The best first hole in the country

Seve OB

So a new idea. It's might fall flat on it's face, but sure why not give it a try. We've all seen lists compiling the best holes and the best 18 etc etc. But lets do it this time with a difference. Pick the best 18 holes in the land, but we have to pick them in the order they appear on their own clubs scorecard.

It might get a bit messy and awkward, so why simplify it and just look for one hole per week and do it over 18 weeks, launching today trying to find the best opening hole in the land.

Now the hard part... my vote!

I'm going to go with the K-Club Smurfit course if for no other reason than it was a cauldron when the Ryder cup kicked off there in 2006

Benicetomonty

1st at Wicklow is pretty impressive.

PARlance

The first* at Carne for me.

*That'll be the new first. Kilmore 9 just recently added.

And I don't even know what order their going to play that new 18 in I'm sure Kevin will know.
But if it's the old 10th or the new Kilmore 1st it doesn't really matter as both would be by far the best opening hole I've played.

Russman

1st in Slade Valley from the back tee.

mike12

Easy one for me. Portstewart.

FixdePitchmark

1 The Island.

Just the way it warns you - Don't even think you are in for a great day.

Rikand

1st in Athlone.

Not long - a good drive, will you leave you a short iron to the green but tree lined from an elevated tee and from the fairway you're hitting back uphill to the green. It's a tough opening hole, especially when you've just jumped out of the car, sandwich still in the mouth and missing a sock....

paulos53

Adare for me.
A tough second shot into a green protected by water at the front. Go long and you are left with a tricky downhill chip

kiers47

Of the limited golf ive played in the country.

I like the first at Lee Valley. Nice short dog leg par 4 with an elevated tee shot.
Nice scenic hole.

shabalala

kiers47 wrote: »

Of the limited golf ive played in the country.

I like the first at Lee Valley. Nice short dog leg par 4 with an elevated tee shot.
Nice scenic hole.

Id rate that as the worst opening hole in ireland funnily enough! A 90deg dogleg of 290yds wouldn't be my cup of tea

Miley Byrne

Seve OB wrote: »

I'm going to go with the K-Club Smurfit course if for no other reason than it was a cauldron when the Ryder cup kicked off there in 2006

It was probably more of a cauldron over on the Palmer Course that morning I'd say;)

kiers47

shabalala wrote: »

Id rate that as the worst opening hole in ireland funnily enough! A 90deg dogleg of 290yds wouldn't be my cup of tea

Its probably not the most creative hole.

I just like the view

But there are worse opening holes within 10 miles so worst in the country is a bit harsh.

digginz

1st one in Dingle Golf (Ceann Sibeal)

BOB81

1st in portmarnock for me. water right and bunkers left - tough opening drive for a slicer..

1st in headfort new is also a great opener parkland-wise

Ally McIntosh

BOB81 wrote: »

1st in portmarnock for me. water right and bunkers left - tough opening drive for a slicer..

Portmarnock might win it for me also, especially with the redesigned green and the fantastic tee position that feels very much part of the clubhouse area.

Others:

Portstewart has that excellent tee shot but not so sure the hole lives up to it.
Ardglass probably falls in to that same category.
Doonbeg must certainly be in with a shout.
Thanks to PARlance who mentioned the 1st on the Kilmore at Carne.

shabalala

Lahinch must be a contender, that tee is like a bowling green and feels like its in the clubhouse. Wonderful

Seve OB

Anyone ever play Highfield.... out around Enfield I think. The first tee is on the roof of either the clubhouse or the Pro shop, a bit of a dogleg from an elevated tee to a drivable par 4

Don't think it would be the best, but it is certainly one of the most interesting I have ever played (bout 10 years ago)

Derek Zoolander

First in Enniscrone is a great hole. Portstewart also great opener...

Kingswood Rover

The 1st in the old Ballinascorney/Dublin City was a 340ish downhill tree lined dogleg right par 4 to an elevated green. Hit the driver too straight and long out on the road. You kinda had to cut a good 3 wood over and around the corner to get close enough to hit the required lofted club to get the ball to stop on the green. It was a real risk and reward hole and so early in the round, use to love that gaff.

Seve OB

Kingswood Rover wrote: »

The 1st in the old Ballinascorney/Dublin City was a 340ish downhill tree lined dogleg right par 4 to an elevated green. Hit the driver too straight and long out on the road. You kinda had to cut a good 3 wood over and around the corner to get close enough to hit the required lofted club to get the ball to stop on the green. It was a real risk and reward hole and so early in the round, use to love that gaff.

probably one of the only decent holes that were up there

FixdePitchmark

Derek Zoolander wrote: »

First in Enniscrone is a great hole. Portstewart also great opener...

