The Worst First Hole

[jeffwarne]

Kilspindie

I will enjoy watching how this plays out, given the number of people pushing Kilspindie's first as a great example of a par 3 opener on the other thread.  For me, it's neither, just a rather "meh" hole on a better course.

Doesn't do much for me. But it does have the advantage of playing from the house steps, lovely backdrop and onlookers can see the outcome.

Ciao

Something I never gave a lot of thought to.
Seemed perfect as a start.
I'm of the opinion that not every hole has to be jaw dropping or memorable, though I do remember that one.


More and more I seem to gravitate towards places like Dunfanaghy where somewhat subtle, lay of the land holes escort you to greater heights at a few key intervals during the round. Dunfanagy does just that with a pleasant enough start followed by highs at 6-10 and then another crescendo at 16-18.
18 statement holes simply without any breathers tire my game and senses,and seem to generally be populated by architectural deplorables

[Thomas Dai]

I'm of the opinion that not every holes has to be jaw dropping or memorable, though I do remember that one.
More and more I seem to gravitate towards places like Dunfanaghy where somewhat subtle, lay of the land holes escort you to greater heights at a few key intervals during the round. Dunfanagy does just that with a pleasant enough start followed by highs at 6-10 and then another crescendo at 16-18.
18 statement holes simply without any breathers tire my game and senses,and seem to generally be populated by architectural deplorables

+1 to both the comment and the course mentioned.
Atb

[Tom_Doak]

Someone please explain to me why the 1st hole at Pebble is bad. I’ve only played it once. It’s harder than a “friendly handshake” but hardly a horrible hole imo. Fairway wood and 8 iron. Bunker on the corner but hardly a narrow corridor. Fairly severe green sloped from front to back. Certainly not a great hole....

I shall attempt to explain:


1.  You are at Pebble Beach, but the first hole offers no glimpse of the ocean, but feels like you are playing in the back of some condo development.


2.  There is o.b. to both sides.  It is less than 300 feet from building to building; if I built a hole in a space that narrow I'd be sued today.


3.  It's a dogleg right, with a tree on the inside corner so you won't play more toward the green and slice into Casa Palermo.  If you don't hit a good drive your second will be blocked by the tree, and the only place to aim is at the bunker and hill to the left of the green, from where you are inevitably going to make six.


4.  It's only 250 yards from the back tee to drive it through the fairway into the bunker there, so good players today must lay up with an iron, or take it over the trees on the right.

[Simon Holt]

On a famous course Pebble is hard to top.


Winterfield in East Lothian is one for the books.

[Rob Marshall]

Someone please explain to me why the 1st hole at Pebble is bad. I’ve only played it once. It’s harder than a “friendly handshake” but hardly a horrible hole imo. Fairway wood and 8 iron. Bunker on the corner but hardly a narrow corridor. Fairly severe green sloped from front to back. Certainly not a great hole....

I shall attempt to explain:


1.  You are at Pebble Beach, but the first hole offers no glimpse of the ocean, but feels like you are playing in the back of some condo development.


2.  There is o.b. to both sides.  It is less than 300 feet from building to building; if I built a hole in a space that narrow I'd be sued today.


3.  It's a dogleg right, with a tree on the inside corner so you won't play more toward the green and slice into Casa Palermo.  If you don't hit a good drive your second will be blocked by the tree, and the only place to aim is at the bunker and hill to the left of the green, from where you are inevitably going to make six.


4.  It's only 250 yards from the back tee to drive it through the fairway into the bunker there, so good players today must lay up with an iron, or take it over the trees on the right.

I think the "back of condo development" is a little exaggerated. The hotel is only on the right, and a few houses on the left. I don't doubt the width but it doesn't look that bad on this video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhkRUoTo-mU

[John Kavanaugh]

You go to Pebble knowing you are going to experience some of the great beauty this world has to offer and you are so greedy to get it started that not getting an eye full the first hole is a knock on the course? Where is your sense of romantic anticipation?

[Michael Whitaker]

Narin and Portnoo
Tain
Kilspindie

What do you so dislike about Tain? I think the second shot over the road and fence is about as charmingly quaint as it gets!

[Michael Whitaker]

I have to say I’m not a fan of the first at Hoylake. Long dogleg with OB everywhere. The exact opposite of a friendly handshake. 🤬

[Mark_Fine]

It is surely not the first hole at Pebble Beach.  In many ways the hole is quite similar to the first hole at Merion.  Both are short slight doglegs to the right that require less than driver for most golfers. The long hitter can tempt the corner but usually the nerves don’t allow it on the first hole.  Plus at Merion, you might have 40 people sitting on the veranda 10 feet away having lunch and watching you tee off.  I love both starting holes.  Another one of my favorites that I am surprised no one mentioned is the first at Cypress Point!  50 feet in front of the tee is a large hedge you have to drive over that blocks the view of almost everything (it is there to screen 17 mile drive).  To the right is the driving range (don’t block your tee shot right or it might take a while to find your ball). Fortunately the course doesn’t get much play so the range balls out there to look through are usually limited 😊. I love the hole as the nerves and excitement on the tee of what is ahead is some of the most you will ever feel as a golfer.  But if you didn’t know where you were playing you would shake your head in disbelief.  Don’t expect to ever see Tom Doak build a starting tee shot like that one 😉.  This is an interesting topic but what is good and bad and why will be all over the map. 


