Pine Valley's Most Diabolical Bunker, Explained | The Hole At | Golf Digest

Welcome to 'THE Hole At', where Golf Digest's Ron Whitten (the leading expert in golf course course architecture) breaks down the hidden histories behind the most famous holes in golf. In this episode, Ron dives into the unreachable Par-5 7th hole at Pine Valley Golf Club. From its original dogleg left design, to the creation of its diabolical forced carries like Hell's Half Acre, to remaining one of the most daunting Par-5s on earth, Ron explores the fascinating history behind one of the game's most iconic golf holes.

Host: Ron Whitten
Producer & Editor: Ben Walton
Cinematography: Ben Walton & Will Fullerton
Audio: Mike Kelly
Executive Producer: Christian Iooss

[KyleShevlin]

I would love Ron Whitten to publish a list of all the must reads on golf course architecture.

[hughmunkulus]

This is the best content that golf digest produces

[oahujuniorgolfassociationc]

A little goes a long way but sometimes like at pine valley a lot goes a long way. That’s what makes golf courses so great, that they can all be so different.
I for one love variety in golf.
I don’t want courses to follow trends. I want them to have their style and be unique. If that means a big penal challenge on every hole, great. If it’s no challenges great also. If it’s a mix of everything, why not?

All can be great, just like any of Ron’s breakdowns.

I want more of these !
The most wholesome addictive thing ever these videos.

[johndonohoe]

I never saw pine valley until I watched an old episode of Shell. The one with Nelson vs Littler. This showed me how tough it was. The old fox Nelson won that match. Poor Gene had a hard time on one of the par threes. Maybe just maybe I’ll get a chance! Enjoy these golf architecture buds. Thanks!

[drlarrylammers]

I have been blessed to be able to travel the world, and all the states collecting the finest golf courses including 70% of the TPC golf courses I ventured on this track 2×19, 87 and 2017. It’s the hardest Golf Course in the world.

[thebossgolfs]

Love this video and am excited about this series. Ron Whitten is perfect to discuss an in-depth review of a hole.

[jeffreycooley]

As a hack golfer, my favorite part of the game is the course. I've had the privilege of playing some amazing tracks, and there's nothing like the visual appeal, and intimidating aspects of knowing that the next shot must be nailed. Ron Whitten makes it so understandable that a good course is designed to be accessible, if good shots are executed. Great, great video

[jamescurley]

My favorite content on youtube! Thanks for the great insights.

[earlblevins]

This vlog was a real treat. Thank you.

[jwp]

Love, love, love your videos. Keep 'em coming. Thanks.

[williamhattersley]

Love these videos. Just wish there were more.

[ericknopik]

What a hole, what a course. Pine Valley is the best of the best. I hope to attend the Crump Cup someday so I can see this masterpiece in person.

[goodgolf]

Beautiful. Literal perfection, this video

[evelghostrider]

Courses have become to wide, especially for top tour players.

Greens are just way to big also. Make courses tighter and tuffer, not longer. Golf is a game of accuracy not distance.

Also make bunkers more hazardous, stop raking them and placing beautiful level sand in them. Rake them with your foot as you leave and leave it as that.

Make greens slower, not faster, this allows for more awkward pin placements on angles.

[andrewfourreau]

That sounds like fun. I want to play that course

[jacktattis]

Peter Thomson always promoted sand traps should not be raked and the surrounds left to overgrow

[SinzuSage]

Getting a bogey on this hole would be a good thing.

[danieln]

Disappointing to me that there are not more "likes" and comments on this great content. Look no further than a large golf forum to see that there is little interest in golf course design. Apparently that sort of conversation no longer "wrx" with the average golfer.

[kennethcole]

The monster course in New York state in Sullivan county measure 7037 yards. It’s probably one of the longest courses around he safe.

[Wickerman]

The best golf course I’ve ever played, by some distance. Not sure how 7 is the index 1 hole though. I would argue that 5, 9, 13, 15, 16 & 18 all play harder.