Ranking my favorite holes at Pine Valley from 1-18

[cary lichtenstein]

I've played Pine Valley twice, easily my favorite course in the world. It's been many years, so my only good recollection is the 4th par 3 hole, what a bear.


If something could post picturtes, I'd love to print them out and read read all of these comments

[Mike Worth]

i’ve played the course 3 times


I don’t that permits me a hole-by-hole ranking - not enough plays (also perhaps I’m not high enough in the treehouse lol)


But taking from Archie and Tom Ws list - I agree with all of the comments, but I would rank #15 last. I see it the way Tom Doak does – – one has to hit the first 2 shots perfect or the result is a 7 (for me perhaps an 8 ).


I get everyone ranking #12 low but for me, the hole is fun and a chance to get a good score after perhaps getting beaten up on some of the previous holes


I would rank #13 higher.


And agree with Archie about #1 and 4

[Michael Felton]

I've played Pine Valley twice, easily my favorite course in the world. It's been many years, so my only good recollection is the 4th par 3 hole, what a bear.


If something could post picturtes, I'd love to print them out and read read all of these comments

Ran's course profile has a few - not great quality, but if you've been there they're enough to refresh the memory
https://golfclubatlas.com/countries/pine-valley-golf-club/


Also this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVL-gbO0fLU

[mike_malone]

I've played Pine Valley twice, easily my favorite course in the world. It's been many years, so my only good recollection is the 4th par 3 hole, what a bear.


If something could post picturtes, I'd love to print them out and read read all of these comments

Cary,
3 is a 3 and 5 is a 3   4 is a great par 4.

[Stewart Abramson]

If something could post picturtes, I'd love to print them out and read read all of these comments

Cary, Here's a link to PV photos.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157708879375691/


They are best viewed in full screen size on a monitor. Feel free to Download ands print,

[Stewart Abramson]

         1    yep number one is my favorite, at least today.  It sets the bar for the whole day. Be fearless and challenge the corner on
               the opening tee shot , don't want a long shot to this green


Pine Valley #1 from tee 


Pine Valley #1 challenging the corner unsuccessfully

        4      would have been my top choice if not for the "new" bunkers (25 years ago)  that changed the angle of the tee shot for
                 many!  Even so, too many great things going on here particularly the second shot


Pine Valley #4 from tee 


Pine Valley #4 from top of central bunkers 


       16     just so pretty walking down to the green with water everywhere!   also the scene of my favorite Ernie Ransome moment


Pine Valley #16  approach to green


       2       Is it the finest green out here , probably    Giant breaks in front and pernicious as hell in the back


      11     best cut-thru for caddies here and even on the hottest days there was a breeze ,  subtle genius in the design here

       
       9       the new addition of the skyline green (left)  made this one move up on the list....great two shotter


Pine Valley #9  approach 

      13     gotta stripe the tee shot right of center


Pine Valley #13 from tee 

and then the splendor of the second shot opens to the eye 



Pine Valley #13 h approach 
       
     
      5        one of the best par threes on the planet , so it has to get some respect. Green demands your full attention

 

Pine Valley #5 par 3 zoomed 

     
      15     it is so hard to build a fortress par five, particularly now that distance is out of control ..... still valid today as a three                                  shot hole....green is so difficult that many a great round ends here


Pine Valley #15 from tee par 5 


Pine Valley #15 par 5 


Pine Valley #15 pitch to green 
       
       8      how could I wait so long....in Crump Cup qualifier might be the scariest par


Pine Valley #8 from tee


Pine Valley #8 h approach note alternate green 


       18    awesome finishing hole where despite it's difficulty you can make a birdie (or double) 


Pine Valley #18 from tee 


Pine Valley #18  approach 



       7       Hell's Half Acre is the defining feature here , the longest hole on a course where distance isn't the most important skill


Pine Valley #7 par 5 second shot hell's galf acre 
       
       3        two disparate sections to this downhill par three , so get your yardage right


Pine Valley #3 par 3 

       
        6        bite off as much as you like on this  "Cape"  hole but maybe a three wood a better option with the new tee, miss Alec
                  Ewing to this day! 


Pine Valley #6 from middle tee 


       
       17       the new tee a great add on , before that the easiest hole on the course , in match play a pivotal hole in high level                                 matches


Pine Valley #17 from tee 


Pine Valley #17 h approach from right side of fairway

       10        there is another bunker lurking left on this hole that is unmentionable too   


Pine Valley #10 par 3 

        14        if it's even a little windy never wanted to hit first here


Pine Valley #14 par 3 




        12        beautiful little par four with a green that slopes away , have to hit your tee shot long and right to get an easy angle                 
   
Pine Valley #12 from tee 


Pine Valley #12 pitch to green

       

Cary, I added a few photos to Archie's initial post

[MCirba]

Which of these looks out of place above?   

[archie_struthers]

 


Mike , it almost brings me to tears. Had they just cut down all the trees on the left and exposed the existing "pots" and crevasses it would have been brilliant. But the rest of the pictures are just fabulous and thanks to Stewart for posting them!

[MCirba]

Mike , it almost brings me to tears. Had they just cut down all the trees on the left and exposed the existing "pots" and crevasses it would have been brilliant. But the rest of the pictures are just fabulous and thanks to Stewart for posting them!

Archie. Yep.


It looks about as natural as Carson Kressley's face these days.

[mike_malone]

Stewart,


 That’s a great set of photos.

[archie_struthers]

 


Surprised not more love for #15 as it’s such a good par five. As many have said it’s just so difficult many don’t like it .


