Shot hole symptoms on Prunus species can be the result of various causal factors - bacterial, fungal and even physiological/mechanical. You would need to confirm the cause to effect a proper control but on English laurels, it usually cultural or environmental factors, primarily overhead irrigation/excessive rainfall. Not much one can do about the rain (and that doesn't seem to be a huge contributor anyway as I see numerous stands of unblemished E. laurels that receive copious rainfall). But DO make sure that any irrigation is directed off the foliage and just to the root zone.

If you feel it is something more sinister than just cultural/environmental issues, you should send samples to the Puyallup plant path lab for analysis and an accurate diagnosis.

Could very well be that fact we've had such a wet winter/spring and that these laurels are planted in a moderately shady spot. The $40 diagnostic fee is a bit steep for this fellow as he only kind of cares about these plants. As long as they grow, create a hedge/barrier between him and his neighbor, he's not overly concerned with how they look. But if this could impact the health and growth it would be something he'd look into further. Of course that would/will depend on how severe the infestation is. At this point he's going to do nothing and just watch it.

Thanks much GG.

'Otto Luyken' in particular often look like a shotgun was fired through them yet continue growing.

I used to grow Laurels in containers using bark mix. The ones without lime in the mix had holes. The ones with lime in the mix didn't have holes. Try sprinkling some lime around the plants. It might take a year to see results.