Worst starting hole in Ottawa Gatineau

[Marcos]

Since we where talking about Pineview number one hole, i decided to ask what your opinion of the worst starting hole in the region. My vote is my old stomping grounds Buckingham. I hate the first hole with a passion, O.B. left side, you never have a good lie, its short but very narrow when hitting your second shot, trees come into play both sides. Lets hear some of your not so favourite ones.:

[imozzie]

First hole at Whitetail. Will never understand what the course architect was thinking making the first hole a par 3 over a gully. Normally, you want to get the crowd stretched out....not stacked up???

[spuds]

First hole at Whitetail. Will never understand what the course architect was thinking making the first hole a par 3 over a gully. Normally, you want to get the crowd stretched out....not stacked up???

You stole my thunder,I was going to say exactly the same..

[Chieflongtee]

Originally Posted by imozzie
First hole at Whitetail. Will never understand what the course architect was thinking making the first hole a par 3 over a gully. Normally, you want to get the crowd stretched out....not stacked up???

Perhaps they are in the business of selling refurbished balls

On to the opposite. What is the easiest starting hole? Arimac and executive courses excluded.

[HoganWoods]

Metcalfe #1 for me also. It has no options at all, cutting the corner is not really dooable, unlike Nation where you can drive the green but must thread the needle to do it.

[Big Johnny69]

I'll mention it again, Loch March. The average golfer slices the ball and nothing says slow opening hole like a huge pond all the way down the right side.

[goochy]

I'll mention it again, Loch March. The average golfer slices the ball and nothing says slow opening hole like a huge pond all the way down the right side.

This is actually my favourite opening hole in the city and one of my favourite par 4s....and the first at Equinelle would also be on my top ten list. Taste is a funny thing. Both these holes are tough but certainly not unfair and I don't think 1 at LM would slow anyone up. The right side is a lake legitimately red staked. If you soak one off the tee stroll down, drop one and hit. What's slow is when there is forest (like Canadian) and everyone spends 5 mins looking for it. It's pretty obvious if you put one in the water at LM.
Also why shouldn't the first hole be tough...warming up is what the range is for
Personally I find those two opening holes really focus me.
I would think a "worst opening hole" would be one with no options or blind....I love montebello but the first hole there is very underwhelming with a short blind tee shot. Also as many have mentioned, Metcalfe and I would add 1 East at Emerald Links

[Gobble_It]

This is actually my favourite opening hole in the city and one of my favourite par 4s....and the first at Equinelle would also be on my top ten list. Taste is a funny thing. Both these holes are tough but certainly not unfair and I don't think 1 at LM would slow anyone up. The right side is a lake legitimately red staked. If you soak one off the tee stroll down, drop one and hit. What's slow is when there is forest (like Canadian) and everyone spends 5 mins looking for it. It's pretty obvious if you put one in the water at LM.
Also why shouldn't the first hole be tough...warming up is what the range is for
Personally I find those two opening holes really focus me.
I would think a "worst opening hole" would be one with no options or blind....I love montebello but the first hole there is very underwhelming with a short blind tee shot. Also as many have mentioned, Metcalfe and I would add 1 East at Emerald Links

Agreed with Canadian #1. Many people will lay up to the right and face with a tough shot over the bunker to an elevated green with water on the left waiting for you
Not an easy hole for high handicap starting out with the first hole...

[SnazzyD]

What's slow is when there is forest (like Canadian) and everyone spends 5 mins looking for it. It's pretty obvious if you put one in the water at LM.

Maybe this epidemic of wild parsley will dissuade people from spending time looking for their balls. I saw quite a bit of it at Stonebridge the other day....the marshal even warned me about it.

[Gobble_It]

Maybe this epidemic of wild parsley will dissuade people from spending time looking for their balls. I saw quite a bit of it at Stonebridge the other day....the marshal even warned me about it.

Warning you about the wild parsley or looking for balls

[spuds]

Warning you about the wild parsley or looking for balls

Have you been eating those magic mushrooms!!! No such thing as wild parsley,its wild parsnip.

[BogeyGolf]

I will say Nation No.1

Although, Whitetail starting with a Par 3 seems strange....

[justsomeguy]

I will say Nation No.1

Although, Whitetail starting with a Par 3 seems strange....

Chateau Cartier starts with a Par 3 now. La Cite in Hawkesbury starts with two par 3`s - now THAT is strange! But I don`t really have a problem with any of them.

I`m not a big fan of the opening hole at Metcalfe. Its too early in the round to demand two precision shots to the green. I also dislike the first hole at Arnprior (now Sand Point) - both when I`m on the first tee and also when I`m playing the 9th hole!

