18 thoughts, observations and reflections on 18 special holes played in 2023
- The opening hole at Chicago Golf Club is a glorious combination of all that the experience there offers. The tee is thrust in the heart of everything. Proximity to the open-air patio, practice putting green, 18th green and the cross walk to the driving range. The hole has big width off the tee and the approach to the first green provides a welcome to the greatest set of greens complexes in America. It’s a top 10 opener in golf.
- The 2nd hole at Somerset Hills is a beautiful redan Par 3. The tilt from front right to back left is bold. The vastness of the front nine is on full display from the tee and you can see almost every hole on the opening nine from the 2nd tee. This was my first trip to this wonderful place and the contrast between the two nines is outstanding.
- The 3rd hole at Sweetens Cove plays along the perimeter of the property of one of America’s finest fun factories. You can view all the holes from this corner of the property and the big tree guarding the left side of the green is one of the club’s true landmarks. The severe slope fronting the green embodies what Sweetens is and the green complex is a violent sea of contour.
- The 4th hole at Ohoopee is the 3rd straight “half par” designed by Gil Hanse and the cavemen. The short 4 begs you to challenge the fairway bunker on the left and catch the speed slot to possibly chase your tee shot onto the green. The green itself is filthy with roll and tilt going in all directions. This hole sums up making choices and living with them.
- Upon reflecting on all the par 4 5th holes I played this year I think it is the absolute deepest catalogue of majestic holes. I chose the 5th at Crystal Downs because I can’t stop thinking about it. The trees that frame the fairway. The fairway itself which is presented like the spine of a gigantic rhinoceros and the green complex that requires a thorough examination. It’s simply an all-time hole design from Alistair Mackenzie. Other amazing 5th holes played in 2023… “the 5ths” at Pine Valley, Lookout Mountain, Fishers Island, Old Town, and Cypress Point.
- The par 4 6th hole at Seminole is the apex of Donald Ross’ expertise as an architect. The challenging of trouble down the left side, very close to the massive bunker that frames that side of the hole to the left to right contour of the fairway. The approach is mind manipulation. You can’t believe how much deeper the green is on the right-hand side compared to the front left portion. It is no wonder Ben Hogan had such reference for the hole. Exacting and unforgiving.
- The par 5 7th hole, the Road Hole, at National Golf Links is so damn good you want to walk back to the tee and play it again over and over. Its Macdonald showing off an understanding of the template hole that mesmerizes the player. The trust required for your blind tee shot to the road bunker that protects the left portion of the green. I played it this year with three friends who were seeing it for the first time and one of them said, walking off the green, “that hole is simply amazing”.
- The short par 4 8th at Pine Valley has always been one of my favorites in golf. The first time I played it the “right green” had not yet been built. Both greens are a sliver from left to right and even with a half wedge in your hand for your second the perched up green looks like a shrunken postage stamp. Surrounded by cavernous bunkers it sums up the mind fuck that Pine Valley is likely to be, either in a moment or for the round.
- The par 5 9th at San Francisco Golf Club is a downhill 615-yard hole from the back tees. I have always believed SFGC is the most refined experience in American golf. The optics of the 9th include the regal clubhouse, beautiful Tillinghast bunkering and a walk that showcases almost every hole in your panoramic from the middle of the fairway.
- The par 5 10th at Lookout Mountain is a mind-numbing display of contour, elevation and the majesty that has been reclaimed by Tyler Rae and Kyle Franz with the restoration of the original intent of Seth Raynor. The scale of the hole is spectacular and the view from the tee and eventually the green might be the best on this amazing piece of land.
- The par 3 11th at Fishers Island is Seth Raynor’s application of the Eden hole at this 1926 showstopper. The entire experience is one of one and there are at least six holes at Fishers that could be identified as the best of its numerical fraternity. The 11th measures 164 from the back tee and the green has an infinity look with the ocean right and beyond the green. This is arguably the most picturesque golf course in the country and this hole captures it perfectly.
- The par 5 12th hole at Congaree is a sweeping right to left hole that showcases all that Congaree presents. The razor edges of the waste areas right and left frame the fairway and the continued motion from right to left persists until you get within 120 yards of the green. The green complex sits in its surrounds so expertly you’d think nature created it. The homage to the Sandbelt of Australia is on full display with the greenside bunkering and the pitch of the green from back to front is sinister.
- The par 5 13th at Old Sandwich plays 560 yards from the back tee with a downhill fairway cascading toward the green. The beautiful naturally sandy areas frame the hole majestically with the dense forest to the right. The greenside bunkering is sublime and Coore/Crenshaw set the green into the hillside masterfully. The use of the ground game is on display here as much as anywhere at this incredible Plymouth, MA playground.
- The short par 4 14th hole at Old Town designed by Perry Maxwell and restored by Coore/Crenshaw is a genius display of deception. The back bunker behind the green on the right-hand side appears to be short of the green and the framing bunker on the 7th hole way in the distance is an example of design principles taken to a higher level. The green melts from right to left and seeing the green once you reach the 16th green gives you an even greater appreciation of its setting.
- The par 4 15th at CapRock Ranch is the final episode of sensory overload you’ll experience on one of America’s finest new golf courses. From the tee you leave the prairie for the last time and play down to the Snake River canyon. The view once you reach the green is one of the most spectacular in the world. The short and natural walk off the back of the green onto the 16th tee is subtle and sensational. Stay tuned to 5Clubs for our new show that will introduce so many to CapRock Ranch.
- The par 3 16th at Cypress Point is arguably the most majestic and powerful view in the world of golf. To play it fills me with immense gratitude as the walk is almost over but not before you have your breath taken away. It’s quite simply perfection in a very imperfect game.
- The par 3 17th’s at both Tree Farm and Old Barnwell deserve to share this recognition together. Both holes measure between 120 and 135 yards on the card. Employing cavernous bunkering guarding the left of 17 at Old Barnwell and the right at Tree Farm the hole only asks for a short iron but the look of both is rugged and righteous. These two courses have almost identical born on dates and they will grow together as two very special places nestled near Aiken, SC.
- The par 4 18th at Shinnecock Hills is the quintessential closing hole on one of America’s truly great championship golf courses. The broad sweeping hole plays up to the green with the elegant Stanford White clubhouse perched at the top of the hill to the right of the green. This hole is the culmination of one of the most rewarding and enjoyable walks in golf.