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The WGA Open "Dream 18"
In the Western Golf Alliance, we have played a lot of memorable, world class golf courses. We began our WGA Open as a way of showcasing the best regional golf courses in the western United States, and as a result we have experienced some of the greatest golf facilities in the county. Of course, this leads many people to ask us what were our favorite holes - the best holes, most eventful holes, and most memorable holes at which we have shoved a tee in the turf.
So we tried to create a “Dream 18” that would reflect an amazing golf course comprised of the 18 greatest holes we have played. However, the fact is we have now played 702 different holes in our WGA Opens, and we don’t know how we can possibly do justice to any sort of discussion by limiting ourselves to selecting only <3% of those holes. Instead … we turned this exercise into a unique design challenge. After the 2020 WGA Open, we had played 35 golf courses. This is the perfect chance to create two 18 hole golf course, NOT necessarily of the "best" 18 holes, but two sound and well-designed golf courses. But there are rules!
We can pick any hole from any golf course we have EVER played, BUT ... a) The holes MUST be assigned to their natural order (in other words, hole #1 must be a hole #1 from some course); b) You can ONLY pick ONE hole from any course (so Pebble Beach #6,7,8,9,10,17,18 ... pick ONE ... ok, bad example cause we're allowing Pebble to have 2 holes, but you get the point); c) It MUST create two course, each par 70 to 73, and each in the 6,100 to 6,600 yard range. With that in mind, here is our "36 for 36" - the two great golf courses comprised of WGA Open holes!
Listing of the ALL the Courses We've Played ...
Alphabetical:
Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad California (2022)
Bandon Dunes, Bandon Dunes Resort (2008)*
Bandon Trails, Bandon Dunes Resort (2008)
Bear's Best Golf Course, Las Vegas Nevada (2010)
Bootleg Gap Golf Course, Kimberley BC (2018)
Cholla Course, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell Arizona (2016)
Copper Rock Golf Course, Hurricane Utah (2020)
Crosswater Course, Sunriver Resort, Sunriver Oregon (2014)*
Elkhorn Golf Course, Lyons Oregon (2002)
Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, St George Utah (2020)
Firecliff Golf Course, Desert Willows Resort (2006)
Homestead Golf Resort, Lynden Washington (2004)
Lexington at Revere Golf Club, Henderson Nevada (2010)
Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach Resort (2012)
Loomis Trail Golf Course, Semiahmoo Resort (2004)
Mountain View Golf Course, Desert Willows Resort (2006)
Nicklaus Course, Pronghorn Resort, Bend Oregon (2014)
North Course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla California (2022)
Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes Resort (2008)
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach Resort (2012)*
Raptor Course, Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale Arizona (2016)
Saguaro Course, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell Arizona (2016)
Salishan Golf Resort, Gleneden Beach Oregon (2002)
Sand Hollow Resort, Championship Course, Hurricane Utah (2020)
Semiahmoo Golf Course, Semiahmoo Resort (2004)
Shadow Mountain Golf Course, Cranbrook BC (2018)
Shuksan Golf Course, Bellingham Washington (2004)
SilverRock Golf Resort, La Quinta California (2006)
South Course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla California (2022)
Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach Resort (2012)
St Eugene Golf Course, Cranbrook BC (2018)
Stadium Course, TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale Arizona (2016)
The Grand Golf Club, San Diego California (2022)
Tokatee Golf Course, McKenzie Bridge Oregon (2002)
TPC Stadium Course, PGA West (2006)
Trickle Creek Golf Course, Kimberley BC (2018)
Wolf Course, Paiute Resort (2010)
Wolf Creek Golf Course, Mesquite Nevada (2010 and 2020)*
Woodlands Course, Sunriver Resort, Sunriver Oregon (2014)
In Order of Play:
Elkhorn Golf Course, Lyons Oregon (2002)
Tokatee Golf Course, McKenzie Bridge Oregon (2002)
Salishan Golf Resort, Gleneden Beach Oregon (2002)
Loomis Trail Golf Course, Semiahmoo Resort (2004)
Shuksan Golf Course, Bellingham Washington (2004)
Semiahmoo Golf Course, Semiahmoo Resort (2004)
Homestead Golf Resort, Lynden Washington (2004)
SilverRock Golf Resort, La Quinta California (2006)
Mountain View Golf Course, Desert Willows Resort (2006)
Firecliff Golf Course, Desert Willows Resort (2006)
TPC Stadium Course, PGA West (2006)
Bandon Dunes, Bandon Dunes Resort (2008)*
Bandon Trails, Bandon Dunes Resort (2008)
Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes Resort (2008)
Lexington at Revere Golf Club, Henderson Nevada (2010)
Wolf Creek Golf Course, Mesquite Nevada (2010 and 2020)*
Wolf Course, Paiute Resort (2010)
Bear's Best Golf Course, Las Vegas Nevada (2010)
Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach Resort (2012)
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach Resort (2012)*
Links at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach Resort (2012)
Crosswater Course, Sunriver Resort, Sunriver Oregon (2014)*
Nicklaus Course, Pronghorn Resort, Bend Oregon (2014)
Woodlands Course, Sunriver Resort, Sunriver Oregon (2014)
Saguaro Course, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell Arizona (2016)
Raptor Course, Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale Arizona (2016)
Stadium Course, TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale Arizona (2016)
Cholla Course, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell Arizona (2016)
Bootleg Gap Golf Course, Kimberley BC (2018)
St Eugene Golf Course, Cranbrook BC (2018)
Shadow Mountain Golf Course, Cranbrook BC (2018)
Trickle Creek Golf Course, Kimberley BC (2018)
Sand Hollow Resort, Championship Course, Hurricane Utah (2020)
Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, St George Utah (2020)
Copper Rock Golf Course, Hurricane Utah (2020)
Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad California (2022)
The Grand Golf Club, Del Mar California (2022)
North Course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla California (2022)
South Course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla California (2022)
* = Course played twice
THE WESTERN GOLF ALLIANCE
Keeping It Long and Straight Since 2002™
Okay, but ... what are the 18 best or most memorable hole's we have played thus far?
