1. Bellerive
ST. LOUIS, MO.
Site of: 1965 U.S. Open; 1992 PGA Championship; 2004 U.S. Senior Open
• This Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed snoozer sports an arsenal of enormous elevated greens inevitably fronted by bunkers, water or both. You repeatedly face the same shots for 18 holes.
2. Belfry (Brabazon Course)
ENGLAND
Site of: 1985, '89, '93, '02 Ryder Cups
• Sure, there are Ryder Cup memories here, but with the exception of the driveable par-4 10th and the watery closer, there's little to distinguish the rest of the layout from its former life as a potato field.
3. Pinehurst (No. 2)
PINEHURST, N.C.
Site of: 1999, '05 U.S. Opens; 1936 PGA Championship; 1951 Ryder Cup
• OK, OK, so from 50 yards in, this is the greatest test in golf. However, as Ben Hogan once noted, "The trouble with Pinehurst is that when you try to think of one great hole, you can't."
4. Royal Lytham & St. Annes
ENGLAND
Site of: 1926, '52, '58, '63, '69, '74, '79, '88, '96, '01 British Opens
• From the par-3 opener to the final green nestled uncomfortably close to the clubhouse, there's a dearth of drama and visual interest from beginning to end.
5. Sahalee (North/South Course)
SEATTLE, WASH.
Site of: 1998 PGA Championship; 2002 World Golf Championships—NEC Invitational
• It's so hemmed in by trees, there's no space for fairway bunkers (or gallery grandstands). The flattish greens, guarded by simple oval bunkers, make for a vanilla putting test.
