While I like your other choices, I'll go against the grain and say that I think the ninth is one of the least interesting holes on SV. If you're playing strategically, it makes no sense at all to go for the green. It's a large target for a wedge, and the hole, were it the 16th or so in a round and one player in a match might need a big swing to make up ground… as the ninth, the easy strategic play is also the boring one: 4I or 5I, then flip wedge, to a fairly accommodating green. But… I recognize I'm in the minority in deriving my joy in playing golf from choosing a good strategy and then executing the shots. Many others prefer the occasional hero shot or will gladly risk it many times and come up short for that once-every-now-and-then reward.

and one of those loops, play with just an 8 iron for some real fun

Do yourself a favor and play the Sandbox on multiple days. So fun to replay holes with the pins in wildly different places. Was so satisfying to play to the pin on the back shelf on 9 and run a shot through the big depression and then get to just lazily run one into the bowl pin when I played it the next day.

Maybe not a course topic.... But at what point do we have a neutral group set the course? What if each team submits their plans for the course and this group/committee takes some ideas from both teams? That might make it a bit less of an advantage for the home team and make for a bit more excitement no matter the course.

Off the top of my head I would go: SV #16 - So many options but I just have so much fun playing this hole. MD #13 - Just an all world par 3, thrilling tee shot every time. SB Road Hole Green #4? - Pin tucked behind the bunker is insane in the best way. Sedge Valley #6 - Beautiful and dangerous Lido #10 - Perfection

That is the second drawing of the bridge on #18 I have seen that our caddie talked about 20 some years ago Wonder what the cost or environmental restraints that tee would have.

Always happy when a Travis is getting some TLC!

Strong belief that #10 is a better hole than #4 at Lido (and that 18 is the best green on the course!) 9 is absolutely the best hole at Mammoth and is so fun to trust your caddie to aim further right than you think. I feel like, for Sedge, given that 18 is allegedly a replica of a hole at Barnbougle, maybe one of the original holes should be highlighted. I think 3 could be the best hole if they got rid of the aiming sign above the green, and 12 I think is the best driveable par 4 on the course. But 5 the par 3 is the hole I think about the most on the course!

That’s a good one. I have similar very fond memories of playing golf during the early days of Covid lockdowns. When we were trying really hard to keep people distanced we had a policy at The Olympic Club that required people to book practice facilities for exclusive use. So I would book one of our short game chipping areas that was perched atop number 8 on the Lake course (it’s now gone and has been replaced with a putting course built by Hanse). I would have the place to myself and have this long range view of a scantly populated Lake course as I chipped and played games with myself. I’m not one big on playing music when I golf or practice but I would pop in an AirPod and listen to George Strait. It reminded me of my childhood in the best way possible and also made me so grateful for the things I had in life. I don’t miss Covid’s early days at all as they were horrific for so many but there was a nice slower pace to life during those times. Note: I realize I’m quite lucky/privileged that the early days of Covid are something I can look back fondly on. I hope this comment is taken in the right spirit.

This might be less extravagant than other answers, but it was in that short time period during covid when golf courses were open, but carts were not allowed. Playing my home course, looking across about half the front 9 it felt so peaceful and serene to only see people walking, everyone out there just to enjoy the outdoors and the people they were with. It really makes me wish golf carts didn't exist.