Welcome to ‘THE Hole At’, where Golf Digest’s Derek Duncan (our go-to for all things golf course architecture) breaks down the hidden histories behind the most famous holes in golf. In this episode, Derek dives into Pete Dye’s diabolical Par-3 17th hole at Whistling Straits. From its original location on a flat farm bluff, to the cut and fill construction technique that brought it down to the waters’ edge, to becoming one of the most dramatic and recognized finishing holes in the world, Derek explores the fascinating history behind one of Whistling Straits’ most difficult golf holes.
Host: Derek Duncan
Producer, Camera Operator: Ben Walton
Editor: Robert Phillips-Knight
Audio: Mike Kelly
Executive Producer: Christian Iooss
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20 Comments
Tip your caddies
Love for you to break down Old Head.
Got away with bogey here
Never stop making these videos! They have shown me the incredible art of course design and led to me designing numerous virtual courses, perfect inspiration!
Hi Derek. I have a course on the other side of Lake Michigan on Lake Michigan. Would like to talk to you about it, if ur interested. -Billy
How do I get in touch?
do you have a recommended book that covers golf designers with their design characteristics? An easy read and not a college text?
Love how you breakdown how the course was created! Was there for the Ryder Cup and JUST missed Spieth's crazy shot at 17. Would love to see you disect another Pete Dye creation – the 18th at Blackwolf Run River Course!
Played here on a stunning day. The 17th tee is so scary but once you get to the green and look back it's not that intimidating. Straight 150 shot but wow, what a hole!
We played the Straits course about 10 years ago. A lot of low lights but my highlight was a 20 footer to par 18. The rest was noise.
While I've never played there myself. I've been there for all PGA Championships and the Ryder Cup. It's such a fascinating course with things like it's beauty, crazy length, and immense changes in elevation. Not to mention it's insane ability to look and feel like an OLD course and still be able to host and have the amenities of such large PGA events while not impeding on the beauty of the course itself.
This guy is so well spoken I could listen to him talk all day
Over dramatic commentary, thumbs down.
The best quote about how tough this course to build was that Herb gave Pete Dye an unlimited budget to build the course and Pete went over budget.
Just because Dye could do it isn't justification for him actually doing it. His courses have been called "torture chambers." Rightly so. I'm sure you know what some of the greats have said about some of his courses: "I don't like the looks of it and I don't like the playability. And that's my diplomatic answer." — Tom Watson. "His courses are spiteful and hateful." — Ray Floyd. "It isn't any fun." — Ben Crenshaw. Ask Dustin Johnson what he thinks about Whistling Straits. Unplayable courses for even the best players on earth, golf was not made better and certainly not more fun by some of Pete's designs. Golf is made better by your videos though. Keep 'em coming.
Wisconsin most underrated golf state… especially when courses open for only 7 months. Unreal beauty
I bet it would be a lot harder to get the permission to do that to waterfront property now. Will it last?
One of my favorite series
Could you do a video on Crystal Downs?
These vids are so well done!
Would love to see breakdowns for some classics like the 11th – 13th at Augusta, 10th at Riviera, 13th or 17th at Miurfield, 15th through 17th at Cypress Point, 16th at Merion (You get the idea 😅)
The only Dye course I've played (that I know of) is at Barefoot in Myrtle Beach, and it definitely uses weird visuals to distract you and lure into taking chances.