WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT OPENING HOLE IN AMERICA? WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT NUMBER 2 HOLE? THIS WAS THE PGA OF AMERICA'S MISSION: TO DETERMINE WHICH ARE THE TOUGHEST 18 HOLES FROM ALL THE COURSES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE ASSIGNMENT ITSELF WAS ALMOST TOUGHER THAN THE PRODUCT, SO IT WAS TURNED OVER TO 9,500 MEMBERS OF THE PGA OF AMERICA WHO WERE INDIVIDUALLY ASKED FOR THEIR VOTES. THESE PGA MEMBERS DIRECT GOLF ACTIVITIES AT MOST OF THE COUNTRY'S COURSES, AS WELL AS COMPETE ANUALLY IN REGIONAL AND SECTION EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION. MORE THAN 300 OF THEM ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE PGA TOUR WHO HAVE A BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. COURSES BASED ON THEIR COMPETITIVE CAREERS ON TOUR AND DURING THEIR AMATEUR DAYS. MORE THAN 2,000 HOLES RECEIVED VOTES. AFTER THE NOMINATIONS WERE RECEIVED, THE TOP 5 VOTE-GETTERS FOR EACH HOLE, 1 THROUGH 18, WERE SUBMITTED TO A BLUE-RIBBON PANEL OF 55 GOLFING AUTHORITIES FOR FINAL BALLOTING. THE EXPERTS WERE INVITED TO SERVE ON THE PANEL BY THE PGA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE FINAL SELECTIONS CORRESPOND TO THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE HOLES ON THEIR RESPECTIVE GOLF COURSE, BEGINNING WITH THE 468-YARD, NO. 1 HOLE AT OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WINDING UP WITH THE 424-YARD 18TH AT DORAL CC, MIAMI, FLORIDA. THE RESULT IS A COMPOSITE COURSE 8,075 YARDS LONG, PAR 72 WITH HOLES THAT HAVE SEEN 14 U.S. OPENS, NINE PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS, 50 MASTERS, AND SEVEN U.S. AMATEURS... AND OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL SEE ONE MORE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (OAK TREE, 1988), AND ONE MORE U.S. OPEN (MEDINAH, 1990) AND THE INTERNATIONAL RYDER CUP MATCHES (PGA WEST, 1991). "THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PGA'S MOST EXCITING PROJECTS AND I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE ENTHUSIASTIC AND CONSCIENTIOUS RESPONSE OF THE GOLF AUTHORITIES THAT TOOK PART," PGA PRESIDENT MICKEY POWELL SAID. POWELL POINTED OUT THAT THE HOLES WERE CHOSEN STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF DIFFICULTY. "BUT, OBVIOUSLY," POWELL NOTED, "AS WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS TASK THESE HOLES HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT FROM AMONG THE BETTER-KNOWN COURSES IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST FAMILIAR TO OUR PANELISTS." SOME INTERESTING DATA ON THE COURSES FROM WHICH THE TOUGHEST 18 WERE SELECTED: * 19 DIFFERENT ARCHITECTS WERE INVOLVED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN. PETE DYE HAS DESIGNED FIVE OF THE COURSES. * ELEVEN OF THE COURSES WERE BUILT BEFORE WORLD WAR II, AND THE OTHER