Toughest holes?

Tones69

Just out of curiosity here, from what ive seen 9 times out of 10 the Index 1 on most course seems to be on a longish Par 4 430-470 yards and a dogleg or with water, anybody ever see a Par 5 index 1 or has there ever been an index 1 Par 3?? I always kinda get a good feeling when I Par the index 1 on any course tbh , anybody know any really tough holes that they just cant seem to score well on? Or from the other side, any Index 1 that you have thought it plays more like index 15-18?

PhilipMarlowe

12 at Gowran is a par 5, index 1 and it's tough.
Par 5's at Palmerstown are all index 1-4 and they are all interesting holes. Is it a Scottish thing that par 5's tend to be low indexes? Have played a few courses at St. Andrews and the par 5's all tend to be low index and are not always "difficult".

irish bloke

Index 1 (12th) in Druids Heath, easily the easiest Index 1 ive ever played;)

scout353

From my memory, the four par fives at Palmerstown House (former PGA National) are the indices 1-4!

The par 3 at the bottom of the new Newtown 9 (fourth hole)at Tramore is very difficult with the lake along the left side of fairway and green. It is nearly 200 yards from white tees and the wind is normally in your face or right to left so it is so hard to keep ball out of the lake! It is a low enough index but so hard to score on!

Tones69

PhilipMarlowe wrote: »

12 at Gowran is a par 5, index 1 and it's tough.
Par 5's at Palmerstown are all index 1-4 and they are all interesting holes. Is it a Scottish thing that par 5's tend to be low indexes? Have played a few courses at St. Andrews and the par 5's all tend to be low index and are not always "difficult".

I actually think the last Par 5 (14th) in Gowran is tougher, trees both sides and up over a blind hill, maybe the 12th got it due to its length being like 570 off the whites? I thought K Club Index 1 was tough enough

Tones69

irish bloke wrote: »

Index 1 (12th) in Druids Heath, easily the easiest Index 1 ive ever played;)

Never played that course actually, hit druids glenn once there back in oct, thought it was an absolutely stunning course! Beautiful Par 3's

Benny Cake

PhilipMarlowe wrote: »

12 at Gowran is a par 5, index 1 and it's tough.
.

I have nightmares about the 12th in Gowran. There is officially no "safe" way to play that hole!!

Dr_Colossus

From memory the par 5 13th hole in the Curragh is an Index 1 but more long than overly difficult I thought.

irish bloke

Tones69 wrote: »

Never played that course actually, hit druids glenn once there back in oct, thought it was an absolutely stunning course! Beautiful Par 3's

Played it once this summer (heath) and I think I had more putts then shots.

Par 3 third over the water was a tough hole. Green slopes towards the water too. That hole was a blow out for me..

Tones69

Benny Cake wrote: »

I have nightmares about the 12th in Gowran. There is officially no "safe" way to play that hole!!

haha friend of mine sliced about 3 balls into the water before walking thru the hole . I think a safe bet is two 3 woods and a short iron

irish bloke wrote: »

Played it once this summer (heath) and I think I had more putts then shots.

Par 3 third over the water was a tough hole. Green slopes towards the water too. That hole was a blow out for me..

Friend of mine (off 4) played there and said he just could not get the run of the greens, he said they were just a feckin joke?

BigChap1759

Take your pick at The European Club but the 4th I think is so, so tough(if that's the uphill dogleg right)

golfnut1

The par 3 10th portumna. I cannot score on that hole. Even on good rounds I'm happy with a bogey.

irish bloke

Tones69 wrote: »

Friend of mine (off 4) played there and said he just could not get the run of the greens, he said they were just a feckin joke?

I wasnt able to play on them anyway, actually turned me off the course on the day, which was a lovely course when I look back on it.

FixdePitchmark

Corballis hole 3 Index 1, a tough tough hole.
St Annes hole 7 Index 1, animal.
Luttrellstown hole 1 Only index 7 and tough opening to a round.
Clontarf 12 is tough, was even harder in the past. Index 1
Flashback. Sillogue Number 2 back in about 1990, what hole is it now ? , that is a place that was a tough course when it was nine hole.
Macreddin number 12 what a hole, Don't know what index it is ?
The Island number 13 , only index 13. A tough tough par 3.
Heritage 18 , only index 4, tough par here.

And of course hole 18 in deer park, because you are nearly finished but never seem to be.

soundsham

lance armstrongs crack

stockdam

Clandeboye Ava course - 2nd hole, Par 5 is index 1.