I love Enniscrone,

But not a big fan of 1.

The combination of shed, car park and clubhouse almost in the way.

yipsnomore

kiers47 wrote: »

Of the limited golf ive played in the country.

I like the first at Lee Valley. Nice short dog leg par 4 with an elevated tee shot.
Nice scenic hole.

Sorry bud but you need to get out there and play some of the great courses around the country.

1st in Adare for me!

Kingswood Rover

Seve OB wrote: »

probably one of the only decent holes that were up there

Sacrilege...one of 18 i say...yep you either loved it or hated it 6th across the ravine was another, sorry mods back on thread, 1st in Tulfarris shortish par 5 with bunkers every where and a big pond down the left of the fairway as you approach the green. Its all about position on your second to leave a wedge or 9 in.

kiers47

yipsnomore wrote: »

Sorry bud but you need to get out there and play some of the great courses around the country.

1st in Adare for me!

Just a personal fav. Golf is quite a subjective thing

FWIW adare would be my next I'd say.

One that I haven't played that I have vivid memories of from the Irish open in 08 is Baltray. Nice hole.

thewobbler

I'd also put the 1st as one of the weaker holes at Enniscrone.

Some of my favourites would be:

Malone, a gorgeous downhill drive into a gentle dogleg and a huge bunker.

Headfort 1st, the tee shot is blind, and the first time you walk over the brow you immediately realise you're playing a special course.

There's something mesmerising about the opener at RCD. It's notthing spectacular, and most likely to do with the turf, which is the best I've ever stood on.

Always enjoy the 1st at Lough Erne, a nice pleasant to open a round, with water all down the right but not really in play.

redzerdrog

The 1st in Seapoint for me.

Quality hole which makes you think straight from the off. The fairway narrows and 3 bunkers (1 Left and 2 Right) between the 200-250 yards mark so requires an accurate drive. One can take a rescue and leave yourself a longer iron in or wind allowing you can clear then as the fairway widens out leaving gap wedge in. Then there is more to consider as there is a stream which runs in front of the green and if the wind is with you it is reachable with a driver. Green then surrounded by a couple of bunkers and gorse mounds on 3 side.

Great opening hole imo

http://www.golfgraffix.com/WebApp/Seapoint./Course%20Tour/index.php?m=1

slave1

Have to say, I think first holes are never the best a course has to offer, think that makes sense as why would you want the best to be the the first hole completed? Anyhow, can't remember being blown away by many 1st holes but I do remember the 1st in Druids Heath because if you happen to get it flush with your drive you have the potential for your longest drive ever, nice views too...

Slicemeister

First in Dromoland is a lovely hole. If I had to pick one that would be an easier "breaker in" I'd pick the first in Castlemartyr.

mister gullible

1st in Druid's Glen, nice straightforward hole from a good teebox and the anticipation of 17 more good ones ahead.

Dr_Colossus

Kingswood Rover wrote: »

1st in Tulfarris shortish par 5 with bunkers every where and a big pond down the left of the fairway as you approach the green. Its all about position on your second to leave a wedge or 9 in.

A great opening hole which would probably get my vote, real risk reward as certainly reachable over the water after a good drive. Plenty of trouble at different layup distances also to get you thinking. Nice secluded part of the golf course also with views of the pond and distant lakes usually with it's resident swans.

Another opening hole that stood out for me was the Curragh, shortish but severe downhill par 5 which immediately cancels any preconceived initial perceptions of playing a flat course in the middle of the curragh. First hole really gives of taste of what's in store.

hurleronditch

Adare is lovely alright, whenever I see these type lists I always want the alternative courses though, the members club that's been around for 80 years not something designed with some former millionaires loot 20 years ago. It's not the best but the first in muskerry is a real toughie. Long straight par 4 with a stinker of a green. Wicklow is a great hole, great downhill drive though it's a lottery as to where you end up.

I also liked Lucan, long narrow drive from an elevated tee.

My vote is for The Island though, long narrowing fairway, hillocks either side makes you feel you have no room for error

SevesThreeIron

If I croaked it in the morning I'd like another shot at the 1st in Beaverstown (and that is not a euphemism!) beforehand. Great risk reward drive straight off the bat to a blind, protected green.

Others I like; Seapoint 1st, Concra Wood, Ballybunion, Royal Tara, Royal Portrush (purely for the green).

