Best finishing hole in golf?

[mediaguru]

The blue monster or the 18th at TPC are good ones. 18 at Augusta is good but not near the "best" finishing hole...

[ualtim]

18th at Pebble Beach.


It is the ultimate risk reward tee shot. Need an eagle or birdie? Take it over the deep water and try and keep it in the left side of the fairway for a chance to go for the green in two with a good angle into the green keeping the water on the left side of the green. Bite too much off the corner and you bring double bogey or worse into play. Want to play it safe? Take it out to the right, but too far right and your dealing with the fairway trees, a long shot into the green, and a bad angle into the hole as the water is playing behind the hole rather than to the left. Need a par? Take it down the fairway to the left of the fairway trees and hit your layup to the left side of the fairway for an almost sure par. Depending on your degree of risk off of the tee, you can go from eagle to triple bogey in a heartbeat.

Besides, if nothing else, the view is spectacular. Many holes have tried to be similar (18th Sawgrass and 18th Blue Monster) but none can match the majesty of the 18th at Pebble.

[VtDivot]

All those finishing holes in on the West Coast swing are great.

Kapalua
Riviera
Torrey Pines
PGA West
Pebble

[Andy_79]

My mate was an Assistant at Torrey Pines so not long ago

[P_102]

18th at Pebble.

Or switch the 18th at Augusta w/ the 13th!

P

[Andy_79]

Originally Posted by P_102

18th at Pebble.

Or switch the 18th at Augusta w/ the 13th!

P

That is one of the silliest things I have read on this board, mate. Think about it, come on !

[VtDivot]

The 18th at Augusta isn't much of a golf hole if you ask me. It burns guys because of the nerves (See Greg Norman 1990, Fred Couples 1998)

[P_102]

Why is that silly, Andy?

Other than changing "Amen Corner", the 13th at Augusta would make a great finishing hole. Short enough that the shorter hitters can still get there yet still plenty of danger for everyone. The green will accept a good or great shot then let you putt right back into the creek (remember Tiger?). The 13th at Augusta has probably been the scene of as many lead changes as any hole in golf (just my opinion, I don't have stats available). Then there's the beauty.

P_102

[Andy_79]

Due to the fact that you could be here all day saying things like, "Well, if the 2nd at such and such was the last......"

Know what I mean...?!

[VtDivot]

Originally Posted by Andy_79

Due to the fact that you could be here all day saying things like, "Well, if the 2nd at such and such was the last......"

Know what I mean...?!

Andy, often courses change routing to suit play... I don't think it's that unreasonable... maybe for Augusta.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by P_102

Why is that silly, Andy?

Other than changing "Amen Corner", the 13th at Augusta would make a great finishing hole. Short enough that the shorter hitters can still get there yet still plenty of danger for everyone. The green will accept a good or great shot then let you putt right back into the creek (remember Tiger?). The 13th at Augusta has probably been the scene of as many lead changes as any hole in golf (just my opinion, I don't have stats available). Then there's the beauty.

P_102

P, I think you answered your own question when you said it would change "Amen Corner". Suppose for a minute that Augusta National started on #14 and ended on #13. #14 would make a great opening hole. And "Amen Corner" would be as good a closing stretch of holes as you can find in golf. But the special magic of Augusta is in the phrase "the tournament starts on the back nine on Sunday." Players get filtered through "Amen Corner". Those that survive then have five holes that they can either play safe or take chances on. It's why we see great charges for victory at Augusta, and why the 18th is a good finishing hole.