Not a long par 5 but one of the toughest that I have played. OOB all down the left, gorse down the right. Hitting the fairway with the teeshot is hard but then you are faced with a 2nd shot into a narrowing fairway with the OOB jutting in from the left and the slope taking the ball towards the OOBs. Layup short of this and you have a long, blind shot over the OOBs.

Most people play the harder Dufferin course but the 2nd on the Ava is a difficult hole that most people don't know about.

chalkie 501

The 2nd in Tralee is probably the toughest par 5 i've ever played,not sure of the index,think its low enough.
596 yards off the blues,along the edge of a cliff on the right, dunes and long grass down the left,dogleg right. usually played with a gale blowing off the sea!
its one of those holes that must be played once in your life:)
http://traleegolfclub.com/images/course_images/hole2p.jpg

Dtoffee

I would say the 17th at Powerscourt West (old) designed by Peter Mc Evoy, its a par 5 with forest / trees all down the right and high banks on your left. The green cannot be seen from the tee so its a slight dogleg, a good drive will put you down the middle and looking at a very narrow entrance to the green with a lake sitting right in front of it. I doubt if its on in two for anyone but the biggest of hitters, so most people have no choice but to lay up (you could still hit a 5 wood to do that).

This is where it gets interesting, you are now 100 / 140 yards out and you have to carry the lake, you can take a 6/7/8 iron and feel you have enough ....... what you dont know is that the wind blows down the mountain and the trees end at the lake. The green is in a wind tunnel and 9 times out of ten you need a lot more club, but you cant feel the wind as you are sheltered by the trees.

Great hole and I have often wondered did McEvoy purposely cut away the trees behind the green to create the wind tunnel or was it an accident ..... I'd like to think he planned it.

Tones69

chalkie 501 wrote: »

The 2nd in Tralee is probably the toughest par 5 i've ever played,not sure of the index,think its low enough.
596 yards off the blues,along the edge of a cliff on the right, dunes and long grass down the left,dogleg right. usually played with a gale blowing off the sea!
its one of those holes that must be played once in your life:)
http://traleegolfclub.com/images/course_images/hole2p.jpg

Jees thats nice, wouldnt mind a crack at her On a calm summers day mind you lol

chalkie 501

Tones69 wrote: »

Jees thats nice, wouldnt mind a crack at her On a calm summers day mind you lol

Tones,you gotta play Tralee.....
that hole is just 1 out of (obviously 18:rolleyes:)9 or 10 memorable holes, the 3rd,8th and all the back 9 are amazing.its by a long way my favourite course

foxyboxer

12th Hole at Waterrock in Cork.

Par 3. OB all down the right. 240 yard carry over water.
Left side guarded by a massive tree.

Tones69

chalkie 501 wrote: »

Tones,you gotta play Tralee.....
that hole is just 1 out of (obviously 18:rolleyes:)9 or 10 memorable holes, the 3rd,8th and all the back 9 are amazing.its by a long way my favourite course

Deffo gonna look into that soon

foxyboxer wrote: »

12th Hole at Waterrock in Cork.

Par 3. OB all down the right. 240 yard carry over water.
Left side guarded by a massive tree.

Finally an Index 1 Par 3 Some hole off the blues! 219 off the whites seems a little less painful though

the lawman

12th hole in Rathcore index 2 par four. Very tight drive off the tees with danger both sides. A strong 240 drive will get you to within 200 yards of an elevated green. Green has a bunker in front and lost ball bushes behind it. I've never been close to making it in two and have never seen it done.

Should be index 1 in my opinion coz I've made the index 1 in two before!

1916

Castlemartyr # 5 Par 3 Index 2
Lough Erne # 14 Par 5 Index 2
Castleknock # 8 Par 5 Index 2
Co Longford # 15 Par 3 Index 4
Carton - Monty # 3 Par 3 Index 3

thoscon

the lawman wrote: »

12th hole in Rathcore index 2 par four. Very tight drive off the tees with danger both sides. A strong 240 drive will get you to within 200 yards of an elevated green. Green has a bunker in front and lost ball bushes behind it. I've never been close to making it in two and have never seen it done.

Should be index 1 in my opinion coz I've made the index 1 in two before!

I'd agree the 12th shud prob b index 1 ..with the 8th the drive is tough but the second shot isn't as daunting ..the tee shot on 12 is very tough I do try and aim for the right side of fairway it's the only place u can get a flat lie manys the time Ive been on the left side of fairway hitting off a downhill lie which is very daunting with a raised green and the shrubs all around the green ..
It was playin relatively easy on Sunday parred it ..hit driver 8 iron

irish bloke

foxyboxer wrote: »

12th Hole at Waterrock in Cork.

