This discussion group is best enjoyed using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
My top 3 have already been cited: Sand Hills, Cypress Point and Spyglass Hill. Terry,Great choices, I'd add NGLA, Shinnecock, Pasatiempo, MPCC Shore, Bethpage, Mountain Ridge, Newport, Streamsong Blue, Streamsong Red and Seminole to name a few.
Also in the mix should be...Plainfield...
TOC: was certainly the most nerve racking first tee shot ever. Had been up early in the morning, end of March, then standing around waiting for what seemed like hours with no warm up. It was freezing cold and yet there must of been no less than a couple hundred people standing around, most of which were not golfers. Then they called my name...sweating bullets I could hardly stand yet hold the club and managed to shank a 3 wood of all clubs that bounced off the fence down to the right and stayed in play. I can remember people laughing so I took a bow. Hit the approach into the burn. Good start on my first ever golf trip outside The Netherlands and my only play of the old course. One day soon revenge on that hole will be mine :-).Garden City:Semi blind first shot in which you have to hit over the driving range. Since most of the players there seem pretty strong it's a daunting shot. First played two weeks ago on a beautiful sunny Sunday. Driving range was overfull and all these guys just stop and walk slightly to the side, still standing almost in front of you and watch your group tee off. I had flashes of TOC so wiped my brow once I had ripped my tee shot right down the middle. Damn, that feels good...Merion:If you are a lefty the first tee there would be the worst tee shot in the world if played on a nice day around lunch time with a full terrace. Bad as a righty as I'm sure there is plenty of noise front he peanut gallery. However, for a lefty...yikes!Kennemer B - 9:Pretty awesome from the back tees as the tee box sits right against the clubhouse and next to the patio as well. Plus it's a pretty tough hole and long tee shot. The hole is about a 450 yd par 4 from an elevated tee with high rough left and right and a huge bunker in the landing area right.
Great first holes, Minneapolis-St. Paul Division: I'd give it to White Bear Yacht Club. It's one of those "step from the clubhouse to the putting green to the tee" compact areas, overlooking an inviting fairway and a daunting second shot to an elevated green.Great first holes, N.L.E. Upper Midwest Division: R.I.P. #1 at the original Sutton Bay course. An amazing vista of hills with Lake Oahe in the background. It never failed to excite and engage me.
1st at Thurlstone which I once described: 'downhill par 4 of 268 yards. That you must drive out over a road and ditch, avoid out-of-bounds on either side, and could easily clatter into the clubhouse or car park is sufficient cause of anxiety for most of us. Deep seaside bunkers and a green angled across the line complete the defences.'
RichYou know the course markedly better than me, what is it about Dornoch's 1st?In my few visits, I've been eager to get to the 3rd "where the course begins" so to speak.Would be interested to hear more about your take on the 1st, what am I missing?
PS--As to what you are "missing" you might also include the 2nd. The views start on the 3rd, but 1 and 2 are two of the finest holes of their type in the world.rfg