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DREAM 18

I've seen this elsewhere where people create a "dream" golf course made up of their favorite holes and really liked the idea.  The only rules are that each hole needs to be the same hole number from a course, and I cannot use more than one hole from any course.

 

I ended up creating a course that reflects a lot of my favorite holes I've played but isn't strictly based on ranking.  My goal was to create a course with variety that highlights my favorite type of golf and represents some of my favorite places.  The section below summarizes my options for each hole and an explanation for the holes I ended up selecting.

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Hole 1

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Highland Course at Primland Hole 1, Par 5 (Overall Rank #1)

  2. Tot Hill Farm Hole 1, Par 4 (Overall Rank #38)

  3. Marquette (Greywalls) Hole 1, Par 5 (Overall Rank #39)

  4. Royal New Kent Hole 1, Par 4 (Overall Rank #60)

  5. Tobacco Road Hole 1, Par 5 (Overall Rank #104)

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Selection:  Tot Hill Farm Hole 1, Par 4

Although the first hole at Primland is my favorite hole ever, I think the first hole of my dream 18 needs to set the tone for what to expect.  When I looked at my top 5 favorite starting holes, what really stood out was that 3 of the top 5 are Mike Strantz courses, so I think I have to honor him here.  The first hole at Tot Hill Farm is one of the craziest holes I’ve played.  The tee shot is severely downhill to a semi-blind fairway with wild contouring, and the approach shot plays to a green with a huge bank right and water left.  It truly sets the tone for the wild ride to come at Tot Hill Farm, and I want it to set the tone for this course as well.

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Hole 2

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Nemacolin (Mystic Rock) Hole 2, Par 4 (Overall Rank #6)

  2. Giants Ridge (Quarry) Hole 2, Par 5 (Overall Rank #13)

  3. Golden Horseshoe (Gold) Hole 2, Par 5 (Overall Rank #18)

  4. The Highland Course at Primland Hole 2, Par 3 (Overall Rank #21)

  5. Tot Hill Farm Hole 2, Par 4 (Overall Rank #96)

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Selection:  Nemacolin (Mystic Rock) Hole 2, Par 4

The second hole at Nemacolin is my first ever favorite golf hole.  It is a longer par 4 through the woods with some subtle land movement and an interesting green.  A more aggressive tee shot can cut off more of the hazard and leave a shorter distance in to the green.  The thing I like the most about it is how perfectly it fits the land and scenery.  If I were to go back and play Nemacolin again for the first time now, I don't know if this would be one of my favorite holes ever, but it holds some sentimental value and I want to include it in my dream golf course.

Hole 3

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Tot Hill Farm Hole 3, Par 3 (Overall Rank #10)

  2. St. Andrews Beach Hole 3, Par 4 (Overall Rank #23)

  3. King Island Golf & Bowling Club Hole 3, Par 3 (Overall Rank #25)

  4. Kingston Heath Hole 3, Par 4 (Overall Rank #44)

  5. Royal Melbourne (West) Hole 3, Par 4 (Overall Rank #46)

 

Selection:  King Island Golf & Bowling Club Hole 3, Par 3

There are a lot of courses with excellent third holes, with 8 ranking in my top 100.  That makes this decision a little tough.  I’ve already taken a hole from Tot Hill Farm, and even though the third hole at St. Andrews Beach is one of my absolute favorites, I’ll go with the third hole at King Island Golf & Bowling Club.  This hole is up there as one of the most aesthetic holes I’ve ever played.  It is a short to midlength downhill par 3 to a green set directly in front of the Southern Ocean.  It feels like you are on the edge of the world, and the journey to get there and pure feeling of isolation make this one of my favorite places ever and a perfect addition to my dream 18.

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Hole 4

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay Hole 4, Par 4 (Overall Rank #22)

  2. Southern Pines Golf Club Hole 4, Par 4 (Overall Rank #29)

  3. Barnbougle (Dunes) Hole 4, Par 4 (Overall Rank #40)

  4. Sand Valley (The Lido) Hole 4, Par 4 (Overall Rank #43)

  5. Bethpage State Park (Black) Hole 4, Par 5 (Overall Rank #45)

 

Selection:  Wilderness at Fortune Bay Hole 4, Par 4

There are a lot of good candidates for the fourth hole.  I’m picking the fourth at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay.  This hole is in the middle of an awesome opening stretch that really caught me off guard.  The aesthetic and remoteness of the course is one thing, but there are several extremely interesting and architecturally unique golf holes in this stretch, possibly the best of which is the fourth hole.  It has a split fairway with the right fairway requiring a more aggressive tee shot over a rock face but leaving an easier approach to a semi-punchbowl green.  I really enjoyed this course and this hole is one of my favorites I've played.

