I try to keep track of every hole I play and track which ones I think offer the most challenge, the most pre-shot
thinking and strategy, are the most fun, or are the most beautiful.  Ideally, a hole will have all the aspects I have
mentioned above.  Nevertheless, by tracking this type of information I have come up with a list of my favorite 18
holes.  This list will most likely be ever-changing and dynamic as I play more and more courses.  But for now, here
are my favorite 18 holes.

#16 at Bandon Dunes

Playing Bandon Dunes was a truly great experience.  But that experience was taken to an entirely new level
playing the 16th hole.  First off, the views are incredible.  The ocean.  The cliffs.  Amazing!!  But the hole itself with
all its options, angles, choices, and decisions is truly amazing.  You could play this hole again and again and still
have new things to try.  This hole embodies all that is needed to make a par 4 great.  (And, yeah, I know.  This
picture sucks.  However, there are some great ones of the hole on Bandon's site).






































#8 at Ballyneal

This par 5 has captured my imagination like few others have.  The drive is thrilling, the view spectacular, and the
fairway adventurous.  You have two main options off the tee regarding how you plan to play the hole.  But
depending on your execution of that strategy and the roll/bounce of the ball in the fairway, the adventure doesn't
truly begin until your second shot.  And from there the adventure doesn't stop until you putt the ball out on this
epically wild green.  This is fun golf personified.  The picture below was used with permission of The Ballyneal Golf
and Hunt Club.





































#16 at The Old Course

This 359 yard hole showed me the true meaning of golf and how it was meant to be played.  I hit my drive dead
center fairway on a rope.  I ended up in the centerline bunkers (The Principal's Nose).  These bunkers are steep
pot bunkers and I had to come out sideways.  I smashed a 4 iron right to the front of the green, but I couldn't putt
at the hole due to a steep and severe ridge between me and the hole.  I had to aim way right of the hole and drop
the ball in from the side.  Bottom line here, a drive right down the middle of the fairway is the wrong play.  Going
forward out of the bunkers is not the wise play.  And just being on the green doesn't mean you can putt right at the
hole.  Now THAT  is golf!!!





#18 at Inverness---> Short Par 4 in front of the gallery

If you know golf history, standing on the 18th tee box at Inverness is a magical feeling.  Who could forget Bob
Tway's chip-in from the sand to beat Greg Norman in the 1986 PGA Championship?  Nevertheless, you stand on
the tee and think about trying to drive the green.  But that vast number of bunkers all over the hole stare you
down.  As you approach the green you notice "Death Valley" off to the right and the wicked, wicked, wicked slope
that the green is on.  I would argue that this 306 yard par 4 is the hardest short par 4 in all of golf.  An interesting
fact concerning this hole is that if you play it around lunch time many of the members will be eating lunch on the
veranda overlooking 18...this adds a little extra pressure to the shots.  Perhaps the highlight of my golfing career is
the ovation I got when I pulled off a miraculous flop shot over the bunkers and somehow avoiding "Death Valley" on
my approach to the green.  That was cool!!!



































#13 at Pacific Dunes

Those of you who know me, know that I love adventurous golf.  And the 13th hole at Pacific Dunes is an great
adventure.  You play out to a peninsula on the Ocean, the dunes are massive, the bunkers amazing, and the
green is totally exposed to the wind.  This par 4 has got everything I want in a golf hole; fun, challenge, interesting
shots, interesting putts, and stunning beauty.







































#2 at The Kiawah Ocean Course--->wild variety in one par 5

For starters, this hole is beautiful.  However, it will also test every aspect of your game.  On your tee shot, you must
decide how big of a hero you want to be.  Do you try to cut the corner with a hard draw and be close to the marsh
land on the left or do you want to play it safe and be in the middle of the fairway?  Then do you go for the green or
lay up?  If you lay up, watch the creek in the middle of the fairway.  On your approach to the green, you need to
have your fade working to get close to the pin.  Once you are on the green, you need to aware of the two tiered
shelves and the long narrow shape of the green.  Hey, I warned you...it will test every part of your game!!!




#2 at Sebonack--->Long par 4 with cross bunkers and a wicked green!!!

Standing on the tee the beauty will overwhelm you...




































But the approach shot and the green will overwhelm you for other reasons.  Strap in and bring your "A" game!!






































#12 Askernish

This stunning 582 yard par 5 has two avenues of approach.  The first option is a visible tee shot that leads to a
blind approach, while the second option plays into a fairway which is blind off the tee but the green is visible on the
approach.  Regardless of which avenue you choose off the tee, you'll have to play in to a plateau green that
slopes away from your approach.  Choose wisely off the tee and strike it crisp on your approach or pay the price!!

#8 at Muirfield

Muirfield is an almost perfect golf course and #8 just might be a perfect golf hole.  You are introduced with a
risk/reward option off the tee, play to the center of the fairway and have a long approach or challenge the bunkers
off to the right and have a shot at the green at this 443 yard par 4.  And your approach shot just might have some
strategy as well as cross bunkers defend the hole about 60 yards in front of the green.  





































#14 at The Old Course

The bottom line here is do you challenge Hell or not.  On this 523 yard par 5, the well known bunker called Hell
lurks about 100 yards short of the green.  I opted to play this hole up the left side and avoid Hell, but for those
wishing to hit the ball dead center fairway, most likely your second shot will challenge the famous bunker.  Like
other holes on The Old Course, attacking the hole from the center of the fairway may not be the wisest choice!



































#15 at Old MacDonald

Old MacDonald is currently my favorite U.S. based golf course.  I think the designers of the course "get" what golf
is all about and I think the 15th at Old Mac is the best hole on the course.  In this part of the routing, you are taken
towards the ocean and the green ends the hole with a stunning view of the Pacific.  But along the way, you have to
traverse some severed bunkers (more like gorges) on your way to that beautiful vista.






































                                                        ---see the remaining holes---