[Anthony Gray]

 There are a handful of iconic holes in golf. The Road Hole of course. The island green at sawgrass 17. Pebble beach 18. CP 16. The Redan. Etc. Holes that are recognized by all golfers and even non golfers.


 Many of these were built years ago.


 Has there been a hole built in the past 30 years that has reached the icon status or will reach the icon status?


 Anthony

[Ronald Montesano]

Holes that receive excessive television coverage, or feature prominently in video games, are your most likely candidates.

[Tom_Doak]

I'm not sure there is one since the TPC at Sawgrass.  Ronald is right, excessive television coverage helps a lot.  The 17th at Whistling Straits might have made it, if more matches had come down to the 17th hole in the Ryder Cup.


The 16th at Bandon Dunes is probably the most photographed hole among all the post-2000 courses.  The 13th at Pacific Dunes and the 7th at Streamsong (Blue) are up near the top.  The 15th at Cape Kidnappers would be more famous, except it's in New Zealand.

[Peter Pallotta]

What a neat question.
It's remarkable (and rather touching) that -- in an era of the 24 hour cable golf station and tens of thousands of social-media sites producing millions of golf-related images and promotional videos -- more golf holes *haven't* become iconic, at least not quite yet. No doubt, some of them will, but only over more time -- and for my temperament I find it strangely comforting that, even today, nothing replaces "Time" as a factor in developing a deep and true appreciation, and in personal meaning-making.

[Dan Kelly]

“Iconic” is without any doubt the most overused word of the 21st century.

[James Brown]

16 at Bandon Dunes is the best example I can think of.  Iconic in the sense that some significant fraction of golfers have played it and it is a great hole that will evoke strong reactions. 

[mike_beene]

I realize it is not last 30 years, but the 18th at Kapalua is seen by a lot of people and perhaps qualifies.

[Peter Pallotta]

“Iconic” is without any doubt the most overused word of the 21st century.

This is true. (I might have said 'very true', but never in a post to Dan K - who no doubt would mentally scratch out the 'very' while muttering, 'A statement is either true, or it's not true. Very has nothing to do with it, and has no place here'.) Which makes it even more remarkable that more modern golf holes haven't yet been deemed iconic!

[Mark Kiely]

Two in Mexico come to mind as possibilities for the "will reach" status: That cliffside green at Quivira or that peninsula par-3 at Danzante Bay. Seem to see pictures of those constantly. Unlikely to get much TV coverage, though.


Super gimmicky, but how about the floating green at Coeur d'Alene? Sounds like it opened exactly 30 years ago in 1991.

[David Jones]

If you extend it by a few years the 10th at the Belfry and the 17th at Valderrama have both got a lot of cut-through in Europe with a golf audience I imagine.


I don’t think there are many holes beyond the 17th at St Andrews that would ring any bells with non-golfers through. The Redan is an interesting case in point. While this little corner on the internet may know it well I wonder what percentage of Scottish golfers have even heard of it? 30% would be generous I reckon. As for non-golfers, sub 1%?!

[Anthony Gray]

16 at Bandon Dunes is the best example I can think of.  Iconic in the sense that some significant fraction of golfers have played it and it is a great hole that will evoke strong reactions.

 I wanted to go there “just to play that hole”. Could have just walked off after that.

[Anthony Gray]

“Iconic” is without any doubt the most overused word of the 21st century.

 Ditto

[Mark_Fine]

18 at Bay Hill and 18 at Torrey Pines South due to TV exposure. 

[Dale_McCallon]

I wouldn't call this hole "iconic", but the 13th at Tobacco Road certainly gets a lot of praise from the golf folks I follow on social media. 

[Niall C]

“Iconic” is without any doubt the most overused word of the 21st century.

"without any doubt" is possibly the most over used phrase of the 21st century.

Niall

[Mark_Fine]

Niall,
It is what it is 

[Kyle Harris]

“Iconic” is without any doubt the most overused word of the 21st century.

How so? It's accurate in many contexts, here.

Venerated symbol? Many golf courses can have these.

Now if you're talking about "epic" as overused...

[MCirba]

What about holes that are very iconic, Peter P.?

[Ira Fishman]

Hasn't the 16th at TPC Scottsdale become iconic? :-)

[Andrew Harvie]

I imagine Cabot Cliffs' 16th hole has a case in this discussion until it falls into the ocean

[Jeff_Brauer]

What about ironic holes?

[Adrian_Stiff]

From a European point of view and most photographed. In the last 50 years these spring to mind.


The hole at Vale de Lobo that plays across the cliffs (used to be 7) which is a bit disappointing when you play it.


The 17th at Valderama which is a bit disappointing when you play it.

The 10th at The belfry which is a bit disappointing when you play it.

The average golfers seem to love these holes. Iconic maybe but not really 'great'.

[Matt_Cohn]

The floating green at Coeur D'Alene and 18 at Kapalua are good calls. Everybody knows them. 16 at TPC Scottsdale is only iconic during the tournament. As a golf hole without any grandstands, I doubt 10% of golfers would recognize it.

[Ira Fishman]

The floating green at Coeur D'Alene and 18 at Kapalua are good calls. Everybody knows them. 16 at TPC Scottsdale is only iconic during the tournament. As a golf hole without any grandstands, I doubt 10% of golfers would recognize it.

Hence my smiley face.

[Jeff Schley]

I realize it is not last 30 years, but the 18th at Kapalua is seen by a lot of people and perhaps qualifies.

Actually it does for the next month.  Built in 1991 so you are good exactly 30 years.

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