Eighteen holes that serve up lifetime memories of gorgeous vistas and white-knuckle play have been selected as the winners of the John Deere Credit search for the Most Beautifully Brutal Golf Holes in North America.
Winning holes were selected in each of six regions from entries submitted by golf course professionals, superintendents, owners and designers throughout the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec). Each entry was judged on the basis of its playing difficulty and beauty by a panel that included Jeff Babineau, editor of Golfweek; Pat Roberts, publisher of Golfdom; Joe Passov, architecture editor for Golf magazine; and Gary Van Sickle, golf editor for Sports Illustrated.
“These 18 holes offer outstanding examples of how dedicated course owners, architects and superintendents create and maintain holes that golfers talk about the entire year,” says Steve Knutson, director of golf leasing for John Deere Credit.
The 18 Most Beautifully Brutal Golf Holes include:
Region 1 – South Central and Northwestern U.S.
Aspen Lakes Golf Course, Sisters, Ore., Hole 11, 450 yards, Par 4
Cordillera Ranch, Boerne, Texas, Hole 16, 172 yards, Par 3
Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan, Kan., Hole 7, 600 yards, Par 5
Region 2 – Southwest U.S.
Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif., Hole 18, 564 yards, Par 5.
Oak Quarry Golf Club, Riverside, Calif., Hole 4, 214 yards
Tucson National – Catalina, Tucson, Ariz., Hole 18, 469 yards, Par 4
Region 3 – North-central U.S.
Legends Club, Lakeville, Minn., Hole 13, 209 yards, Par 3
Sutton Bay, Agar, S.D., Hole 1, 661 yards, Par 5
TPC at Deere Run, Silvis, Ill., Hole 16, 165 yards, Par 3
Region 4 – Northeast U.S. and Gulf Coast
Butter Brook Golf Club, Westford, Mass., Hole 17, 416 yards, Par 4
Grand Cypress, East Course, Orlando, Fla., Hole 5, 153 yards, Par 3
Ocean Course, Palm Coast, Fla., Hole 9, 437 yards, Par 4
Region 5 – Eastern U.S.
Atlanta Athletic Club, Duluth, Ga., Hole 15, 257 yards, Par 3
Copper Hills Golf & Country Club, Oxford, Mich., Hole 9, 453 yards, Par 4
The Creek Club at Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Ga., Hole 12, 569 yards, Par 5
Region 6 – Canada (excluding Quebec)
Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club, Banff, Alberta, Hole 4, 192 yards, Par 3
Blackhawk Golf Club, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Hole 7, 575 yards, Par 5
Lethbridge Country Club, Lethbridge, Alberta, Hole 13, 397 yards, Par 4
“John Deere Credit is proud to recognize these efforts and to provide golf courses throughout North America with equipment and lease products that help them keep courses beautiful and brutal,” Knutson adds.
Photos and descriptions of the 18 winning holes, and all holes entered in the contest can be seen at www.JohnDeereCredit.com/brutalgolfholes. The 18 Most Beautifully Brutal Golf Holes also will be showcased in a keepsake calendar that will be distributed to golf course superintendents throughout the U.S. and Canada.