Dumbest Golf Holes in Iowa

[enisthemenace]

Let me preface this by saying I love golf, and would play everyday if I could. That said, there are plenty of dumb holes out there, where the designer got a little too cute. Almost every course has one. Of the courses I've played, here is my top 3:

1. 18th at Harvester. Great course, overall, but this hole is pretty stupid
2. 18th at River Valley. Severly elevated, three-tiered, quarter sized green
3. 2nd at Legacy. Downhill tee shot, where you have to lay up with about a 5 iron, only to have a longer shot into the green from an awkward lie that's all carry.

[sunnysideup]

11 at Jester Park. Long par 5 with a lake to cross in the middle of it. Unless you can drive 300+ your only choice is to lay up with an iron and then hit across, basically taking any eagles out of the picture.

[cybsball20]

#5 at Veenker - Normally hitting identical clubs for both shots in. Can be stupid tough into the wind.

#15 at Veenker - This hole is backwards

#18 at River Valley, as mentioned above

[cy4prez7]

Every hole at Emerald Hills

My Favorite hole, Hole 7 white course at Brooks Golf Course. Huge overlook of the course from a highly elevated tee!!

[enisthemenace]

11 at Jester Park. Long par 5 with a lake to cross in the middle of it. Unless you can drive 300+ your only choice is to lay up with an iron and then hit across, basically taking any eagles out of the picture.

Oh Man...I forgot about 11 @ Jester. Yeah...that one makes the list, probably ahead of the 2nd at Legacy.

[ontheverge]

Was it 16 at the Harvester, that had all the tiers? I had heard that had been changed. Any truth to that? That was a bad hole.

[cloneu]

#15 at Veenker - This hole is backwards

Is this the par 4 that is right before the par 5 that has the green just over the river? I usually don't do well on that hole.

I don't like this hole at Honey Creek:

The only time I played this hole the right side of the fairway was muddy, almost seemed like it was under construction or something, and if you land on the left part of the fairway the ball rolls into the rough.

[The_Architect]

11 at Jester Park. Long par 5 with a lake to cross in the middle of it. Unless you can drive 300+ your only choice is to lay up with an iron and then hit across, basically taking any eagles out of the picture.

I always hit driver and just push it to the right side of the pond, you've got a lot of room over there.

[weeterkane]

don't know if it's changed since i last played it years ago, but number 16 at Woodland Hills. Par 4 with drop off, blind 2nd shot to the green.

[J-Diggy]

Speaking of River Valley, not a big fan of #12 - par 3 uphill to a green surrounded by water, and tall reeds and stuff making it a completely blind shot. Sometimes you can hardly see the top of the flag the vegetation is so tall. At least knock the stuff in front of the green down.

[timhisu]

Holes 1 and 10 at Grandview. Completely blind tee shots. So blind that they provide (or used to) a mirror at 10 to see if the green is clear.

[brokenloginagain]

#17 at jester park - isn't that the one where you have to duck hook your drive?

[beans4cy]

Speaking of River Valley, not a big fan of #12 - par 3 uphill to a green surrounded by water, and tall reeds and stuff making it a completely blind shot. Sometimes you can hardly see the top of the flag the vegetation is so tall. At least knock the stuff in front of the green down.

I agree with both the holes that have been mentioned at River Valley. Now those who have played it here is a thought I have always had. If it was played in reverse (switch the greens and the tees) the Back 9 would be a lot better IMO. Would also stop from being able to rip it over the house on #11 and have a mid to short iron into the green on #11 and would be a much better par 5.

[BryceC]

Holes 1 and 10 at Grandview. Completely blind tee shots. So blind that they provide (or used to) a mirror at 10 to see if the green is clear.

Agreed. Especially #1. If you can hit for any distance you can clear the hill and hit right into people without knowing it.

[sunnysideup]

#17 at jester park - isn't that the one where you have to duck hook your drive?

Oh yeah, I forgot about that one.