[Mike Benham]

6-9 at Pebble.  There is no substitute.

Jeff Goldman

As others noted, I'll take 7 - 10 at Pebble even though the last 2 par-4s run in the same direction  ...

And I like 2 - 5 at Olympic Lake - uphill, downhill, draws and fades all required ...

[ChipOat]

Best FOUR holes is difficult!  This should give us new respect for just how difficult it is to create a truly great golf course.

Examples:

Merion 16-18 is spectacular but #15, while a fine hole, would be no big deal if it wasn't at Merion.

Pebble 6-9 would be a cinch if #7 didn't require so much wind to be a real test (we've done that thread before).

Pine Valley 13-16 includes 2 of the greatest holes in all of golf but #14 would just be another downhill par 3 if it wasn't at Pine Valley.

Cypress #17 has Stupid Trees in the fairway.

Shinnecock 11-14 is a definite possibility but, since I like strategic holes that are also tough, I'll vote for Merion #'s 2-5.
#'s 2 and 5 are masterpieces, #3 from the new back tee is now as tough to make par as #17 and #4 is a better par 5 than #15 is a par 4 IMO.

The point I'd emphasize is that the ground just doesn't give even the best of architects the opportunity to build 4 outstanding holes in a row.

[Chris_Clouser]

Slapper,

The only problem with your stretch at Prairie Dunes is that it isn't even the best on the course.  Eight through Eleven is the best there.

[Tom_Doak]

The Rawls Course?  Were you serious?

Pebble Beach must win this thread, although I would have said 7 thru 10 because that's what the eye says when you're out there.  Six is a better hole than ten, but ten is part of the group.

At Pacific Dunes my first choice would be 3,4,5,6 -- a par five, a long par 4, a par 3, and a short par 4, which loop back to the same point quite neatly.

And I've always thought 12-15 at High Pointe was about as good as I could do.

[Matt_Ward]

Jeff F:

You ask why -- the answer is simple -- MAXIMUM DIVERSITY. If you have at least one par-3 and one par-5 along with two diverse par-4's you do have a solid array of holes. Rarely, do they come in such a sequence but that's what makes identifying them so much more demanding.

[Michael Dugger]

Pac Dunes 5-8 or 4-7 or 13-16 or 14-17 or 15-18

[JohnV]

1-4 at Riviera
4-7 at Pacific Dunes

[III]

15-18 at Dallas National

[Jim Franklin]

Black Diamond #13-16.

[Jeff Fortson]

Matt,

Under your guidelines I would pick 2-5 NGLA.  2nd place would be 6-9 at The Creek.

Jeff F.

[David Wigler]

Matt disagree with your guidelines because they disqualify 2 of my 4 favorites.  I think back-to-back par 3's are a great design feature (Plus it is my thread  ).  I'll stick with 14-17 at CPC with PB, SL CC and Canterbury in close competition.

[Matt_Ward]

David -- my good man -- diversity is the heart of the game. You did mention 6-9 at PB and I can't disagree it's a solid contender. But, when courses max out a particular par for all the holes or even three of them you have a one dimensional perspective.

I simply upped the ante on y-o-u-r thread -- it's very hard to find four distinguished holes that have the par sequence I outlined.

[Fred_C.]

Holes 8, 9, 10, and 11 at Merion.

FJC

[Tony_Chapman]

Chris - Amen on the four hole stretch at Prairie Dunes (8-11) as being the better stretch of golf. 8 and 10 are two of the favorite holes I have ever played.

Matt - If you like a stretch that includes a short-4, long-4, par-5 and par-3 I will put holes 3-6 at Pinehurst #2 against whatever you throw at me.

[Chris_Clouser]

Could you imagine though the original stretch of 8, 9, 10 and 17 that Perry Maxwell originally laid out?  That ironically would have also fit into Matt's ideal stretch with the original yardages as well.  For that matter the original nine holes were an incredible stretch of holes.  No wonder many considered it the best 9-holer in the US at that time.  

[SPDB]

Jeff -
6-9 at The Creek? really? 7-8 are somewhat mediocre in my est.

However, if you were to permit me to include putting out on 5, and making the walk to 6 tee, I would have to agree with you. That's one of the finest strolls in golf, which gives way to one of the best views. As far as where you start the 4 hole stretch vs. where you end up, there are few that can offer that kind of variety.

what about Fishers 3-6?

Piping 6-9?

Misquamicut 9-12?

Seminole 15-18?

Eastward Ho: 4-7?

Riviera 7-10 (incl. 8 as orig. designed)

[bg_in_rtp]

11-14 at Tobacco Road.  

2 great risk-reward Par 5s (11 & 13). Medium-length Par4 that requires a running hook into the green (12) and a scenic Par 3 over the lake(14) to a narrow green.  It's possible to go
3-3-3-3 as well as 7-6-7-5, with the difference potentially being a missed shot of 1-2yards.

[Tony_Chapman]

Hey Brian - I remember that stretch on Dec. 30, 1998 when I went 5-4-13-2!!!   Great stuff. I got stuck in the bunker to the right of the greenside bunker and refuse to take a drop. I desparately want to play there again.

[David Wigler]

Thought of another qualifier and it even meets Matt's added test (Surprised Tommy didn't add this before me) 14-17 at Shadow Creek.

[David Wigler]

One more - 14-17 at Lake Las Vegas Southshore should be in the discussion but I am sticking with 14 - 17 at CPC.

[Matt_Ward]

tkchap:

Good choice with Pinehurst -- but I still think the 14th through the 17th at PV is the one to beat. You have a superb drop-shot par-3 -- followed by the worldly 15th hole -- you have a wonderful long par-4 that goes in the opposite direction and then you have the unique short par-4 17th. Can't see a single weakness in any of the holes -- although I'm sure a case can be made on the 14th.

I also think the closing stretch of Shinnecock is exceptional with the 15th through the 18th.

[jim_lewis]

It's hard to argue with most of the choices mentioned thus far. BUT, It is hard to beat the stretch from 8-11 at Maidstone, which I had the pleasure of playing last week.


Why confine the question to the U.S.?

World wide, I go with Carnoustie 15-18.

[Paul Richards]

As far as a last four-hole stretch, I'll take my home course, Beverly CC, as good as ANY four finishing hole stretch - especially those that don't finish on an ocean!

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Pine Valley #13-#16 and I would throw in the last two if I could make it six holes.  

Chipoat: we agree with the holes but I disagree with your contention that #14 is just another downhill par three.  I would agree that I think it would be a better hole if it were still and island green surrounded by sand as it was in its early life.  It being surrounded by trees detracts from the uncertainty of the downhill shot with the carry over the lake.  I realize that the rail line runs just off the back of the green but all things considered, the membership should buy the rail line, reroute it somewhere less obtrusive and then cut down those offending pines.  

Now that would make a great par three.

[Big B]

I'll just add following to the mix since they have not been mentioned...

Blackwolf Run - River Course 8, 9, 10 & 11
Whistling Straits - Straits Course 10, 11, 12, & 13

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