[justdoit]

I will say Nation No.1

Although, Whitetail starting with a Par 3 seems strange....

Might try moving up to red tees at Whitetail

[dmartin]

the new worst may be Pineview... opening the right woods to all those slicers mentioned above.
Provisionals and mulligans should be epidemic.

We short hitters sadly will lay up...

[Chieflongtee]

the new worst may be Pineview... opening the right woods to all those slicers mentioned above.
Provisionals and mulligans should be epidemic.

We short hitters sadly will lay up...

Thought there were red stakes on the right. No?

[Pine View]

The woods have always been marked as a hazard. It is impossible to play out of there due to the rocky gully. A quick penalty drop and you are on your way.

the new worst may be Pineview... opening the right woods to all those slicers mentioned above.
Provisionals and mulligans should be epidemic.

We short hitters sadly will lay up...

[dmartin]

Thanks Pineview !!

never been up that far.... Hit an Honest 200-215 with driver
and will continue to hit #4 hybrid off this tee.

Nice to see the progressive changes you've made so far.
A bit surprised that with your reduced cutting to define fairways which I happen to like
hole #8 requires a different line off the tee for me.
The ball was getting tired anyway.
keep doing what your doing ..

[Paulio]

Equinelle #1 drives me crazy. Beautiful hole, just not ready for it on the days first shot. My misses are always left and I'm a first tee jitters guy. Not a good combo.

Again, very nice hole though.

[cleek]

Metcalfe

[Marcos]

Metcalfe

Agree on this one too.

[Leftymoose]

I would second that eQuinelle #1 is a fantastic hole, but should not be the first hole on the course. I love the hole but feel as though golfers can't do it justice on #1

[SnazzyD]

I would second that eQuinelle #1 is a fantastic hole, but should not be the first hole on the course. I love the hole but feel as though golfers can't do it justice on #1

Couldn't agree more. I've played there half a dozen times or so and I made it across the water on #1 for the FIRST time last week. It's not a hard shot, but I never have time to warm up at the range before I put that first swing on the ball and I'm the type of golfer who needs a few holes to get into the groove (sometimes 9 or more!).

I'd vote for flipping the front and back 9s, since #10 is a nice easy hole to start out with (birdied it last week) and #9 can be a pretty challenging home hole.

[jeffc]

Couldn't agree more. I've played there half a dozen times or so and I made it across the water on #1 for the FIRST time last week. It's not a hard shot, but I never have time to warm up at the range before I put that first swing on the ball and I'm the type of golfer who needs a few holes to get into the groove (sometimes 9 or more!).

I'd vote for flipping the front and back 9s, since #10 is a nice easy hole to start out with (birdied it last week) and #9 can be a pretty challenging home hole.

There has been some talk of flipping the 9's but with the new clubhouse being built overlooking the current 18 I am not sure that will happen now. Last year I played it in reverse and was +2 going into 7,8,9 and went +5 on those 3 holes so it does make things interesting.

[golfisforfun]

I would second that eQuinelle #1 is a fantastic hole, but should not be the first hole on the course. I love the hole but feel as though golfers can't do it justice on #1

I think the 9s at eQuinelle should be reversed. 7,8,9 currently would make for a really tough finish as 16,17,18. And the current 10,11,12 would be a nice easy start to a round.

[em69]

I think the 9s at eQuinelle should be reversed. 7,8,9 currently would make for a really tough finish as 16,17,18. And the current 10,11,12 would be a nice easy start to a round.

This set up would see a reduction in sales at the clubhouse. Players would head straight to their cars, instead of walking by the clubhouse. This is why Stonebridge reversed their 9s a few years ago.

[dbleber]

Whitetail. Starting on a par 3 is brutal

[jeffc]

Stonebridge #1 always gets me. Either left into the rough/hills or right into the water. Not having a range anymore makes it even harder for your first swing of the day. It's not the worst but if you are looking to get the pace moving right away then its not ideal. Oh, and its followed by one of the toughest par 3's in the city.

[BogeyGolf]

Stonebridge #1 always gets me. Either left into the rough/hills or right into the water. Not having a range anymore makes it even harder for your first swing of the day. It's not the worst but if you are looking to get the pace moving right away then its not ideal. Oh, and its followed by one of the toughest par 3's in the city.

Can't be that tough of a Par 3...Ace boy...LOL

[huge21]

just an update on La Cite in Hawkesbury, last year they have made changes to the second hole to make it a par 4 which I think is a lot better than starting with two par 3's in a row and I do agree that #1 at Equinelle is a pain, so is the one at Metcalfe, like justsomeguy said, you need to start your round with 2 good shots and if not you might post a big score on that hole