Whether you’re standing on the first tee of the day or pulling your ball from the final cup, there are a few places that simply feel better than the rest.
We all love a good story, whether it’s found in a book or on the screen. The best ones grab your attention early and leave you smiling at the end. Golf courses are no different. What makes a “best” opening or closing hole will differ for everyone, but for me it’s less about how the hole plays and more about how it looks. Is it unique? Does it show off the designer’s creativity? Do the surroundings invite you to pause and take it all in?
Amberwood’s first hole is a perfect example. There’s just something about it that feels right and makes me happy - so much so that it’s featured in the banner at the top of every page on this website.
What are your favorite places to start and finish? I’ve got ten: Five opening drives. Five final putts. And each one delivers a smile - something I look forward to.
Opening Holes:
- Amberwood 1 (pictured in the banner above)
- Gray Fox 1
- Loblolly 1
- Mira Mesa 1
- Tarpon Boil 1
Closing Holes:
- Gray Fox 9
- Laurel Oak 9
- Saddlebrook 9
- Sandhill 9
- Walnut Grove 9
Gray Fox is the only course with a best opening AND closing hole! No wonder it's one of my top five courses!
Openers
When you step away from the Amberwood Starter Shack you're in for a visual treat. To your right is the 1st hole and the green across the water is where you'll be finishing in up in 90 minutes on the 9th. The whole course is filled with trees, none better looking than your opening shot.
It feels like real golf when you get your driver out on the first drive of the day. That's why Gray Fox 1 is a perfect opening shot - plus look at it! It's a simply stunning backdrop. You've got to carry or be right of that trap or your start will be looking bleak.
Your opening shot on Loblolly 1 is unusual. Many 1st holes seem like an add on - just a way to get you to the real start of the course. But the Loblolly course starts with a challenging uphill shot to an elevated green with great views to each side. It's a true way to start your game!
Mira Mesa 1 may not look overly exceptional. But there's just something about it that makes me happy. Maybe it's because I'm a lover of history and this course is steeped in it. And the new palms behind the trap and the wider nicer green just makes it even better!
Tarpon Boil 1's got all the ingredients for a cheeseburger in paradise! Rolling green, grasses off the drive, sand to be missed and water in back - that's nearly as good as Jimmy's lyrics:
I like mine with lettuce and tomatoHeinz 57 and french fried potatoesBig kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well, good God almighty which way do I steer
Closers - the best finishing holes
Gray Fox 9 is the way all golf courses should finish. A tough shot to an elevated green over a couple traps with a line of trees behind to put it all into perspective. I never want to leave this place!
Your last shot on one of our newest courses will make you want to come back, even more than the smell of fried chicken! It's the best-looking shot at Laurel Oak. And not to worry - that bunker is not right up against the green, so you can relax and let it ride from 120 yards out to a perfect green with oaks in the backdrop.
Saddlebrook 9 at sunset is flawless!
Sandhill is perched up on a hill of course! And the view in any direction is as nice as the one you're hitting toward. I always love finishing a round with a view - and hopefully a par!
The 9th on Walnut Grove is picture perfect with a great set of trees and a long trap on the right - it set up perfectly for my fade if aimed to the left of the green. And it's downhill so the view and extra length are perfect for a closing drive. Hope you too have an emotional connection to this perfect closer!
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