Hole #18 - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA - 543 yards Par 5

The closer to any Dream 18 MUST be the 18th at Pebble Beach.  There is just something about this hole, that makes it feel like the way a golf course should end.  Normally, I do not like par 5s as finishing holes.  By way of example, the 18th at Sebonack is great, but it just seems a little anti-climatic to have a three shot par 5 as a closer.  There are several outstanding par 4 closers, such as Oakmont, Merion and Carnoustie, but what they make up for in difficulty, is lost by the fact that you just can't squeeze out as much strategic value in a long par 4 as you can with a par 5.  Thus, after much thought, Pebble is really the only choice here.

The teeing area is fantastic (although a little too low to qualify as one of my top 5 tees in golf).  However, the drive has all of the strategic merits of a classic cape hole, with the Pacific Ocean taking the concept to a whole new level.  The further left you hit your tee shot, the shorter the shot into the green (which is reachable in two).  The safer play to the right turns this into a three shot hole.  For those who try to keep the option of going for the green in two in play, but take a safer line, two trees in the middle of the fairway become a factor. 

As a two shot hole, the strategic merit is unmatched off the tee with anything left being in the Pacific, and anything right killing any chance of reaching the green in two.  Assuming you find the fairway, the second shot needs to stay right of the Pacific, but left of the front right greenside bunker as well as a specimen tree that is just to the right, and short, of the bunker.

As a three shot hole, the 140 yard long bunker on the left of the fairway (as well as the Pacific Ocean) must be factored into the lay up, as does the OB right.  From the proper layup position, the lip of the front right bunker obscures most of the right side of the green, and the ocean still protects the left side.  Also, the tree just short and to the right of the green will cause problems for any layups that were too conservative in favoring the right side (but staying in bounds).

In my opinion, only the 13th at Augusta is in the same class as the 18th at Pebble in terms of strategy and beauty.

Next best: Oakmont, Merion (East), Pine Valley, Carnoustie, Olympic, St. Andrews (Old), Shinneock Hills, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Winged Foot (West)