SEVEN WERE BUILT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS. NONE OF THE COURSES WERE BUILT BETWEEN 1935 AND 1962. * WATER COMES INTO PLAY ON 11 OF THE HOLES, WHILE MORE THAN 80 SAND BUNKERS NARROW THE FAIRWAYS AND SURROUND THE GREENS. * HALF OF THE COURSES ARE REGULAR PGA TOUR STOPS THEY INCLUDE: RIVIERA (LA OPEN), COLONIAL (NIT), BUTLER NATIONAL (WESTERN OPEN), PEBBLE BEACH (AT&T PRO-AM), TPC, SAWGRASS (TPC), HARBOUR TOWN (HERITAGE), CYPRESS POINT (AT&T PRO-AM), DORAL (DORAL/RYDER OPEN), AND AUGUSTA (THE MASTERS). * GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS THE MOST COURSES WITH FIVE. * JACK NICKLAUS HAS WON 17 TIMES ON THESE COURSES, 8 OF WHICH WERE MAJOR TOURNAMENT VICTORIES. THE GOLFER WHO PARS THIS 18 WILL NEED TO BE ADEPT WITH HIS LONG IRONS AND FAIRWAY WOODS. THE PAR 4'S RANGE IN DISTANCE FROM 424 YARDS TO 492 YARDS. THE PAR 3'S ARE 227, 232 AND 255 YARDS LONG AND THE PAR 5'S ARE 568, 583 AND 623. ------------------------- FINAL SELECTION COMMITTEE ------------------------- OVER 9,500 PGA OF AMERICA MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT THEIR CHOICES FOR THE TOUGHEST 18 CONSECUTIVE HOLES IN AMERICA. AFTER THE NOMINATIONS WERE RECEIVED, THE TOP FIVE CANDIDATES FOR HOLES (1 THROUGH 18) WERE SUBMITTED TO A BLUE-RIBBON PANEL OF 55 GOLFING AUTHORITIES FOR FINAL BALLOTING. THE ELITE GROUP OF SELECTORS IS MADE UP OF 11 FORMER PGA CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS, SEVEN FORMER PGA PRESIDENTS, FOUR PGA SENIORS' CHAMPIONS, 12 PGA CLUB PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS, TWO PGA TOUR OFFICIALS, TWO USGA OFFICIALS, THREE PGA ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, TWO LPGA OFFICIALS, TWO NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION OFFICIALS, FOUR NATIONALLY-KNOWN GOLF WRITERS, AND SIX NATIONALLY-RENOWNED FIGURES FROM THE GAME OF GOLF HOLE BY HOLE DESCRIPTION # 1 OAKMONT CC, OAKMONT, PA PAR 4 468 YARDS ARCHITECTS: WILLIAM AND HENRY FOWNES OPENED: 1903 OFF THE TEE, U.S. OPEN ROUGH AND FAIRWAY BUNKERS MAKE ACCURACY A MUST. THE DOWNHILL SECOND SHOT CAN BE DECEPTIVE BECAUSE THE LARGE GREEN SLOPES AWAY FROM THE GOLFER. # 2 RIVIERA CC, PACIFICA PALISADES, CALIFORNIA PAR 4 461 YARDS ARCHITECT: GEORGE THOMAS OPENED: 1926 A SLIGHT DOGLEG TO THE RIGHT THROUGH TO AN ELEVATED NARROW GREEN MAKES THIS ONE TOUGH. AN AFTERNOON HEADWIND FORCES MOST GOLFERS TO USE A LONG-IRON FOR THEIR SECOND SHOT. # 3 COLONIAL CC, FT. WORTH, TEXAS PAR 4 468 YARDS ARCHITECTS: JOHN BRADEMUS AND PERRY MAXWELL OPENED: 1935 A SHARP DOGLEG LEFT AROUND A FOREST OF TREES TO AN OPEN TWO-TIERED GREEN. PLAYING INTO THE WIND, TROUBLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE FORM OF A LARGE OAK TREE ABOUT 100 YARDS OFF THE TEE, FAIRWAY BUNKERS AND GREEN-SIDE O.B. # 4 SEMINOLE GC, NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA PAR 4 452 YARDS ARCHITECT: DONALD