Par 3. OB all down the right. 240 yard carry over water.
Left side guarded by a massive tree.

Jeasus.....The minute I saw the picture I remembered the hole, had to Google to course to be sure. Played there about 6-7 years ago for an inter company tournament which we lost I think.

Put my second tee shot on the green (first in the water) within abt 5 feet of the hole and missed the putt.

Savage hole....

benagain

arseholes ruinning the country.:mad:

denishurley

Tones69 wrote: »

Deffo gonna look into that soon




Finally an Index 1 Par 3 Some hole off the blues! 219 off the whites seems a little less painful though

Still very difficult though - last time I was there I tried to play safe but drive hit tree on the left and bounced into water, second shot I aimed further left but sliced slightly, meaning that the bounce took it right and into the drink again!

FixdePitchmark

benagain wrote: »

arseholes ruinning the country.:mad:

Bit off thread, but that was the 9 o'clock news your talking about. Looks like Enda had nobody with their hand up his backside. Tough hole that.

benagain

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Bit off thread, but that was the 9 o'clock news your talking about. Looks like Enda had nobody with their hand up his backside. Tough hole that.

point taken sry

matt-dublin

irish bloke wrote: »

Index 1 (12th) in Druids Heath, easily the easiest Index 1 ive ever played;)

You've got to be kidding me?????? I would vote that one of the most difficult holes in the country (parred it on sat )

But seriously, one of the most difficult in the country

tang1

Par 4 14th at Tullamore, think its 455yds off members tee. Tight narrow drive, trees right, serious junk left. 2nd shot to a raised green that looks like the flag is floating on. First cousin is a member there and hit drive, 9 iron to it last year when i played with him made par. I hit drive, 5 wood and made birdie. Think we know who the real golfer is:p:p.

FixdePitchmark

matt-dublin wrote: »

You've got to be kidding me?????? I would vote that one of the most difficult holes in the country (parred it on sat )

But seriously, one of the most difficult in the country

Fair play,

How did you par it, how should it be played ?

matt-dublin

2 iron off the tee, 4 iron to the green and two putts

Tones69

Easiest index 1 ive played is the first at Athy, only reason its remotely tough is the fact its the 1st hole

irish bloke

matt-dublin wrote: »

2 iron off the tee, 4 iron to the green and two putts

Did you play the second from the top of the hill?

FixdePitchmark

irish bloke wrote: »

Did you play the second from the top of the hill?

Is imprissive, what distance and tees were you playing.

What distance do you hit your 2 iron ?

wellpastit

Tones69 wrote: »

Easiest index 1 ive played is the first at Athy, only reason its remotely tough is the fact its the 1st hole

The first in Athy is not index 1... The 16th is :cool:

bustercherry

17th TCP Sawgrass, 18th Doral Blue Monster and 8th Pebble Beach (Standing at the edge of a cliff with around 200yards to a green, knowing anyway right and your fcuked is not an easy shot to set up for ). Many will argue there are technically much harder holes on each of these courses but I found myself fairly intimidated by these 3.

matt-dublin

irish bloke wrote: »

Did you play the second from the top of the hill?

yeah, just past the bunker on the right

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Is imprissive, what distance and tees were you playing.

What distance do you hit your 2 iron ?

off the greens and i think about 400 odd

2 iron between 220-240 yards
4 iron between 200-215

irish bloke

matt-dublin wrote: »

yeah, just past the bunker on the right



off the greens and i think about 400 odd

2 iron between 220-240 yards
4 iron between 200-215

Nice second shot, even 2 putts on that green is good going.
Pin placement was back right when I played there and everything unless rolled perfectly rolled off the green..:(

L.O.F.T

bustercherry wrote: »

17th TCP Sawgrass, 18th Doral Blue Monster and 8th Pebble Beach (Standing at the edge of a cliff with around 200yards to a green, knowing anyway right and your fcuked is not an easy shot to set up for ). Many will argue there are technically much harder holes on each of these courses but I found myself fairly intimidated by these 3.

I thought the 18th at TPC Sawgrass was harder. Its hard to know how much to take off the tee with the water cutting in on the left.If you bail right your blocked out by rough and trees and then with the water running up beside the green its not an easy shot in from about 170 yards if you pipe your drive. The green is really quick and has real tricky undulations. The shot David Toms pulled off last year from a divot to get in a play-off was unbelievable. Its number one on this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0RrOLkvLo8

irish bloke

bustercherry wrote: »

17th TCP Sawgrass, 18th Doral Blue Monster and 8th Pebble Beach (Standing at the edge of a cliff with around 200yards to a green, knowing anyway right and your fcuked is not an easy shot to set up for ). Many will argue there are technically much harder holes on each of these courses but I found myself fairly intimidated by these 3.

