When we started traveling for golf, we were always interested in building a place we could look back on and document the experiences we’ve been lucky to enjoy. While we like to think we have pretty good memories, what we learned is it’s difficult to remember every favorite hole of ours, and we only anticipate that getting more difficult as time goes on. The solution? An annual ISO Fairways HOTY Awards. Let’s call them the HOTY’s. It should be fun to see how this list develops over the years as we (hopefully) increase our course portfolio.
Without further adieu, we’re happy to share our favorite holes we played this year in the first annual HOTY Awards!
Par 3
While some of the awards on this list were difficult to decide on, this one was easy. While we got to play some outstanding par 3s in Nevada (more on this later), our minds immediately went to Forsgate and our first time playing the classic template holes of the MacRaynor lineage. It’s tough to pick a par 3 we enjoyed more this year than the Biarritz 17th hole. The Charles Banks designed Biarritz was highly anticipated for us, and it exceeded our expectations.
Par 4
I hadn’t considered this hole originally, but Shayne picked and sold me on it as our par 4 of the year and I’m inclined to agree with him. Having played it in February I forgot how harrowing this tee shot is, and it’s without question the best par 4 tee shot we saw this year. If you survive the tee shot, the approach is semi blind into a small green as the fairway bends to the left. The star of the show is undoubtedly the tee shot though, and ends any round at Tobacco Road unforgettably.
Par 5
This was a tough one as there were several outstanding par 5s that came to mind, but we ultimately arrived at the most well known hole in Myrtle Beach. The signature hole at The Dunes Club, the par 5 13th hole is one of a kind. Nicknamed “Waterloo”, the 590 yard three shotter doglegs right around Lake Singleton at a nearly 90 degree angle. The tee shot is fairly mundane, daring players to flirt with the lake running down the right side of the fairway to shorten the unforgettable second shot, which plays 200 yards almost entirely over water. The green is well bunkered with no room to miss long, capping off the best hole in Myrtle Beach. If that isn’t daunting enough, perhaps the alligators that are likely to be your personal gallery will get your attention. It is perhaps the best par 5 in South Carolina and our favorite par 5 we’ve played this year.
Most Picturesque Tee Shot
There’s nothing better than walking up to a tee box and being mesmerized by the view in front of you. There were several picture worthy holes for us this year, but one stands out.
We had anticipated the opening hole at Wolf Creek for months, and we were taken aback at the sheer elevation change from the tee box.
While this is undoubtedly an outstanding view (like many on this course), we think the 14th takes the cake for the most picturesque tee shot of the year.
Honorable mention: 15th at Paiute (Wolf), on the shortlist for my favorite golf photo I’ve taken thus far!
Most Difficult
On a course with many outrageous holes, the par 3 3rd at Wolf Creek still haunts me. Playing 175 yards from the blues/whites and an imposing 227 yards from the tips, the view from the tee box says it all. Like most of the pictures from Wolf Creek, it doesn’t do the hole justice. With a forced carry over hazard, the hole plays severely (an understatement) uphill, with a narrow green requiring precision and height to reach. Failing to reach the green leaves a difficult chip with bunkers on the far end of the green ready to gobble any mistakes up. I’ll be hard pressed to find another hole more demanding.
Moment of the Year
I hope this answer isn’t a near hole in one but an actual hole in one in the future, but a heart stopper will have to suffice for now. The 12th hole at The Dunes is a par 3 playing over marsh at 175 yards (Blues), with wind coming off the water pushing the ball back towards the green. The right side of the carry is almost entirely water, with a more receptive landing area to the left. We were greeted with a difficult right side pin placement, with bunkers in front of and behind the line of the flag.
I was aiming for a conservative shot to the left of the green but pushed it a bit right. However, this put my shot headed dead at the cup. From our vantage point, it landed a few feet short then disappeared as it rolled directly at the pin. Shayne and I looked at each other in silence as my heart pounded thinking the impossible was a reality.
Much to my disappointment, the ball vanished due to a slight downhill slope we couldn’t see from the tee box, and I ended up with a few feet for birdie. As painful as the result was, that feeling of adrenaline on a golf course is what we live for, and a feeling we can’t wait to experience again!
We’re excited to see this list evolve over the years, and we have some outstanding courses already lined up for 2025. Thank you all for reading and we hope you enjoy everything we’re bringing your way!
-Mike & Shayne