Hole #7 - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA - 106 yards Par 3

The 7th hole at Pebble Beach is one of the great places in golf.  What it lacks for in strategic design (assuming the wind is down), it makes up for with one of the best tee shots in the game.  I must say, that the first time you play this hole you may actually be slightly disappointed in that we have all seen the photos of this hole a hundred times, but almost all of those photos are taken from a spot about 30 yards to the left of the tee box, just behind the 6th green.  The view from the tee box is slightly less exhilarating because it feels less like you are teeing off straight into the Pacific and the bunkering is less attractive from the tee box than the spot that you see on the post cards.  That being said, it is a great thrill to play this hole as it seems to have the perfect elevation above the ocean for maximum dramatic and scenic effect.  Low lying courses, like Royal County Down, Royal Troon, Kingsbarns and St. Andrews are too low to be truly spectacular, and in my opinion, courses like Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes and Old Head are too high.  Sure, it beats looking at cornfields, but it's no Pebble Beach.  The 7th at Pebble is one of the five best tees in golf (the other four being the 15th and 16th at nearby Cypress Point, 14th at Royal Portrush and 9th at Royal County Down), for pure beauty.  The hole itself plays considerably downhill, which makes it great fun on a windless day watching your ball fly against the ocean for several seconds before landing on the green (hopefully), and it is also makes for a greater challenge playing a 100 yard drop-shot into the wind.  Although I have a few courses still to play, this hole is probably about as cemented into my Dream 18 as any on this list.

Next best: Pine Valley, Pacific Dunes, San Francisco, Bay Harbor (Links), Royal County Down, Crystal Downs, Prairie Dunes, Shinnecock Hills
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None