Favourite first hole in golf

[Deleted member 18645]

I'll echo the votes for the Old Course St.Andrews and Machrihanish as well. Stockley Park used to have the hardest 1st hole I had ever seen until they ruined the course a few years back by putting that poxy driving range in.

 

[Joff]

I love the opening hole at St. Mellion (Nicklaus)

 

[Swingalot]

The 1st on the International @ London Club. Big par 5 over the hill and then down to a green that is almost surrounded by water so your 3rd is normally a short pitch over the lake. Tests the nerves early on and gives you a feel for the course early on.

 

[pokerjoke]

I Like Bearwood Lakes not necessary the hole itself but the whole outlook and scenery on a sunny day just stunning.

 

[Crawfy]

Whatever course I am playing first on my summer holidays. As it's taken a year of hard work to get me and the family there...and standing on the 1st tee is my wee treat.

 

[Jacko_G]

Not a fan of par 3's to start.

Agree with Machrihanish as the setting and location is superb. Rewards a good drive. I'll throw out a random one here. First at East Renfrewshire is a great hole in my opinion.

 

[rickg]

Obviously biased towards Centurions 1st.......love the setting and the view and the anticipation of a good round.

Other favourites......West Hill, Camberley, Royal Lytham, Hindhead

 

[Birchy]

Castle stuart
Silloth
West lancs

 

[Smiffy]

Crowborough Beacon.
Needs a fair old oink to carry the heather, and the green is sloping away from you for your second shot.
You have to know how to play it, but it's a great hole.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Any first hole, a round of golf is beginning!

 

[Fish]

Love the opening hole on both courses at Saunton - two brilliant par 4s.

Yep, hard to remember all the courses I've played but yes, Saunton's East off the whites is a great first hole and a very daunting tee shot.

 

[MendieGK]

Like the firsts at Hankley and Hindhead. Also the first at Rusper, a driveable par 4. Fav though is probably Royal Birkdale.

Bit shocked that people think the first at hindhead is a great hole. In comparison to the rest of the front 9 it's probably the worst imo.

1st on the east @ Saunton, now that's a proper golf hole.

Moortown and Alwoodley also have great Opening holes

 

[Smiffy]

Bit shocked that people think the first at hindhead is a great hole. In comparison to the rest of the front 9 it's probably the worst imo.

I thought that too, but didn't want to say anything!!
Big oink down the left hand side and it runs and runs.
Nothing special.

 

[Imurg]

Bit shocked that people think the first at hindhead is a great hole. In comparison to the rest of the front 9 it's probably the worst imo.

1st on the east @ Saunton, now that's a proper golf hole.

Moortown and Alwoodley also have great Opening holes

Not about "great" holes though...its about favourite hole - not necessarily the same thing.

 

[patricks148]

not sure i have a favorite 1st hole, but i like the first a Royal Dornoch as its usually the only par i get there

 

[Duckster]

I wouldn't say Allwoodley's opener was great, thought it's just a nice start but the course only really kicks in after that. Same sentiments to Hillside.

I'm a fan of Silloth's opener and Gullane #1 but think my favourite 1st hole is at The Roxburghe. Nicely framed fairway, lovely green and a couple of well positioned bunkers.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Kings Course Gleneagles for me as a starter + 18th at Sunningdale Old for pudding.

 

[Break90]

My favourite 1st hole is at the Old Course at Vilamoura.

Not particularly long (350ish iirc), downhill par 4, trees lining both sides, green bunkered left and right. Visually stunning, and the start to a round at one of my top 3 courses anywhere.

 

[Berger]

1st hole at Portstewart (Strand). Par 4, dogleg right from an elevated tee with fantastic views out over the Irish Sea. As seen at the start of the video Mark Crossfield done at Portstewart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=365RZQmtpVY

 

[Jimaroid]

I'm not an extensively travelled golfer but it can only be the Old Course for me. It's not a hard hole but even so I've gone off the tee OOB right, left, come up short of Granny Clarks and I've driven into the Swilcan burn on numerous occasions; knowing how fast the fairway is running is often the difference between perfect position and disaster. As for the second shot... Ask Tiger what's the difference between birdie and bogey from perfect position on the 1st. :whoo:

It's as easy to play the hole badly as it is to play it well, the sense of place and occasion is more significant than the difficulty of the first shot and it always makes my spine tingle. I love it.