Hole 5

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Royal Melbourne (West) Hole 5, Par 3 (Overall Rank #3)

  2. Barnbougle (Dunes) Hole 5, Par 3 (Overall Rank #8)

  3. Nemacolin (Mystic Rock) Hole 5, Par 5 (Overall Rank #20)

  4. Tot Hill Farm Hole 5, Par 5 (Overall Rank #26)

  5. Giants Ridge (Quarry) Hole 5, Par 5 (Overall Rank #41)

 

Selection:  Royal Melbourne (West) Hole 5, Par 3

There are 12 fifth holes in my overall top 100, the most out of any hole.  However, this wasn’t a very difficult decision.  The fifth hole at Barnbougle (Dunes) is a spectacular par 3, but the fifth at RM West is possibly my favorite hole ever.  I had heard so much about it and seen so many pictures before actually playing it, but when I stepped up to the tee it still completely blew me away.  The bunkering and greensite are truly spectacular, and I am very happy to include this in my Dream 18.

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Hole 6

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Pinehurst No. 10 Hole 6, Par 4 (Overall Rank #12)

  2. Cape Kidnappers Hole 6, Par 3 (Overall Rank #15)

  3. St. Andrews Beach Hole 6, Par 3 (Overall Rank #16)

  4. Royal Melbourne (West) Hole 6, Par 4 (Overall Rank #33)

  5. Marquette (Greywalls) Hole 6, Par 3 (Overall Rank #58)

 

Selection:  Pinehurst No. 10 Hole 6, Par 4

The first 6 holes at Pinehurst No. 10 are awesome, and the 6th hole is my favorite of them all.  It is a challenging long dogleg right par 4 with a fairway that perfectly hugs the land as it dips downhill then back uphill to a great green.  I think it is the most natural hole on the course, and I am a big fan of strong par 4s that make sense and fit the landscape.

Hole 7

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Cape Kidnappers Hole 7, Par 4 (Overall Rank #11)

  2. Marquette (Greywalls) Hole 7, Par 4 (Overall Rank #14)

  3. Te Arai (South) Hole 7, Par 5 (Overall Rank #69)

  4. Belvedere Hole 7, Par 4 (Overall Rank #86)

  5. Stonehouse Hole 7, Par 5 (Overall Rank #121)

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Selection:  Cape Kidnappers Hole 7, Par 4

​This was a tough decision between Cape Kidnappers and Greywalls.  Both are spectacular and unique par 4s.  I ended up choosing a different Greywalls hole and slotting in the 7th at Cape Kidnappers here.  This hole is an inland par 4 playing back downhill into a funnel-like fairway between two mounds/hills/dunes.  The fairway dips down into a speed slot, then rises back uphill to an awesome elevated green complex pitched severely back to front.  This was my favorite hole at Cape Kidnappers despite not being on the cliffs, and it is one of my favorite par 4s anywhere.

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Hole 8

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Pinehurst No. 2 Hole 8, Par 5 (Overall Rank #32)

  2. Highland Course at Primland Hole 8, Par 3 (Overall Rank #91)

  3. Ocean Dunes Hole 8, Par 3 (Overall Rank #115)

  4. Erin Hills Hole 8, Par 4 (Overall Rank #118)

  5. Te Arai (South) Hole 8, Par 3 (Overall Rank #196)

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Selection:  Pinehurst No. 2 Hole 8, Par 5

There is a relatively weak grouping of great eighth holes in the courses that I’ve played, with only 2 top 100 holes among them.  The eighth hole at Pinehurst No. 2 is a very good hole, with really cool ground movement on the fairway and an approach to an incredible green complex.  For the first par 5 on my Dream 18, this is a good one.

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(Hole 7 at Pinehurst No. 2 is shown, I don't have a picture of hole 8)

Hole 9

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Tobacco Road Hole 9, Par 4 (Overall Rank #30)

  2. Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point Hole 9, Par 4 (Overall Rank #61)

  3. Nemacolin (Mystic Rock) Hole 9, Par 4 (Overall Rank #62)

  4. Cape Wickham Hole 9, Par 5 (Overall Rank #82)

  5. Marquette (Greywalls) Hole 9, Par 4 (Overall Rank #94)

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Selection:  Tobacco Road Hole 9, Par 4

​The ninth hole at Tobacco Road is one of the craziest par 4s I've ever seen.  It is a dogleg left par 4 with the fairway sloped severely opposite the dogleg.  The green is set at the top of the hill with a bank left and a 30 foot deep bunker right.  The hole perfectly encapsulates Tobacco Road, which is one of my favorite courses, and adds another challenging par 4 to close out the front nine of my Dream 18.

