To make a personal 18 holes, you must follow the guidelines set forth below:
1) You must have played the course.
2) The holes must appear as their actual number, that is, favorite 1st hole, favorite 2nd hole, etc.
3) Par and yardage must resemble an actual course.
I added a fourth:
4) Only one hole per course.
Based on these rules, see my picks below:
| Hole | Course | Location | Par | Yards | Description |
| 1 | Indian Canyon Golf Course | Spokane, WA | 4 | 479 | When the hole is the featured on the literature, you know it is the signature hole. Built in 1931, this beauty has hosted 3 USGA championships, most recently the 1989 Women’s Public Links Championship. The view standing on the first tee is breathtaking. Downhill all the way, so don’t be deterred by the yardage. |
| 2 | Forest Hill Country Club | Richmond, IN | 4 | 446 | This gem in Eastern Indiana, built in 1927, hosted a variety top tier Indiana Golf Association tournaments. What makes the second hole memorable is the green. Don’t be above the hole! |
| 3 | Ocean Creek Golf Course | Fripp Island, SC | 3 | 168 | Only a picture will do this Davis Love III designed hole justice, https://www.frippislandresort.com/golf/ocean-creek/ |
| 4 | Otter Creek Golf Course | Columbus, IN | 3 | 192 | It’s weird having back-to-back par 3’s but “Alcatraz” had to make the list. Old-timers will argue this is number 13, but now it is #4 on the West Nine. |
| 5 | The Links Golf Club | New Palestine, IN | 5 | 550 | Cut the dogleg and this par 5 is reachable, but have enough carry to clear the creek in front of the green! Originally known as Hoosier Links, this course played host to the NAIA District Championship in the late 70’s and early 80’s. |
| 6 | Martinsville Golf Club | Martinsville, IN | 4 | 372 | Built in 1925, this beauty in Southern Indiana, whose tag line is No Houses Here, has been a hub for junior golf events for decades. Number 6 is a devilishly tight par 4 with a creek diagonalling across the fairway that will catch drives too far right and approaches too far left. |
| 7 | Donald Ross Memorial | Harbor Springs, MI | 4 | 337 | Every hole at the Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands Resort is a replica of a famed Donald Ross design. Number 7 is the famed, short 18th at the Inverness Club in Toledo. |
| 8 | Bay Valley Golf Club | Bay City, MI | 4 | 476 | This Desmond Muirhead design, built in 1972, played host to several NAIA National Championships, in which yours truly had the privilege to participate in 1980. Number 8 is daunting from the tee, tree-lined on the right, water down the left, but step on a drive and the hole opens up. |
| 9 | Ocean Point Golf Club | Fripp Island, SC | 4 | 365 | My favorite golf hole. Period. Don’t let the yardage fool you! A 90° dogleg left, staring straight at the Atlantic Ocean off the tee, a gator-filled lake in the dogleg and a three tiered green make this a picturesque challenge. |
| Out | 35 | 3,385 | |||
| 10 | Maketewah Country Club | Cincinnati, OH | 4 | 453 | Another Donald Ross masterpiece, designed in 1910. Here is the flyover, https://www.maketewah.com/public/golf/10 |
| 11 | The Donald Ross Course at Frenck Lick | Franch Lick, IN | 4 | 367 | Sensing a theme? This one designed in 1917. The flyover, https://www.bestapproachflyovers.com/FLR_frenchlickross/flyovers/hole11.mp4 |
| 12 | Wildwood Country Club | Louisville, KY | 4 | 303 | Beauty, not difficulty got this 90° dogleg right on the list. Tee off facing a gorgeous waterfall. If you lay up appropriately, you can then flip a wedge across the creek. |
| 13 | Purgatory Golf Club | Noblesville, IN | 5 | 748 | Yep. That is not a misprint. Purgatory is 7,754 from the tips. I tried it once for fun. It wasn’t fun. |
| 14 | Cog Hill Golf Course #4 (Dubsdread) | Lemont, IL | 3 | 256 | Host of the PGA’s BMW Championship, you are on top of the hill with a beautiful view for the menacing par 3. |
| 15 | Eagle Creek Golf Club Sycamore Course | Indianapolis, IN | 4 | 438 | The signature hole at the Pete Dye 36 hole complex. Your approach shot looks like you are throwing a dart to a dartboard. |
| 16 | Country Club of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | 3 | 193 | CCI hosted the Indiana State Amatuer Championship in 1900 and 2020, plus LPGA Tour events in the 80’s. Nothing fancy, just a classic. |
| 17 | River’s Edge Golf Club | Shelbyville, IN | 4 | 275 | Formerly Elks Blue River Country Club, you can make 2 or 7 on this gem with equal probability. The Big Blue River flows down the right and bends behind the green to catch those long-knockers that can’t keep it on the well-guarded kidney bean of a green. |
| 18 | Valhalla Golf Club | Louisville, KY | 5 | 545 | Named “Gahm Over,” the split fairway adds different looks to the multi-tiered green. A classic finishing hole. (I eagled #13 “The Island” that day.) |
| In | 36 | 3,578 | |||
| Total | 71 | 6,963 |
Hopefully this catches on! Let us know your ideal personal 18 holes in the comments or via social media!
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