Hole #17 - St. Andrews (Old), St. Andrews, Scotland - 461 yards Par 4

Like many of the world's great courses, the Old Course has several holes that could be included in any dream 18, and several that were close to being included in my Dream 18, most notably the 1st, 14th and 11th holes.  However, the Road Hole, as the 17th is called, is in a league of its own, even on this list.  This hole presents the three most harrowing man-made hazards that I am aware of.  First, your tee shot must be hit over a hotel in order to be on the proper line!  Second, this hole has, without question, the single most difficult sand trap in the world (the single greenside bunker known as the Road Hole Bunker).  And third, a gravel road runs adjacent to the rear of the green with a several thousand year old stone wall on the far side of the road (both of which are in play).

The first man-made hazard, the hotel, is a relatively new addition to this hole.  However, for over a hundred years, a railroad shed had to be carried off of the tee.  As such, for more than a century, the tee shot on this hole has been blind (although the shorter hitter can see the fairway to the left if he chooses to play this as a three shot hole). Any push off of this tee will hit either the shed, or the hotel and be OB.  If you favor the left side too much, you will end up in heavy rough and have almost no shot at hitting the green in two.  Assuming you are fortunate enough to drive the ball into the fairway, a mid-iron into a sliver of a green awaits.  Like the 12th at Augusta, the green on this hole is set at a 45 degree angle from the line of play, this time, from front right to back left.  The angle of this green, like the 12th at Augusta, is the key to the hole as it is the reason why so many people (pros included) end up in the Road Hole Bunker or on the road over the green.  If you try to play to the front right of the green, but pull it, you will end up in the Road Hole Bunker.  Conversely, if you try to carry the bunker and play for the back left of the green, but push it, you will end up on the road.  Without the angle to the green, it would simply be about distance control.  Instead, it is about both distance control AND direction.

The Road Hole Bunker is probably the deepest bunker of its size on the planet.  There is very little room to maneuver in there, and you are either up against the sod wall or very close to it. As a result, it makes for perhaps the most difficult bunker shot in golf, which is often repeated after the first attempt to get out of the bunker fails.

The road itself is unique for obvious reasons, but its proximity to the putting surface is astounding.  If your ball is on the back of the green, very likely, you will have to stand on the road to read your put.  Also, the fact that the green is raised a couple of feet above the road means that even a ball trickling over the green will likely end up on the road.  Anything hit firmly over the green will end up next to the wall which requires very bold and interesting recovery skills.  Aside from being one of the most unique and famous holes in the world, it is also among the best.

Next best: Cypress Point, Pine Valley, National Golf Links of America, Crystal Downs, Sand Hills, Merion (East), Prairie Dunes, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits (Straits), Kapalua (Plantation)
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None