The tee shot is fairly easy except for the visual. Once you hit it out there pretty good it does get pretty tricky .  The second shot makes you hit it way left despite the hole being straight as everything rolls hard and to the right if you don’t know the drill. I never hit it far enough to try to hit it at the green so often my lay-up was 180-200 yard shot.  It it must be left of center


The third shot is tough too , as the distance must be right and you really have to hit it left of center on the free as it’s canted pretty hard except in the quadrant back left .  Moreover it’s a tougher than normal Pine Valley green so you know what that means.




Still despite its difficulty it’s not just a brutish hole and you can play it low to the ground it’s ok too.  So for that reason I’m liking it more than some here. Sure as hell it’s no easy par though

[Joe Bausch]

Stewart’s photos are sublime.

You may also like the PV photos under construction album I created years ago. Pics have been cropped and cleaned up a bit for your viewing pleasure!

Go here:

https://www.myphillygolf.com/uploads/archives/PineValleyconstructionphotos/index.html

[MCirba]

Surprised not more love for #15 as it’s such a good par five. As many have said it’s just so difficult many don’t like it .


The tee shot is fairly easy except for the visual. Once you hit it out there pretty good it does get pretty tricky .  The second shot makes you hit it way left despite the hole being straight as everything rolls hard and to the right if you don’t know the drill. I never hit it far enough to try to hit it at the green so often my lay-up was 180-200 yard shot.  It it must be left of center


The third shot is tough too , as the distance must be right and you really have to hit it left of center on the free as it’s canted pretty hard except in the quadrant back left .  Moreover it’s a tougher than normal Pine Valley green so you know what that means.




Still despite its difficulty it’s not just a brutish hole and you can play it low to the ground it’s ok too.  So for that reason I’m liking it more than some here. Sure as hell it’s no easy par though

Archie,


People are complaining because a par five is too hard??


What a novel concept!! 

[archie_struthers]

 


It’s really hard to design a par five that has three shots that require your full attention, maybe four for some of our players. It’s not as if theres  a crazy forced carry anywhere. It’s one of the few holes that doesn’t require you to hit it high so I really like it !   Many ways to play it

[MCirba]

It’s really hard to design a par five that has three shots that require your full attention, maybe four for some of our players. It’s not as if theres  a crazy forced carry anywhere. It’s one of the few holes that doesn’t require you to hit it high so I really like it !   Many ways to play it

That's for sure, Archie.

[Tim Martin]

It’s really hard to design a par five that has three shots that require your full attention, maybe four for some of our players. It’s not as if theres  a crazy forced carry anywhere. It’s one of the few holes that doesn’t require you to hit it high so I really like it !   Many ways to play it

I like 15 and wonder how many scorecards beside Pine Valley have the number 1 handicap hole on both sides as a par 5? Two very different holes that play difficult without the usual respite commonly associated with par 5’s.

[archie_struthers]

 


Hey Tim , when they  played the Crump qualifier there invariably #'s 1 and 5 graded out tougher than 7 on the front. Fifteen definitely was the toughest on the back. As a caddie I would also think that #7 would be easier for most of the guys as if they hit a bad tee shot you could bump it out to the end of the fairway and play for a bogey.


There is no defense on #5 , unless you adopted the the Warner Shelley theory and hit it short of the road and then onto the putting surface.He made an occasional three, but very few unmentionables. He won that hole more than he lost it. As to #1 , it requires a lot of game right out of the box and you can't fake it , good drive and second are mandatory. Might take par on #8 if you got a free pass to choose one to skip, we've talked about Joel Hirsch here already> nuff said



This summer lets figure out a Jersey Shore get together , with golf and a little light drinking and eating also. My friend and fellow golf member Conn Mcmullen and family own the Anglesea Pub in North Wildwood. e could convene there on their new outside deck and bar and tell some lies about our golf!   You and I can take the lead on putting it together if you want. Would be a hoot!

[Tim Martin]

Hey Tim , when they  played the Crump qualifier there invariably #'s 1 and 5 graded out tougher than 7 on the front. Fifteen definitely was the toughest on the back. As a caddie I would also think that #7 would be easier for most of the guys as if they hit a bad tee shot you could bump it out to the end of the fairway and play for a bogey.


There is no defense on #5 , unless you adopted the the Warner Shelley theory and hit it short of the road and then onto the putting surface.He made an occasional three, but very few unmentionables. He won that hole more than he lost it. As to #1 , it requires a lot of game right out of the box and you can't fake it , good drive and second are mandatory. Might take par on #8 if you got a free pass to choose one to skip, we've talked about Joel Hirsch here already> nuff said



This summer lets figure out a Jersey Shore get together , with golf and a little light drinking and eating also. My friend and fellow golf member Conn Mcmullen and family own the Anglesea Pub in North Wildwood. e could convene there on their new outside deck and bar and tell some lies about our golf!   You and I can take the lead on putting it together if you want. Would be a hoot!

Archie-Despite what the card says I can see 1 and 5 meting out more pain than 7 from a scoring average perspective. I would love to get some guys together this coming Summer and carry out your plan as you know all the best courses and places to eat and drink on the shore. As an aside I was lucky enough to play Galloway last month and as usual you were correct that the golf course is terrific and I had “Joey G” on the bag who made the day. The course grabbed a spot as one of my favorite moderns and hopefully the next play will have you in the group. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

[archie_struthers]

 


Awesome Tim,  Galloway is way underrated !   Really beautiful with some difficulty to boot!

[David Amarnek]

Regarding #15.  I've been playing Pine Valley for years and saw my first birdie on that hole this year; it came from one of my Sunningdale buddies who was over to play in Philly and LI.  I don't think I've ever had a par there.