Building the Most Iconic Public Golf Course in the World – One Hole at a Time

Golf is full of legendary holes—those gut-punching, awe-inspiring, camera-ready stretches of fairway that get burned into your memory whether you birdie or triple them. The problem? Most of us are never getting a tee time at Augusta or Cypress Point.

So here’s the question: what if we built a dream 18-hole golf course using only public or resort-accessible holes—the ones you can actually play? No exclusivity. No private member secrets. Just pure, iconic, bucket list golf.

That’s what this series is all about: putting together the most legendary public course on the planet, one hole at a time.

The Rules (Because Otherwise I’d Just Pick All of Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes)

1. Each hole has to match its number. Hole 1 on this list will be a great opening hole. Hole 18? A legendary finisher. It’s not just a highlight reel—we’re building a legit scorecard here.
2. One hole per course. No stacking the deck with multiple Pebble holes (even though I want to). This is about variety and global representation.
3. It has to be playable. If you can’t book a tee time—even if it’s $600 and sold out for 6 months—it doesn’t count. Public or resort-accessible only.

How It’ll Work

Each post in this series will highlight a single hole—from the strategy and architecture to the history, quirks, and infamous moments. Some will be obvious picks (yes, the 17th at Sawgrass is going to show up), while others might stir up debate. That’s part of the fun.

Think of this as a cross between a bucket list, a fantasy draft, and a love letter to public golf.

I considered letting people vote, but let’s be real—I don’t have the audience for that (yet). So for now, I’m calling the shots. But if you’ve got a hole you think belongs in the lineup, leave a comment. I’ll either ignore it or argue with you. Could go either way.

What’s Next?

Hole 1 is dropping soon—and let’s just say, it’s one of the most intimidating opening tee shots you’ll ever see.

Follow along, bring your own takes, and let’s build something that makes the private clubs jealous.