ROSS OPENED: 1929 LONG WELL-BUNKERED AND WIND-BLOWN DEMANDING GREAT DISTANCE. PARALLELED BY THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, THIS HOLE IS OFTEN BATHED IN SWIRLING WINDS. A SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL SECOND SHOT APPROACHES A MEDIUM-SIZED ELEVATED GREEN. # 5 PINE VALLEY GC, CLEMENTON, NEW JERSEY PAR 3 227 YARDS ARCHITECTS: GEORGE CRUMP AND HARRY T. COLT OPENED: 1922 OPEN OF GOLF'S GREAT PAR 3'S, REQUIRING DISTANCE AND ACCURACY. NATURAL SETTING AND SAND BUNKERS AND TREES EVERYWHERE LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR. # 6 PGA WEST, TPC COURSE, LAQUINTA, CALIFORNIA PAR 3 255 YARDS ARCHITECT: PETE DYE OPENED: 1986 ONE OF THE YOUNGEST HOLES TO BE FEATURED, REQUIRES A TEE SHOT OF OVER 220 YARDS TO CARRY THE WATER. LESS COURAGEOUS GOLFERS CAN BAIL-OUT LEFT WHICH BRINGS GRASS BUNKERS AND MOUNDS INTO PLAY. # 7 BUTLER NATIONAL GC, OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS PAR 5 623 YARDS ARCHITECTS: GEORGE AND TOM FAZIO OPENED: 1974 A NARROW FAIRWAY BORDERED BY "SALT CREEK" AND WILLOW TREES TO THE RIGHT PROMPTS THE SMART PLAYER TO USE AN IRON OFF THE TEE. ANOTHER LONG-IRON FOR THE SECOND SHOT TO THE LEFT-CENTER OF THE FAIRWAY LEAVES A THIRD SHOT OF ABOUT 120 YARDS. SWIRLING CROSS-WINDS AND LARGE OAK TREES KEEP THE PLAYERS FROM REACHING THIS ONE IN TWO. # 8 PEBBLE BEACH GL, PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA PAR 4 487 YARDS ARCHITECTS: JACK NEVILLE AND DOUGLAS GRANT OPENED: 1919 PAINFULLY SCENIC, THIS LONG PAR-4 DISTRACTS EVEN THE BEST GOLFERS. DRIVES ALONG THE ROCKY PACIFIC COASTLINE AND SECOND SHOTS THAT ALSO MUST BE PLAYED OVER THE OCEAN CHALLENGE ALL LEVELS OF GOLFERS. SWIRLING WINDS ADD TO THE HAVOC. # 9 TPC, SAWGRASS, PONTE VEDRE BEACH FLORIDA PAR 5 583 YARDS ARCHITECT: PETE DYE OPENED: 1980 A DOUBLE-DOGLEG WITH A MEANDERING CREEK THAT CUTS THROUGH THE DRIVING AREA. THE SECOND SHOT NARROWS WITH WASTE BUNKERS ON THE LEFT AND SLOPING SPECTATOR MOUNDS ON THE RIGHT. FROM THE OLD LONELY TREE IN THE FAIRWAY, A THIRD SHOT FACES A NARROW, UNDULATING GREEN WITH SEVERE BUNKERS. # 10 AUGUSTA NATIONAL GC, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA PAR 4 467 YARDS ARCHITECT: ALISTER MACKENZIE OPENED: 1932 A SWEEPING DOWNHILL DOGLEG LEFT. POSITIONING OFF THE TEE CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE IN DETERMINING DISTANCE. LEFT CENTER IS CLOSER YET AND FORCES A SIDEHILL LIE, WHILE ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE LIE IS LONGER AND MORE DOWNHILL. A LONG UNDULATING GREEN IS PROTECTED BY DEEP SAND BUNKERS. # 11 OAK TREE GC, EDMOND, OKLAHOMA PAR 4 485 YARDS ARCHITECT: PETE DYE OPENED: 1976 FEATURING AN ELEVATED TEE TO AN OPEN FAIRWAY WITH OUT-OF-BOUNDS ON BOTH SIDES. AN INNOCENT LOOKING HOLE, BUT WITH SOUTHERN PLAINS CROSS-WINDS, OFTEN THE SECOND SHOT TO AN UNDULATING GREEN REQUIRES THE BEST SKILLS. # 