Hole #4 - Merion Golf Club (East), Ardmore, PA - 600 yards Par 5

The best thing I can say about Merion is that I think the fourth hole at Merion is the best fourth hole in the world, yet it is probably not one of the best 5 holes at Merion!  The 16th, 18th, 11th, 5th and 17th (in that order), are probably all better.  That being said, the fourth hole at Merion is one of my all time favorite holes anywhere because it is one of the best uses of good, but not great, golf terrain I have ever seen.  This level of land is present, at least in part, in over a 1000 courses in the world, yet few, if any, manage to use the land as effectively, strategically, and aesthetically as the fourth at Merion.  First of all, it possesses a rarity in golf-- a three shot par five that holds interest for all three shots.  Secondly, it is beautifully bunkered.  And finally, it just flows with the land.  Tom Doak once said that the routing of a golf course should be close to how one would want to walk the property without a golf club in their hand.  If you were standing at the fourth tee at Merion without a golf club, you would absolutely want to walk right where the fairway flows all the way to the green.  With a golf club in your hand, the hole is magnificent.  The tee shot is semi-blind with two huge bunkers staring you down, neither of which should really be in play for the decent golfer.  If your drive finds the fairway, you are left with another semi-blind shot over a yawning bunker and down the slope.  Your third shot will be from a slightly downhill lie to a unique green that is surrounded by seven bunkers and lies just beyond one of Merion's infamous creeks.  Each shot requires thoughtful precision, and if executed, makes the next shot easier.  The green itself sits upon the land like it has been there forever.  With nothing behind the green for 50+ yards, there is nothing to aid in depth perception for the delicate third shot into the green.  In addition, where the architect really excelled is the cut lines of the fairway and the placement of the green, offset to the left of the landing area.  If this hole was built today, it would continue in a straight line past the crest of the hill, but this hole falls sharply to the left in a serpentine fashion giving interest and shot value to the second shot that would not exist otherwise.  This hole exemplifies what golf should be and how golf holes should be made.

Next best: Oakmont, Royal County Down, Riviera, Pacific Dunes, Spyglass Hill, Pine Valley, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not played: Fishers Island