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(Hole 13 shown, I do not have a picture of hole 9)

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Hole 10

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Pine Needles Hole 10, Par 5 (Overall Rank #24)

  2. Sand Valley (The Lido) Hole 10, Par 4 (Overall Rank #42)

  3. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) Hole 10, Par 4 (Overall Rank #99)

  4. Saucon Valley CC (Old) Hole 10, Par 4 (Overall Rank #109)

  5. Royal Melbourne (West) Hole 10, Par 4 (Overall Rank #139)

 

Selection:  Pine Needles Hole 10, Par 5

The 10th hole at Pine Needles is one of my favorite par 5s anywhere.  The hole is a dogleg left from an elevated tee box with great bunkering and an uphill approach to a spectacular green complex.  It is challenging but gettable, and a great way to start the back nine.

Hole 11

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Tobacco Road Hole 11, Par 5 (Overall Rank #2)

  2. Arrowtown GC Hole 11, Par 5 (Overall Rank #5)

  3. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) Hole 11 Par 5 (Overall Rank #19)

  4. Aronimink Hole 11, Par 4 (Overall Rank #36)

  5. Ocean Dunes Hole 11, Par 4 (Overall Rank #47)

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Selection:  Arrowtown GC Hole 11, Par 5

This one was a tough decision between Tobacco Road and Arrowtown.  In the end, I decided that I need to have the 11th hole at Arrowtown in my course.  This hole is one of the most unique and thought provoking holes I’ve played, and requires you to eventually take on the hard shot.  It is a perfect mix of strategy, quirk, and rugged aesthetic.

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Hole 12

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Erin Hills Hole 12, Par 4 (Overall Rank #35)

  2. Sand Valley (The Lido) Hole 12, Par 4 (Overall Rank #37)

  3. Lehigh CC Hole 12, Par 4 (Overall Rank #50)

  4. Giants Ridge (Quarry) Hole 12, Par 4 (Overall Rank #65)

  5. Sand Valley (Sand Valley) Hole 12, Par 5 (Overall Rank #76)

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Selection:  Lehigh CC Hole 12, Par 4

Lehigh CC is a course that has a lot of sentimental value to me and is the course that I’ve played by far the most in my life.  It is also a spectacular course, and I need to have it represented in my Dream 18.  The 12th hole at Lehigh is a beautiful dogleg left par 4 that follows a creek to the left with the fairway sitting perfectly between a hill right and the creek left.  It fits so naturally into the environment and is a great hole to play.

Hole 13

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Ocean Dunes Hole 13, Par 4 (Overall Rank #4)

  2. Giants Ridge (Quarry) Hole 13, Par 4 (Overall Rank #17)

  3. Te Arai (South) Hole 13, Par 5 (Overall Rank #31)

  4. Homestead (Cascades) Hole 13, Par 4 (Overall Rank #48)

  5. Bulle Rock Hole 13, Par 4 (Overall Rank #13)

 

Selection:  Ocean Dunes Hole 13, Par 4

This was one of the few easy decisions for me.  When I first saw the 13th hole at Ocean Dunes, I thought it was so awesome that it made me laugh.  It is a driveable uphill par 4 with the green benched into a tall dune to the right.  Once you reach the crazy green, you have panoramic views of the Southern Ocean.  It is a perfectly aesthetic hole that is very fun to play, and adds a driveable par 4 to my course.

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Hole 14

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Tobacco Road Hole 14, Par 3 (Overall Rank #7)

  2. Cape Wickham Hole 14, Par 4 (Overall Rank #59)

  3. Kingston Heath Hole 14, Par 5 (Overall Rank #97)

  4. Troy Burne Hole 14, Par 4 (Overall Rank #103)

  5. Lawsonia Hole 14, Par 3 (Overall Rank #112)

 

Selection:  Cape Wickham Hole 14, Par 4

Cape Wickham is another course that has to be represented in my Dream 18 since it is probably one of my top three favorite places in the world.  The fourteenth hole is my favorite hole on the course.  It is a dogleg left par 4 wrapping around tooth-like fairway bunkers on the left side of the fairway.  The hole then dips downhill to a front to back green sitting in a little bowl with interesting slopes to use to access the green.  It is one of the more inland holes on the course but still offers ocean views and plays directly towards the lighthouse.  A great hole.

