everything about this holes, except for those.
18 at Ballyneal is one of my favorite tee shots on the course. Plenty of room right, but the way the tee boxes are angled straight at the flag, I have seen many balls hit further left than the golfer should have been challenging. Left isn't dead, as long as you have the distance to carry. I love the little trick that was used on this tee. But right is the way to go, aim at the lodge on top of the hill and watch your ball bound and roll left and closer to the pin. If the pin is right or behind the bunker, as John Kirk stated, then you want the ball as far up the hill as possible, so you have a good look at the pin. I love the collection area short and left of the greenside bunker. It is a place where many people end up and the best way to play the next shot is only limited by the golfers imagination. I have seen several shots not hit well only to have the ball return back to the golfers feet. My BIL hit 4 of those from that spot. Great hole and great finisher.
As you can tell I love both of these holes. I would be tempted to give this one to Dismal Red dispite my love for Ballyneal's 18th, however, the fescue pods in the fairway prevent me from giving Dismal the win and I would have to say that this hole is a dead push for me. 10-10.
Here is my recap of my scoring
1: Dismal Red 10-9
2: Push 10-10
3: Ballyneal 10-9
4: Dismal Red 10-9
5: Ballyneal 10-9
6: Dismal Red 10-8
7: Ballyneal 10-8
8: Ballyneal 10-9
9: Dismal Red 10-8
10: Ballyneal 10-9
11: Push 10-10
12: Ballyneal 10-8
13: Ballyneal 10-9
14: Dismal Red 10-9
15: Dismal Red 10-9
16: Push 10-10
17: Ballyneal 10-9
18: Push 10-10
Ballyneal wins by 2 on my card and in matchplay.