Got to wondering again

[sandwedge]

Once again, I got to a place of being up on my daughters going into the final hole and lost the match - failed to close the deal. My daughter tried to encourage me by saying the course had some tough fininshing holes - it didn't; I merely choked . But, it got me to thinking - What are the toughest finishing holes to play in PGA 2000? What does the community think and where do you rate the 1600+ courses in this area? Which ones have tough challenges only at the end? Which ones are increasingly tough as you make your way around? etc. Thoughts???

[SteveHorn]

Sandwedge! I haven't given this much thought as of this post but whenever I played North American Woods in the past I always think of the closing holes. I'm sure their are many others possibly my own Point Reyes closing 3. Although their are other tough holes on those courses.

[bryce]

Sandwedge,
Steve mentioned Point Reyes as having a tough finish, and reminded me of another contest course from a year ago that had a pretty tough finish....Mamacs Retreat. I find that most of Robert@'s courses are tougher on the back 9 for some reason. I don't know that he meant for them to be that way, or if it's just me struggling. If you want to consider some of the real courses out there, think of what the pros must go through when they play Bethpage, Bay Hill or Quail Hollow. Those are tough finishes for us too.

[ADC]

The course with the toughest finish?

Hmm...

Personally, out of the 50 some courses I have on my hard drive, I'd say that Summerfelt's Oakmont has the hardest finish. This is only because I've probably blown more solid rounds of -1 to -2 on the last five holes there than any other course.

At the same time, excluding real courses, I'd have to saw Coos Bay has the single hardest finishing hole. And while 16 and 17 aren't as difficult, it is shocking how many times I've blown it on the very last hole itself.

That's my two cents worth.

Alex

[spencerturner]

Pebble Beach would get my vote for one of the toughest finishing holes. Great all around course. Great design by 3 of the very best. For the overall toughest courses I would recommend you try any course by Robert@ especially one called Seasons. Spencer.

[sandwedge]

ADC,

Glad to know I'm not the only one who appreciates? the last hole at Coos Bay

[stillgolfing]

For the overall toughest courses I would recommend you try any course by Robert@ especially one called Seasons. Spencer.

I guess there are horses for courses. I'm still playing at the standard level and have been trying to move up to advanced, and in trying to do that I started to track courses I liked and could play at either level. The criteria I decided upon was it is a great course if: a) it looks and plays realistically b) I can break par at standard c) I can break 80 at advanced. So far out of about 50 courses where I have played at both levels, there are 5 courses that meet this criteria: Seasons, Muirefield Village, TPC @ Southwind, Glenhaven and Pasatiempo. The toughest course I have encountered so far is Silent Monk; as I have never gotten beyond the second hole at either level, Also, I tend to struggle with Indie's courses. Although I love her designs, I generally can't complete her hilly courses. I really liked Alice Bogue's Garden though and was able to break 80 at standard.

To all those avid designers out there I say "Keep up the great work". I realize just because I can't play your design, doesn't mean it isn't a fantastic course. Unfortunately, it means I can't rate it.
Cheers, Dave

[sandwedge]

That was most helpful. Thanks - seems to be a good way to rate things fairly.

[ADC]

ADC,

Glad to know I'm not the only one who appreciates? the last hole at Coos Bay

I freakin' love Coos Bay. I've played it about 30 times, which is a lot, as I spend most of my time in this game on the designer and not actually playing a round very often. Daily real golf at school has kept me well in tune with what it takes to build a great course.

And Coos Bay is a great course, easily one of the top 10 courses I've ever found here. In terms of variety, imagination, and skill with the designer, it has few equals. In fact, in my imagination, which so often wonders what a real life major would be like at one of our fictional courses, I could Coos Bay on the U.S. Open rota very easily.

[sandwedge]

Yes, I love it too. I think it is one of the most influential designs of PGA. So much about it was groundbreaking at the time it came out. But, I really struggle to close the deal on the back nine - no matter what my lead is over the girls. I once lost a 5 shot lead over my oldest daughter on the last 2 holes at Coos Bay - now granted they make me nervous (anybody see the pattern here ) but 5 shots is 5 shots - a lot of that is the challenge at the end too. I'm glad for your comment because it makes me feel slightly better about my own high scores there at the close.