We have played 702 different golf holes in the WGA Open. Identifying the best 3% is almost impossible ... but here is our best effort at the impossible. In rank order ...
1) Bandon Dunes #16 - Some say it isn't perfect architecture, but they're wrong. It is the perfect balance of beauty, challenge, and options.
2) Pebble Beach #18 - The most famous closing hole in the world for a reason, and you will have several dozen people watching your approach and finish.
3) Pebble Beach #7 - With the wind it can play 50-170 yards, making it the most iconic and devilish short par 3 in the world.
4) Wolf Creek #2 - From the tee box this hole is simply the most intimidating driving hole. Anywhere. Ever. Period.
5) Pebble Beach #8 - Also from the perspective of intimidation, the second shot alone justifies the fame - and proves the beauty - of this hole.
6) Pacific Dunes #13 - Some would say this is the best constructed, purest par 4 in North America; a hole not built but simply discovered in the dunes.
7) Pebble Beach #6 - A stunning drive, difficult layup, challenging approach, and brutal green ... with the reward of amazing clifftop views where memories are made.
8) Paiute Wolf #15 - Other island par 3s are more famous, but this lesser known version is stunning in both its challenge and beauty.
9) Shadow Mountain #17 - A massively elevated tee on a beautiful and long par 5, this is the signature hole of this entire region of Canada.
10) Sand Hollow #12 - With an elevated tee, our favorite of the amazing cliffside holes.
11) TPC Scottsdale #15 - Hard par 5 to an island green creates memories for all.
12) Sand Hollow #13 - Short par 4 along a vertigo-inducing red-rock cliff.
13) Bandon Trails #11 - Long hard par 4 but with ways for the thinking golfer to play safe.
14) PGA West TPC Stadium #17 - The famous island green, a replica of 17 at Sawgrass.
15) Desert Willows Firecliff #17 - A wow-factor long par 3 no one would ever forget.
16) Crosswater #18 - Somehow this medium length par 4 is both easy and difficult.
17) Bootleg Gap #12 - Another par 3 off a cliff, making club selection intimidating.
18) The Grand #18 - A longer par 4 with an uphill approach with a wonder water feature.
... {sigh} ... okay, we'll try to turn this into an actual, logical golf course ...
#1 Crosswater #18 (Par 4, 370 yards)
#2 Wolf Creek #2 (Par 4, 429 yards)
#3 Bootleg Gap #12 (Par 3, 160 yards)
#4 TPC Scottsdale #15 (Par 5, 498 yards)
#5 Bandon Trails #11 (Par 4, 429 yards)
#6 Pebble Beach #6 (Par 5, 490 yards)
#7 Pebble Beach #7 (Par 3, 98 yards)
#8 Pebble Beach #8 (Par 4, 388 yards)
#9 The Grand #18 (Par 4, 373 yards)
Par 36, 3,235 yards
#10 Pacific Dunes #13 (Par 4, 390 yards)
#11 Paiute Wolf #15 (Par 3, 138 yards)
#12 Sand Hollow #12 (Par 4, 372 yards)
#13 Sand Hollow #13 (Par 4, 304 yards)
#14 Shadow Mountain #17 (Par 5, 582 yards)
#15 Desert Willows Firecliff #17 (Par 3, 193 yards)
#16 Bandon Dunes #16 (Par 4, 345 yards)
#17 PGA West TPC Stadium #17 (Par 3, 146 yards)
#18 Pebble Beach #18 (Par 5, 532 yards)
Par 35, 3,002 yards
TOTAL: Par 71, 6,237 yards
