Worst starting hole in Ottawa Gatineau

[fourlights]

Aren't there are out of bounds stakes that far right?

[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.

[habsfan]

Aren't there are out of bounds stakes that far right?

Not sure I went down the fairway but my brother was over there and he ended up par'ing the hole, although white stakes mean nothing to him so its quite possible.

[holeinone]

nation #1, doesnt get more mickey mouse than that

[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.

[stevek]

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

I see a lot of wild parsley in my wife's untended herb containers!

For the question at hand I also don't like starting on a par three but have always done well on Whitetail#1.

[Guzman]

Metcalfe #1 hcp 3
Stonebridge #1 hcp 3
Equinelle #1 hcp 5
Sand Point #1 hcp 11
Pineview #1 hcp 14
Nation #1 hcp 18
Montebello #1 hcp 18
Smuglers Glen #1 hcp 18

[dq2003]

I will say NAtion 1.
Not because I hate the hole, but just that some players try to drive the green, blindly. Can be dangerous.

[freddyottawa]

I will say NAtion 1.
Not because I hate the hole, but just that some players try to drive the green, blindly. Can be dangerous.

Everytime I have played Nation, they had a marshall watching the group in front on the 1st hole letting you know where they are. Is that not the case anymore?

[ladygolfer13]

Yes there is usually a starter there until 2-3in afternoon depending on how busy it is

[strong49]

Starting hole Edelweiss is tough and slow down the play right away

[strong49]

Oh yeah I haven't play Nation for years but isn't il a 7 iron kind of for the tee?
No very usual but better that starting on a par 3

[KOKO72]

No such thing as a bad hole on a golf course!!! Monday morning dragging my $ss out of bed to go to work.....now that is a bad start!

[ladygolfer13]

Well for nation. I hit from Womens so I can see green but for men depending on where tee placement is usually is iron shot to middle then just wedge to green

[dq2003]

Oh yeah I haven't play Nation for years but isn't il a 7 iron kind of for the tee?
No very usual but better that starting on a par 3

Yes. I usually hit 7 iron off 1st tee.
But you have these guys who wait for the group ahead to leave the green so they can try driving it.

[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

[cruxradio]

Stittsville , 200 yard par3.
Nation, short par 4 hard dog leg right.
Buckingham, par 4 dog leg right with OB left.

[leftygolfguy]

Smuggler's Glen offers an almost-blind first shot over a ravine. I like it, but I have fed the gods a lot of balls on that hole.

This is easily my least favourite opening shot... Long drive so always a little stiff, lots of noise from parking lot and patio, very tough landing area and the ravine into a driveway...

Not loving it... Gorgeous hole though.

[dmartin]

any one I take a double or worse !!

tends to change fairly often.

[Johnyc]

This is easily my least favourite opening shot... Long drive so always a little stiff, lots of noise from parking lot and patio, very tough landing area and the ravine into a driveway...

Not loving it... Gorgeous hole though.

Easy hole. Even an average drive gets you over the scrub and it’s a 460 yard par 5 (from the back tees) from an elevated tee off. I’m not exactly sure what the original question was (hardest, worst, ….).

If it’s hardest locally I’ll add 1 south at hunt club. 440 yards +/- depending on tee / pin placement. Narrow drive. Uneven lie hitting into a green that seems unreadable with a false front and bunkers, two of which you are at least 6-8 feet below the putting surface, on three sides.

I think the first at Rideau View is one of the better opening holes. Not a pushover but also not incredibly difficult. A fair test and great way to start. I like the green - putts very well. Great bunkering. Anyway my two cents.

[Big Johnny69]

#1 at Loch March is always a challenge. Nothing but water down the right side!!

[justsomeguy]

#1 at Loch March is always a challenge. Nothing but water down the right side!!

I would be OK with that. Forever fighting a left hook at the beginning of the round and gradually getting it under control after 6 to 17 holes!

[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.

[leftygolfguy]

Easy hole. Even an average drive gets you over the scrub and it’s a 460 yard par 5 (from the back tees) from an elevated tee off. I’m not exactly sure what the original question was (hardest, worst, ….).

If it’s hardest locally I’ll add 1 south at hunt club. 440 yards +/- depending on tee / pin placement. Narrow drive. Uneven lie hitting into a green that seems unreadable with a false front and bunkers, two of which you are at least 6-8 feet below the putting surface, on three sides.

I think the first at Rideau View is one of the better opening holes. Not a pushover but also not incredibly difficult. A fair test and great way to start. I like the green - putts very well. Great bunkering. Anyway my two cents.

Haha good points...

To be clear - I meant long trip, not long drive... And it's not so much hard to score, it's just not a great visual to start the round. It's a really nice hole for a more confident golfer, and would probably be better if I spent 15-20 mins hitting some balls at the range before hitting the first tee shot after the car ride.

[Duffman]

Metcalfe #1 should get a bit of a bye. It is a horrible staring hole but the original course design had that as the 10th hole which makes much more sense. The new nine put in the back starting at hole 7 necessitated a re-routing.