12 SOUTHERN HILLS CC, TULSA, OKLAHOMA PAR 4 492 YARDS ARCHITECT: PERRY MAXWELL OPENED: 1935 AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS TOUGH. A SLIGHT DOGLEG LEFT AROUND A LARGE FAIRWAY BUNKER LEAVES THE GOLFER WITH A LONG-IRON TO A LARGE GREEN. BUT DON'T BE SHORT WITH THE SECOND SHOT, AS A NARROW CREEK CUTS IN FRONT OF THE GREEN. # 13 MEDINAH CC, NO. 3, MEDINAH, ILLINOIS PAR 4 455 YARDS ARCHITECT: TOM BENDELOW OPENED: 1928 ANOTHER TIGHT TREE-LINED DOGLEG. THE STRATEGY HERE IS TO AIM AT THE FAIRWAY BUNKER THROUGH THE FAIRWAY WITH MAYBE A FARIWAY WOOD OR LONG-IRON. THE SECOND SHOT FORCES THE PLAYER TO BRING THE BALL IN HIGH, WITH LOTS OF SPIN TO STOP ON A VERY SMALL CONTOURED GREEN. # 14 CHERRY HILLS CC, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO PAR 4 488 YARDS ARCHITECT: WILLIAM FLYNN OPENED: 1923 A DOWNHILL DOGLEG LEFT REQUIRES AN IRON OFF THE TEE. TROUBLE LIES BOTH LEFT IN THE FORM OF A CREEK AND RIGHT WITH "OSCAR BROWN". THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIR MAKES CLUB SELECTION TOUGH AS THE BALL CARRIES EXTRA YARDS. # 15 HARBOUR TOWN GL, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. PAR 5 568 YARDS ARCHITECT: PETE DYE OPENED: 1969 TREE-LINED AND LONG. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR MISTAKES HERE. OFF THE TEE, FAIRWAY BUNKERS ON THE RIGHT FORCE THE GOLFER LEFT. THE SECOND SHOT MUST BE LONG ENOUGH TO REACH A DOGLEG LEFT APPROACH TO THE GREEN. A LARGE POND NARROWS THE LANDING AREA. THE THIRD SHOT IS A DELICATE SHORT-IRON OVER GREEN-SIDE BUNKERS. # 16 CYPRESS POINT GC, PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA PAR 3 232 YARDS ARCHITECT: ALISTER MACKENZIE OPENED: 1928 LONG AND BREATH-TAKING ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST. STRATEGY REQUIRES THE BRAVEST OF PLAYERS TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CLUB. MANY WILL LAY UP SHORT LEFT AND TAKE THEIR CHANCES ON SCRAMBLING FOR PAR. EVEN THE SAND BUNKER CAN BE RELIEF FROM THE OCEAN. # 17 LAQUINTA HOTEL GC, DUNES COURSE PAR 4 440 YARDS LAQUINTA, CALIFORNIA ARCHITECT: PETE DYE OPENED: 1982 A WATER-BORDERED DOGLEG LEFT. FAIRWAY BUNKERS TIGHTEN THE DRIVING AREA LEAVING AN EXTREMELY LONG SECOND SHOT OVER WATER. AVERAGE GOLFERS WILL BAIL OUT RIGHT WHICH THEN LEAVES THEM WITH A SHOT TO A LONG GREEN SLOPING TOWARD THE LAKE. DEEP SAND BUNKERS AROUND THE GREEN ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET UP-AND-DOWN FROM. # 18 DORAL CC, BLUE COURSE, MIAMI, FLORIDA PAR 4 424 YARDS ARCHITECT: DICK WILSON OPENED: 1962 A CHAMPIONSHIP DOGLEG AROUND THE WATER ON THE LEFT THEY CALL "GATORLAND". OFF THE TEE, A WINTER SWIRLING WIND FORCES PLAYERS TO HIT DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE. ANYTHING LEFT AND YOU ARE WET. A TUCKED-PIN MAKES THE SECOND SHOT JUST AS SCARY. A MEDIUM-IRON CARRY ACROSS WATER IS ALSO FACED WITH GREEN-SIDE BUNKERS TO A NARROW GREEN.