Kevinmarkham

I'm getting a sense of deja vu here. Let me see what the book says... oh, yea...

Scrabo 1st

JJJJNR

1st hole in Glen of the downs, nice par 3, sorts the men from the boys.

Golf365

The first in Slade Valley gives you panoramic views of Dublin but it requires a perfect drive as it's OoB all down the Left , excellent 1st Hole .

cgh

the first hole in Hermitage is a good opening hole,
a very driveable par 4 but lots of trouble left and right and good bunker protection.
a easy hole which could be a disaster if you have a wayward tee shot

the first in Castlerea is also a hum dinger of opening hole.
long par four, blind second shot to a very tricky green.

neckedit

Im a fan of the First at Ballarrick, tidy short hole that offer birdie or better, but very often can offer a bit more too.

Dtoffee

JJJJNR wrote: »

1st hole in Glen of the downs, nice par 3, sorts the men from the boys.

Good call, its anything from a 6 iron to a 3 wood depending on the tee's used and the wind direction. The green is well protected with bunkers front and back (the big pot hole bunker at the very front middle is like a magnet ;-)). The green itself is split into two with a large hillock / hump across the middle, if you are on the wrong side .... start praying as the greens are always fast and you will be grateful for a bogey.

Basically its a typical Peter McEvoy hole with his trademark bunkers as protection and forcing you to think about every shot, a par and the tail is wagging

BigChap1759

SevesThreeIron wrote: »

If I croaked it in the morning I'd like another shot at the 1st in Beaverstown (and that is not a euphemism!) beforehand. Great risk reward drive straight off the bat to a blind, protected green.

Others I like; Seapoint 1st, Concra Wood, Ballybunion, Royal Tara, Royal Portrush (purely for the green).

Yes, now you've jogged my memory the 1st at Concra is a cracker off that elevated tee - need to get back and play there again this year.

blackwhite

First in Doonbeg is a great shout.
The view from the teebox, raised above the fairway with the clubhouse beside you is pretty impressive, with the dunes that surround the green giving a hint of what's ahead.

Also, for a course that doesn't get a lot of love, I've always liked the first on the Monty at Carton. The tee shot across the river is a good way to get you focused, and the hole never feels as brutal as what follows it!

FixdePitchmark

good call on Royal County Down.

Not even the best hole going - but a real sense of occasion , you know you are at RCD, you know this is just unreal , you have never seen a tee box complex like it. The starter is the real deal and good. There are about 40 yanks smoking Cubans watching you, all you want to do is not go OB right onto the beach. You can hear the ocean thunderously crashing. You are way too nervous. The starter is seriously watching your swing , as he needs to see how you will do. The yanks - quieten up if possible , are all seriously watching you now.

A bloody nightmare - but unforgettable.

Honestly, 2, 6 irons would leave you a wedge in for a Birdie putt. But , you can't hit a bloody 6 iron in RCD.

Telecaster58

The 1st in Knockanally is a tough but good opening hole.

hurleronditch

Telecaster58 wrote: »

The 1st in Knockanally is a tough but good opening hole.

I don't think knockanally should ever feature on any best of list!!

Wouldn't be red hot on glen of the downs either, a par 3 needs to be a showstopper to start and that green is more akin to what you would be asked to do before knocking the ball through a dinosaurs mouth in Butlins

CFG92

Scrabo, Co Down.
I haven't played the course but recall coming across this a while back.

FixdePitchmark

cson wrote: »

17th Portumna

Yes . Great place to start.

shabalala

cson wrote: »

17th Portumna

Shotgun starts don't count.

rollotomasi

1st at Headford New.
The green hidden from the tee and the old stone bridge behind is very picturesque.

the lawman

The first in Rathcore. Very strong opening par 5 with water in play on lay up shot. A brilliant welcome to this fictional course.

redzerdrog

First in Concra Wood is a good shout aswell

billy3sheets

Hollywood Lakes. Not that long. Dogleg left with water in front and to left. Big tree and bunker to right.
Hitting off a slight down slope for approach shot.
Can be a real card wrecker.

galwaylad14

1st in Galway is an interesting little hole. About 290 yards so it's very driveable but so much trouble up around it. I've never actually taken it on myself, always played it with a rescue or a long iron into the fairway and wedge in. Definitlely gets you on the toes early though.

Many courses out there that start with a par 3 actually? I can remember the British Open a few years ago started with a par 3 but I can't immediately think of any course I've played that does. Don't think I'd like it anyway to be honest!