Mike,
The first at Mt. Airy is BAD! 

[MCirba]

Mark,


Incredibly bad. 


Surprised no one has mentioned that dumb first hole where you have to hit blindly over a high hedgerow and sunken public road.   

[Niall C]

I can't believe there is a discussion on whether TOC or PB has the worst first hole on the planet. Your average club golfer would be shaking their heads reading some of this stuff. Neither hole is particularly brilliant but neither are they all that bad.


Re Kilspindie - I actually think it quite a charming hole. Personally I'd prefer to be hitting a good solid yahoo with the big stick rather than trying to finesse an iron with my very first shot of the day but that doesn't mean it's a bad golf hole.


Off hand I'm not sure what my nomination would be but I'm pretty sure it would be on a course that few if any of you have heard of.


Niall

[Alex Miller]

A hole with a fairway setting and green site such as Cypress Point's first would typically be in contention for best hole on any course. it's a par 4 with a "bad" shot (really more mysterious than anything else) and then an approach shot and green which is not talked about enough.


It is not the worst first hole, or even a bad one IMO.

[MCirba]

Alex Miller,
Isn't there also a very large tree(s?) interjecting into the whole right-side of the fairway?

[Kalen Braley]

Mike,

Not so much interjecting, more like gentle encouragement, and the bombers can just go right over it..

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cypress+Point+Club/@36.5813322,-121.9724437,405m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x808de71503b331d9:0x8b8ffb7460b1ecd8!8m2!3d36.5802249!4d-121.9741049

[Alex Miller]

Alex Miller,
Isn't there also a very large tree(s?) interjecting into the whole right-side of the fairway?

Yes. They are carryable for some, but still ample room left for those who can't. They provide a solid frame of reference for where to aim, but do not continue so there are ample options for the second shot if someone encounters them. There is perhaps a case to be made to get rid of them, but they do add a strategic element in guarding the line of charm.

[Ira Fishman]

I played CPC 1 from the practice range. Not the best Opening Hole but certainly a decent one. The hedge is part of the allure. Not nearly as strategic as the stone fence on NB 13, but analogous in terms of charm.


Ira

[Ian Mackenzie]

By far the worst 1st Hole I have played is at Secession. Didn’t really like the rest of the course either.

+1 here.


Loved the food, the caddies, the vibe of the place...just wish the course was better.


I believe I hit a 3 hybrid or 5 wood on #1 there.
That "cape hole" opener is also a disaster lurking from the get-go. Water short, water long, water left...great.


so much for a "gentle hand shake".

[Tal Oz]

If that hedge is ruining that hole for you then you're missing out on a lot. I remember reading comments about that hedge and was curious to see it in person. The hedge and 17 Mile Drive are quite a bit below the level of the clubhouse and tees. I agree with Alex on the right tree and the green is spectacular.

[Gib_Papazian]

#1 at North Berwick retires the trophy for "worst 1st hole" - except that after enough plays, it crosses past the ethos of "worst" and rotates around the great wheel so far, it crosses over to endearingly nutty. At this point, I'd never change it.


Then again, I have very strange tastes, the Klondike might be my favorite hole at Lahinch . . . . . it does not hurt I made 3 on my first try. 

[Tim_Weiman]

By far the worst 1st Hole I have played is at Secession. Didn’t really like the rest of the course either.

+1 here.


Loved the food, the caddies, the vibe of the place...just wish the course was better.


I believe I hit a 3 hybrid or 5 wood on #1 there.
That "cape hole" opener is also a disaster lurking from the get-go. Water short, water long, water left...great.


so much for a "gentle hand shake".

Thanks for commenting on the nice aspects of Secession. My caddy, a Marine from Camp Lajeune, was probably the best I’ve ever had.

[Jon Wiggett]

Winterfield in East Lothian is one for the books.

Simon,


I am not sure the quality of the first hole at Winterfield can be judged due to its incredible difficulty. In fact I would suggest it is the hardest first hole in golf. It is definitely not the best hole in the world but I would not put it down as bad per se as it does clearly present a challenge. It is clearly not a great first hole but it has character which means it avoids the dreary mundanity that makes truly bad golf.


Jon

[Robin_Hiseman]

You'll have to go a long way to find a more catastrophic opener than at Vale da Pinta, in the Portuguese Algarve...except that this is now the 10th. However, it was the 1st when i played it.


Apart from the obvious flaws, there is also a massive right to left slope.