Top 100 Golf Courses: Pine Valley Golf Club
Is Pine Valley Golf Club the best golf course in the world? In 2009 it was ranked #1 by Golf Magazine. In 2010, a small private course named Augusta National in Georgia edged out Pine Valley to be named the #1 course in the world, perhaps you have heard of it.
(A look back at the 1st hole at Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey)
What Makes Pine Valley So Great?
After playing here last month, I was asked this question more than any. My response was "Every hole is a signature hole". I was asked my favorite hole, I started out by saying the 18th is one of the most incredible holes you will ever see. Then I back tracked so it sounded something like this:
"But the 2nd hole is amazing too. The 5th hole is ridiculous, I'll have nightmares about it. The 13th is something special and the 14th requires the perfect shot...."
(The 14th hole is a 220 yard par 3. Your tee shot is from an elevated green an is all carry)
You get the point. I can't pick just one hole I love at this amazing golf course. Every hole was beautiful in it's own way but they all shared a common theme, hit your intended target or be sorry.
Is it Unfairly Difficult?
Pine Valley was hands down the most difficult golf course I have ever played but it was not unfair by any means. Playing from the Regular Tees, the 72.8/153 rating and slope is a pretty good indication of how tough it is but do not confuse difficult with unfair.
Pine Valley makes it simple. Hit your intended target with your golf shot and you're rewarded, miss and you will be happy with a bogey. You would expect a difficult course to have small fairways and greens, but that is not the case. With the exception of the 8th green (one of the smallest and well guarded I have ever seen), the fairways are wide and the greens are large. If only making it to the green was the end, in some cases, the hole has just begun.
Continued on the next page
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