Hole 15

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Erin Hills Hole 15, Par 4 (Overall Rank #27)

  2. Kingston Heath Hole 15, Par 3 (Overall Rank #28)

  3. Giants Ridge (Quarry) Hole 15, Par 4 (Overall Rank #51)

  4. Galen Hall Hole 15, Par 3 (Overall Rank #67)

  5. Saucon Valley CC (Weyhill) Hole 15, Par 4 (Overall Rank #67)

 

Selection:  Galen Hall Hole 15, Par 3

This one was tough.  My decision was mostly between the two par 3s on this list.  The 15th at Kingston Heath is a spectacular golf hole and probably a better hole than the 15th at Galen Hall.  However, the 15th at Galen Hall is so unique and gets the nod.  It is called the “Moat Hole” because it is basically an island green surrounded by a thin moat that runs around the elevated circular green.  It is not a short par 3, and it requires a precise mid-iron to avoid the hazard.  I feel like a lot of my Dream 18 contains world class golf holes and it needs a bit of balance with some more unique hidden gems.  The Moat Hole definitely achieves this.

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Hole 16

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. New South Wales GC Hole 16, Par 4 (Overall Rank #34)

  2. Ocean Dunes Hole 16, Par 4 (Overall Rank #56)

  3. Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) Hole 16, Par 3 (Overall Rank #66)

  4. Golden Horseshoe (Gold) Hole 16, Par 3 (Overall Rank #78)

  5. Belvedere Hole 16, Par 4 (Overall Rank #106)

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Selection:  New South Wales Hole 16, Par 4

The 16th hole at New South Wales is an awesome challenging dogleg left par 4.  The left side of the fairway is obscured by a 20 foot tall dune on the inside of the dogleg on the tee shot.  The fairway then continues up to an infinity green with the ocean behind and awesome contouring and bunkering.

Hole 17

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Giants Ridge (Legend) Hole 17, Par 3 (Overall Ranking #9)

  2. Highland Course at Primland Hole 17, Par 5 (Overall Ranking #53)

  3. Royal Melbourne (West) Hole 17, Par 4 (Overall Ranking #72)

  4. Barnbougle (Dunes) Hole 17, Par 4 (Overall Ranking #85)

  5. Homestead (Cascades) Hole 17, Par 5 (Overall Ranking #87)

 

Selection:  Giants Ridge (Legend) Hole 17, Par 3

This is another kind of no-brainer for me.  The 17th hole at Giants Ridge (Legend) is one of the most absurd golf holes I've ever seen.  It is a 230 yard par 3 over a lake cove to an elevated shallow green on a little peninsula in front of a cluster of trees.  The tee box is located back through a chute of tall pine trees as well.  It is one of the most beautiful places I could possibly imagine to have a golf hole, and although the green complex might be a little excessive for a par 3 of this length, everything adds up perfectly to produce an extremely unique and memorable golf hole that definitely belongs on my Dream 18.

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Hole 18

Top 5 Ranked:

  1. Bulle Rock Hole 18, Par 4 (Overall Rank #55)

  2. Sand Valley (Sand Valley) Hole 18, Par 5 (Overall Rank #89)

  3. Pinehurst No. 2 Hole 18, Par 4 (Overall Rank #123)

  4. Nemacolin (Shepherd’s Rock) Hole 18, Par 4 (Overall Rank #188)

  5. Hyatt River Marsh Golf Club Hole 18, Par 5 (Overall Rank #211)

 

Selection:  Marquette (Greywalls) Hole 18, Par 5

Interestingly, there are not a ton of great finishing holes to choose from.  I really like the 18th at Bulle Rock, but I don't know if I want to have three extremely difficult holes consecutively to close out my course.  I do like the 18th hole at Sand Valley, but I haven't yet picked a hole from Marquette (Greywalls).  This is one of my favorite courses and I'd like to include it.  The 18th hole is a fun and unique downhill par 5.  The fairway pinches in like an hourglass about 270 yards from the tee.  A tee shot in the fairway will kick a long way through this funnel to the bottom of the hill, leaving a reachable second shot to a bunkerless green complex that looks boring but actually has some brilliant subtle contouring.  Bookending my dream 18 with the first at Tot Hill Farm and the 18th at Greywalls is a good representation of my favorite type of golf.

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