The ultimate fantasy golf course in Devon takes on a brutal second hole

It is cold, wet and windy, pretty much the worst time of year to be playing golf, but spring is not too far away and the lush fairways and greens of Devon are awaiting our return.

To get you in the mood, we are taking on the challenge of building the ultimate golf course, but there are strict rules to this game.

We can only use a golf course once and their chosen hole number must correspond to the actual hole on that course. For example, the ultimate opening hole in Devon must also be the opening hole on that chosen course, and then the same course cannot be used again throughout the round.

Your challenge this summer is to play them all!

The ultimate 2nd hole in Devon golf

#2 – Dainton Park Golf Club – Par 4

The second hole at Dainton Park is a classic early-round test that demands both power and precision from the tee. A par-4 dogleg that bends around a significant water hazard, it quickly separates confident tee shots from those that veer off line.

From the tee, golfers face the second major risk of the round, after the 1st green, which is also protected by water.

A large water hazard runs along the entire left side of the hole. To avoid trouble, players must place their drive carefully past the corner of the dogleg, ideally favouring the right centre of the fairway. A well-struck drive will leave a mid to short iron — typically around 150 yards — into the green, but anything short or pulled left risks finding the water or heavy rough.

The approach shot is not without danger. The green sits guarded by additional water to the right, and errant shots that don’t carry far enough can leave awkward lies. Players must judge their distance accurately: falling short here is perhaps the worst miss, often resulting in a difficult up-and-down.

According to visiting golfers, this hole is often viewed as one of the toughest early tests of the course. The combination of intimidating water hazards and a demanding tee shot makes a par a satisfying result and a bogey a common outcome for many amateurs.

Honourable Mention

The 2nd hole at Woodbury Park is a cracking par 5 that tests course management and placement. The fairway has a huge slope, which needs clearing to have any chance of making the green. It is not a hole to be too aggressive and the elevation changes are part of the Woodbury experience.

Hole number one in our ultimate Devon course