Ranking your favorite holes at Prairie Dunes

[John Kavanaugh]

With 1 being your favorite to 18 being better than most...


1. 17
2.  2
3. 10
4. 12
5. 3
6. 6
7. 18
8. 5
9. 7
10. 8
11. 11
12. 15
13. 4
14. 9
15. 13
16. 16
17. 14
18. 1

[J_ Crisham]

Jk,
    For starters the 6 th hole might be the best par 4 at PD and certainly one of the best short par 4's in golf. I agree with your assessment of the 2 par 5's- #7 and 17 are quite good but maybe not the best holes at PD. My favs are in order: 6, 12,14,2,1,8,4,3,10,13,11,9,18,16,5,15,18,7

[Brian Finn]

This was tougher than I expected. 

1. 6
2. 8
3. 17
4. 10
5. 7
6. 5
7. 9
8. 2
9. 14
10. 18
11. 11
12. 12
13. 1
14. 3
15. 13
16. 16
17. 4
18. 15

[Nigel Islam]

1. 8.
2. 2.
3. 6.
4. 10.
5. 1.
6. 11.
7. 3.
8. 12.
9. 18.
10. 9.
11. 7.
12. 17.
13. 4.
14. 5.
15. 13.
16. 16.
17. 14.
18. 15.

[Peter Pallotta]

Is the 1st hole of the "gentle handshake" variety?
Would some consider the 18th not an "ideal match play" hole?
Thanks
Peter

[John Kavanaugh]

Is the 1st hole of the "gentle handshake" variety?
Would some consider the 18th not an "ideal match play" hole?
Thanks
Peter

Peter,


The first is one of the toughest first holes I have ever played. I don't like to warm up and it punishes a fade off the tee. Nothing quite like a fade, chop, chip, three putt start.


The 18th is an ideal match play hole. You always finish with an audience.

[Peter Pallotta]

Love it!
You unabashedly pick as your favourites the golf holes that suit you best!
None of this faux-attention to "quality architecture".... 

[Nigel Islam]

Is the 1st hole of the "gentle handshake" variety?
Would some consider the 18th not an "ideal match play" hole?
Thanks
Peter

Peter,


The first is one of the toughest first holes I have ever played. I don't like to warm up and it punishes a fade off the tee. Nothing quite like a fade, chop, chip, three putt start.


The 18th is an ideal match play hole. You always finish with an audience.

Both true statements. I do tend to like the Perry holes a bit better, but I really like the 12th for some reason. It's just a different type of hole. Dare I say it's my favorite Press Maxwell hole?

[John Kavanaugh]

Love it!
You unabashedly pick as your favourites the golf holes that suit you best!
None of this faux-attention to "quality architecture"....

If i had to play Jordan Spieth one hole for all the marbles it would be from the back tee of the 15th. It suits me best but is only my 12th favorite.


Nigel,


Odd that you have two Press holes listed above your beloved 12th. The third is fantastic, especially from the rarely used back tee up the hill.

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm enjoying the love shown for the 6th. I may have ranked it higher myself but was concerned that I was influenced by the elevated tee shot. That tee and it's view is a welcome relief after the skull bashing 5th.

[Bruce Wellmon]

1.  8
2.  2
3.  17
4.   6
5.   7
6.   10
7.   11
8.   14
9.   3
10.  5
11.  18
12.  12
13.  15
14.   9
15.   13
16.    1
17.    4
18.    16

[Nigel Islam]

Love it!
You unabashedly pick as your favourites the golf holes that suit you best!
None of this faux-attention to "quality architecture"....

If i had to play Jordan Spieth one hole for all the marbles it would be from the back tee of the 15th. It suits me best but is only my 12th favorite.


Nigel,


Odd that you have two Press holes listed above your beloved 12th. The third is fantastic, especially from the rarely used back tee up the hill.

John surely you aren't accusing someone of being hypocritical?

[John Kavanaugh]

For those who already love the 14th I am happy to report that the tree removal behind the green has improved airflow resulting in the greens texture, firmness and speed to where it mirrors its brothers in harm. No small task considering the quality of all the greens at PD. You would have had to witness the transition to believe it.

[John Kirk]

It's been 10 years or so.  What a great place.  Only five minutes spent ranking them; I went with first impressions.

8
9
3
12
5
17
15
6
1
14
11
2
18
10
4
7
13
16

[Sean Leary]

6
8
17
2
11
16
1
9
14
13
12
10
3
7
4
5
15
18

[John Kavanaugh]

John,


You are such a pure striker of the ball it scares me just thinking about having to win a front nine nassau given your love of 8 and 9. What a finish!!!

[John Kavanaugh]

Sean,


Nice to see 16 get some love. Playing away from the green side bunker makes so much sense. I wish I had some.

[Sean Leary]

Sean,


Nice to see 16 get some love. Playing away from the green side bunker makes so much sense. I wish I had some.

There are so many right to left holes that the left to right is a welcome change on the back. Love the late afternoon setting sun on that hole as well when playing then.  Awesome.

[Dave August]

11
8
2
6
13
12
1
3
9
14
7
17
10
18
4
16
5
15


Ranking the holes is much tougher than I expected. I have an easy time w the bottom 3 holes, but a really tough time w the others.


Having said that, I am sure that my opinion will change as I play more often.

[John Kirk]

John,


You are such a pure striker of the ball it scares me just thinking about having to win a front nine nassau given your love of 8 and 9. What a finish!!!

It might be my favorite out and back par 4 combination anywhere.  Thanks!

[Bill Vogeney]

How, this is tough....


First I have to rank the par 3's.
1. 2
2. 10
3. 15
4. 4


Par 5's (easy)
1. 17
2. 7


Par 4's
1. 8
2. 9
3. 12
4. 5
5. 13
6. 1
7. 3
8. 18
9. 14
10. 16
11. 11
12. 6


Must admit a few holes have totally gotten in my head. 6 is one of them...that's what happens when you play it a few times with the wind howling out of the north.

[Alex Miller]

Removed - read this as Pacific Dunes...

[John Kavanaugh]

I averaged out the votes of our participants and came up with this ranking:


1. 6
2. 8
3. 2
4. 17
5. 12
6. 10
7. 11
8. 9
9. 3
10. 1
11. 14
12. 7
13. 5
14. 13
15. 18
16. 4
17. 15
18. 16


The biggest surprise to me is the huge gap between holes 6 and 18. I love them both and find them very similar. I'm also thrilled to see three Press holes in the front nine as that was my initial intent of the thread. Learned some other cool stuff along the way. Thanks.


Slight correction after checking my math. Holes 18 and 4 switched spaces. Sorry.

[Jason Topp]

I keep waiting for the punch line in this thread. 

[John Kavanaugh]

I keep waiting for the punch line in this thread.

Jason,


I started this thread because of the following quote by Joe Zucker on the 9 hole thread:


"A controversial one might be Prairie Dunes.  The newer holes are very good, but I'm not sure I've heard anyone say they are as good as Perry's originals."


I wanted to do a bit of a test of his theory.