Trying to define what constitutes a “great hole” is a subjective exercise in chasing your tail. A better term would be “memorable” or “intellectually challenging.” To me, the best ones present a confusing collage of options where even after multiple plays, the most logical strategy is still uncertain.
A quick list off the top of my head would be #2 at Pac Dunes, #12 at TOC, #4 at Spyglass, #10 at Apache Stronghold, #1 at NGLA, #10 at Shinnecock, #14 at Bandon Trails, #16 at Old Mac, #16 at Bandon Dunes, #9 at Cypress Point - or the par-6 10th hole at Riviera - an intelligence test I have never once passed.
Years ago I wrote that “facing 18 examples of Orwellian Overchoice in a row can be maddening” - but nearly every acclaimed golf course has a few holes that defy analysis. Some are “pay me now or pay me later” like #15 at ANGC - or the golf strategy equivalent of three dimensional chess like #5 at Bandon Dunes, which encourages changing your mind in the middle of your backswing off the tee.
It seems simplistic to boil down the definition to holes “on either the edge of par” because #11 at Shinnecock, #12 at ANGC or #17 at Sawgrass are all inarguably “great,” but in reality present fairly straightforward challenges. Others are more difficult to define, with a je ne said quoi like #6 at Creek Club that is not terribly difficult, but incredibly inspiring - somehow adding up to an exponential sum of its parts.
It would be interesting to have everyone in the Treehouse drill down and try to name their single best par 3, 4 and 5. Like trying to stratify “Best Song or Movie.” I think the answers would be a fascinating illustration of what they most value in a so-called “ideal golf hole.”