L.O.F.T wrote: »

I thought the 18th at TPC Sawgrass was harder. Its hard to know how much to take off the tee with the water cutting in on the left.If you bail right your blocked out by rough and trees and then with the water running up beside the green its not an easy shot in from about 170 yards if you pipe your drive. The green is really quick and has real tricky undulations. The shot David Toms pulled off last year from a divot to get in a play-off was unbelievable. Its number one on this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0RrOLkvLo8

I found the 10th at Augusta a mare altogether. 495 yard par 4. You need to be hitting it on the button that day. A par there and you are doing very well;)

matt-dublin

she was up the back left that day, i landed fron left so the putt was only a 2 foot break.

if the pin placement was on the right i probablu could have aimed at the same spot but hit a bit harder!

bustercherry

L.O.F.T wrote: »

I thought the 18th at TPC Sawgrass was harder. Its hard to know how much to take off the tee with the water cutting in on the left.If you bail right your blocked out by rough and trees and then with the water running up beside the green its not an easy shot in from about 170 yards if you pipe your drive. The green is really quick and has real tricky undulations. The shot David Toms pulled off last year from a divot to get in a play-off was unbelievable. Its number one on this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0RrOLkvLo8

You are probably right but I think holes like the 17th, which constantly get the TV exposure, create a certain added pressure due to the anticipation/expectations/excitement etc....

david

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Corballis hole 3 Index 1, a tough tough hole.
St Annes hole 7 Index 1, animal.
Luttrellstown hole 1 Only index 7 and tough opening to a round.
Clontarf 12 is tough, was even harder in the past. Index 1
Flashback. Sillogue Number 2 back in about 1990, what hole is it now ? , that is a place that was a tough course when it was nine hole.
Macreddin number 12 what a hole, Don't know what index it is ?
The Island number 13 , only index 13. A tough tough par 3.
Heritage 18 , only index 4, tough par here.

And of course hole 18 in deer park, because you are nearly finished but never seem to be.

12th in Macreddin is index 1 but IMO 16 is tougher.

Redzah

matt-dublin wrote: »

yeah, just past the bunker on the right



off the greens and i think about 400 odd

2 iron between 220-240 yards
4 iron between 200-215

So many different ways to play that feckin hole.

I prefer the Driver over the hill and wedge to the green but you're out of the hole unless the drive is nailed dead straight.

Matts method is the semi safe way but def a risky 4 iron approach.

Safe method and most common seems to be to play it as a 3 shot hole and come off with a 5 at worst (and more than likely best) but still not a straight forward approach from 100 yards into that green.

Redzah

Tones69 wrote: »

Never played that course actually, hit druids glenn once there back in oct, thought it was an absolutely stunning course! Beautiful Par 3's

Tones, let me know if you're in the area and i'll tee up a game (and a reconciliation of our previous differences ). Also i can get a first hand look at your progression.

Speaking of tough index ones, is the 8th in Carlow the index 1? Difficult hole when the wind gets up making the tee shot very tricky from the back tees and at that height.

matt-dublin

Redzah wrote: »

So many different ways to play that feckin hole.

I prefer the Driver over the hill and wedge to the green but you're out of the hole unless the drive is nailed dead straight.

Matts method is the semi safe way but def a risky 4 iron approach.

Safe method and most common seems to be to play it as a 3 shot hole and come off with a 5 at worst (and more than likely best) but still not a straight forward approach from 100 yards into that green.

that way depends on my ball striking, say on sat, I duffed the 2 iron to the bushes infront ot the teebox, put a 6 iron to the 150 markers and hit a 9 iron in chip and a putt

:O

Tones69

Redzah wrote: »

Tones, let me know if you're in the area and i'll tee up a game (and a reconciliation of our previous differences ). Also i can get a first hand look at your progression.

Speaking of tough index ones, is the 8th in Carlow the index 1? Difficult hole when the wind gets up making the tee shot very tricky from the back tees and at that height.

Il have to get a dig at you first, then we can play a round no prob Hmm its the 7th in Carlow is Index 1 yeah, dogleg left uphill 440 yds. Always happy with a bogey on that one.

The 8th is a lovely hole but at that height its a very tough hole with the wind into you, downwind is a blast

Tones69

Playing The Heritage in Laois for the first time saturday actually, hear its a bit of a beast,really looking forward to it now (even though i will be numb). Any tips welcomes