The best hole I ever played: One of golf’s prettiest and most unusual holes

Our knowledgeable crew of course raters have stuck pegs in the ground just about everywhere. But which holes stand out as the greatest they’ve ever played? We asked them, and they replied with love letters about their faves. This offering comes from John Dempsey.

Distilling thousands of holes played into a single favorite? Not an easy task, especially if you want to stay away from the usual suspects, such as the eighth at Pebble, the 13th at Augusta and the 17th at the Old Course.

Amid a sea of options, I’m drawn to the 13th at Mid Ocean, a lovely hole on a lovely course in a very lovely place.

Mid Ocean was designed by CB Macdonald, who was fortunate to work on many stunning sites, none more spectacular than this. In the middle of a fine round — distracted by coastal scenery that makes it hard to concentrate on golf — you trek up the 12th hole to a green perched atop the highest hill on the property. You’re pretty sure the day can’t get any better.

And yet.

It happens on the 13th tee, as you gaze down and into the distance toward the green set in a valley so far below that a well-struck shot takes on an air of majesty.

Nor is it an ordinary green. It’s a biarritz green, defined by the deep swale that bisects it.

This terrific hole is framed by palm trees, with the white roofs of island homes peeking out of them — all the things that make the Bermuda ‘skyline’ special. True to biarritz hole tradition, it’s a long par-3, playing 210 to 240 yards to a putting surface of delightful variance.

You savor the view for a few minutes, waiting to tee off until there is a break in the stream of motorbikes that zoom just below your tee perch. (It helps to have a caddie or playing partner standing lookout for you as you get ready to hit.) You wait for a lull, time your swing perfectly, then watch your shot as it makes its way to the green below, either beautifully framed against the blue Bermuda sky or skittering its way across the street and down the hill to reach the green in less poetic fashion.

In either case, you have just played one of golf’s prettiest and most unusual holes.

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