Favourite Hole

[TonyN]

Ok guys (and Gals) on the way back from Greece i was sitting on the plane thinking of what my favourite hole was.

I was torn between our 17th par 3 signature hole 'The Island' and our par 5 14th 'Valley'

I always love playing the 14th because it gives me great pleasure when I do well. I know its a tough hole in the most perfect of conditions so when the elements are laughing down on you, its not always a bad thing to walk away with a 6.

On the other hand the 17th is a great hole to play, and dropping one in the middle of the green on a good day can really boost your moral after the worst round imaginable.
Yesterday I hit a great 8 iron in with a cracking draw and watched as it landed pin high

So my idea for the post was this.

Whats your favourite hole? and how do you like to play it?

If you can , provide pictures. It might take a while to get this thread going but wouldn't it be great to have a collection of everyones best?

I will start to give you an idea. I decided on the 14th.

Facing 480 yards normally into a strong head wind the tee shot is best placed on the left hand side of the Valley avoiding the bunkers, I like to start out right and draw the ball slightly. Anything less than perfect and you can kiss goodbye to the par most days. A decent drive will leave me with roughly 250 to go.

This is a view from behind the green

The second shot I always take an 8 iron to leave 120 for the approach which looks like this

For the approach I just like to aim for the back of the centre of the green. Anything short and I am normally looking at an 8. Nice 2 putt for par and I am happy.

I have birdied this hole once but the wind was with me. I took driver 7 iron lobwedge to 2 ft for a tap in. I doubt I will do that again in a long while.

Just to give you a peek Here is a pic of the Island.

Not in great condition at the moment as you can see but always a pleasure!

Looking forward to everyone elses!

 

[thecraw]

Looks like a nice moorland track.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Nice looking hole Tony. Those bunker are quite intimidating if your club selection is slightly out.
You've inspired me to get the camera out and get some players perspective of my course. There's plenty on t'internet but none that give you the golfer eye view if you like.
I'll get them on as soon as.

Good idea for a thread.

 

[Dodger]

Can you not knock down those bloody pylons??!!
Great stuff.

 

[haplesshacker]

I hope I haven't found it yet, as it's one of the reasons to go and visit other courses, and keep playing.

 

[TonyN]

Craw, having never played a links, I always thought my course was quite similar, terrain, rough, pot bunkers etc, what do you think?

Dodger your spot on, those blody Pilons ruin the place, whats worse, the power station is located between the 16th green and the 17th tee. Hopefully the planted tree's will mask them in a few years! Untill then, the best I could do is photoshop

Hapless- you must have a current favourite?

 

[haplesshacker]

TonyN.

Yep I probably do.

Favourite to play or favourite to look at. They're 2 different things. Anyway I couln't do it justice in words, and I don't have any pictures. I'll have to remember to take some next weekend.

 

[peteward15]

My favourite hole has got to be the 7th on the Marquess at Woburn.

Its a Par 5 measuring in at 482 from the Yellows and 510 off the whites and 538 from the Blues.

The hole is a classic. From the tee you have 2 choices. The hole has 2 fairways which are seperated by 10 huge pine trees. The right hand side route offers a flat fairway and a more direct route to the green. If you catch your drive solid you can then take a 2 iron or fairway wood over a ravine to the green.

Take the left hand fairway and you will more than likely have a hanging lie for your second but a safer 3 shot route to the green.

Aim straight down the middle and you will likely catch the pines and be done for.

Below is an image of the approach from the left hand fairway. This is where you would play in from if you take the left hand fairway and lay up to around 110yards.

The green is surrounded by 3 large bukers and the obligatory pines to the left hand side.

Its a brilliant hole that offers everything you could want. A classic risk with reward hole.

 

[TonyN]

Anybody been out snapping? Nobody else care to share there fave holes, with or without pics?

 

[John_Findlay]

I'm a sucker for a good par 3, Tony. I love picturesque little holes where you're hitting over a dip or ravine to greens with slopes and bunkers around. Something where only a perfectly struck shot will do. Here are 3 of my favourites I've played.

This is at Cruden Bay. Not sure which hole, somehwere on the front 9. Tricky slopes all around, lots of wind to help you misjudge the distance and a nice view. If you're a foot short of the green you'll roll back to 40 yards away.

The 6th at Royal Dornoch this time. Evil. Hard, fast, narrow green with huge slope to the right, bunkers left and short. Whins, gorse you name it. If you miss the green anywhere you're doing well to get a 5. Only a perfectly struck iron will do.

The 8th at my old home course, Nairn Dunbar. A bowl green with a big slope at the front past the bunkers, gorse and whins left, right and long. There's even a burn. It's a great hole from the raised medal tees which make it around 170 yards. Very picturesque and always a joy to play. Many a lost ball here.

 

[TonyN]

Great stuff John, really like the first one. Defo the one I would choose. That second one looks menacing. And the 3rd? well I cant really see it for that bright purple brolly, what that all about

 

[John_Findlay]

The brolly ain't mine, Tony. Can't take the blame for that one. That's my pal, Pete, swinging and it's his firm's corporate colours (lawyers!). On the plus side he'll never get run over in a rainstorm with that up.

 

[krokodil]

My favourite hole has got to be the 7th on the Marquess at Woburn.

Its a Par 5 measuring in at 482 from the Yellows and 510 off the whites and 538 from the Blues.

The hole is a classic. From the tee you have 2 choices. The hole has 2 fairways which are seperated by 10 huge pine trees. The right hand side route offers a flat fairway and a more direct route to the green. If you catch your drive solid you can then take a 2 iron or fairway wood over a ravine to the green.

Take the left hand fairway and you will more than likely have a hanging lie for your second but a safer 3 shot route to the green.

Aim straight down the middle and you will likely catch the pines and be done for.

Below is an image of the approach from the left hand fairway. This is where you would play in from if you take the left hand fairway and lay up to around 110yards.

The green is surrounded by 3 large bukers and the obligatory pines to the left hand side.

Its a brilliant hole that offers everything you could want. A classic risk with reward hole.

That's a great looking hole Pete, I'm a sucker for a picturesque golf hole.

 

[krokodil]

John,

The first two are crackers.

This is a great thread-I'm going to get the camera out and see what I can do.

 

[cm_qs]

My favourite holes are :

The 9th at Polkemmet ( a 9 hole municipal course in West Lothian ) - Short par 3 from an elevated tee over a valley (complete with burn) to a green surrounded by Rhodedendrons. The closest you'll ever get to Augusta for £6 a round.

The 4th at Hoddom Castle in Dumfries and Galloway - for purely sentimental reasons - it's where I proposed to mrs. craigmitchell_qs.

 

[John_Findlay]

It wasn't the best of photos of the 8th, krokodil. Here's a better one of the green which is where all the trouble lies (as usual).

 

[Dodger]

Ah, Royal Dornoch.....cant wait I'll be there next Friday....might just take my camera too,had 18 at my home club this morning and the light would have made for good pics,missed a trick there!

 

[John_Findlay]

The 4th at Hoddom Castle in Dumfries and Galloway - for purely sentimental reasons - it's where I proposed to mrs. craigmitchell_qs.

Pure style, Craig, bagging a birdie so early in the round! Y'old romantic, you.

 

[krokodil]

John, from the looks of it you'd have to be so accurate with your tee shot, and that green looks like it could steal 3 putts from you!

 

[krokodil]

Craig, from your neck of the woods I thought the 3rd at Strathclyde Park would be top of the list!!