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TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course, 17th hole TPC Sawgrass’ signature hole is the Stadium Course’s 17th, perhaps the most famous par three in golf. Although the hole is gorgeous to look at, it makes even the most talented players tremble when standing on the tee. The severely-undulating green is completely surrounded by water and has a nasty habit of ushering balls, which stray only slightly off line, to a watery grave. As if this hole wasn’t intimidating enough, its location amidst a gallery of trees often causes the wind to swirl in a devilish fashion, making club selection all the more difficult. With an estimated 100,000 golf balls retrieved from the water surrounding the 17th at TPC Sawgrass every year, it is clear that modern par threes don’t need to be 230-yard monsters to provide a true test of nerve and skill. |
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Blue Canyon Country Club – Canyon Course, 14th hole The Blue Canyon Country Club boasts two top-notch championship golf courses. Widely regarded as the premier course at the club, the Canyon Course provides a heady blend of stunning natural water features and beautiful tropical greenery. The par three 14th on the Canyon Course sees golfers standing on a tee some 60 feet above the level of the green. As if that wouldn’t be difficult enough, the green sits perilously surrounded by water just waiting to gobble up the balls of any player who chooses the wrong club. Club selection here is paramount and be sure to check the flag for signs of any wind. This is a par three that will provide golfers with a true sense of excitement every time they step onto the tee. |
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Vale do Lobo – Royal Course, 16th hole Vale do Lobo is widely regarded as the premier golf resort on the Algarve and the 16th hole is undoubtedly the star of the Royal Course. A lengthy par three which stretches 224 yards from the back tee, which sits perched on the cliffs edge. This supremely beautiful hole requires a shot over the gaping gap caused by the intruding cliffs meaning any ball left of the target line or short of the green will never be seen again, unless you pack abseiling equipment in your golf bag! Its location on the Algarve coast provides blustery conditions making this hole all the more treacherous. Arrive on this tee with a good score going and the jelly knees should set in pretty quickly! |
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Kingsbarns Golf Links – 15th hole Another entry that makes use of the natural lay of the land along a rugged coastline, the 15th at the Kingsbarns Golf Links, is a difficult but extremely enjoyable test for any golfer. The tee is often sheltered by trees which can trick players into thinking they have got lucky and will be playing this treacherous hole without the added difficulty of a stiff sea breeze. Sensible golfers wont flirt with the crashing waves and beach rocks and will take a line at the back left bunker. Par from here is still no easy feat though, with undulations that will deflect chip shots and putts if they aren’t taken properly into account. |
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Casa de Campo – The Teeth of the Dog Course, 7th hole Widely regarded as the best course in the Caribbean, The Teeth of the Dog is sure to bite you at some point in your round! On this amazing course are "seven holes created by God". Pete Dye, the architect of the course, will only lay claim to the other 11! One of these seven holes is the par three 7th which is situated along the spectacularly craggy Dominican coastline. Measuring 229 yards from the back tees it would present a challenge if found in the forgiving surrounds of parkland golf in the UK! Add in Mother Nature’s unending quest to rob us of our golf balls via strong trade winds and this becomes a par three that you golfers will never forget. |
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Doonbeg, 14th hole Located on the rugged coastline of County Clare, Doonbeg is one of the most-highly praised golf courses in Ireland. The signature hole at this famous Greg Norman layout is the par three 14th. It plays only 111 yards from the back tee however, depending on the direction and intensity of the wind blowing in from the sea, players will find themselves hitting anything from a sand wedge to a three iron! With a green surrounded by perilous coastline terrain this tricky little beauty of a par three really is a do-or-die hole. Hit the green...or fail to make par! |
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Lemuria, 15th hole Golfers playing at the Lemuria Resort will be awed by the stunning views from the tee that sits on a rocky ridge 50 metres above the level of the green. This is another short hole that will only require a little flick with a short iron. Nevertheless the drop in elevation, the adjacent mangrove marsh and a hefty bunker provide sufficient obstacles to carding an easy par. Golfers may also find themselves struggling to concentrate on their shot while taking in the breath-taking view over the Anse Georgette and the sapphire-blue waves which roll in from the sea. All in all, this is one of the most picturesque par threes in golf and is certainly a lot of fun to play. |
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Whistling Straits, 17th hole Aptly named “Pinched Nerve”, this 223-yard hole is undeniably beautiful. Don’t let the look of this hole fool you though...Lake Michigan patiently waits for anything long or left that doesn’t find the bunkers sitting some 20 feet below the level of the green. More bunkers are ready to catch any shot straying to the right while an enormous dune hides everything except the green from your view from the tee. Stand on this tee with anything but your A game in full flow and the butterflies will certainly start flapping in your stomach! Few would dispute “Pinched Nerve’s” rugged good looks and even fewer would forget this gem of a hole in a hurry! |
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Pebble Beach, 7th hole Less experienced golfers may stand on the tee of the 107-yard 7th at Pebble Beach and be lured into a false sense of security. The shortest hole in any major championship is however, a sneaky little so and so that is just waiting for someone to disrespect it. The miniscule putting surface actually wouldn’t be all that easy to hit consistently in calm conditions. Add in the protection it receives from the surrounding bunkers and the significant influence of the wind blowing in off the Pacific Ocean, and it becomes all the more difficult. If the wind happens to be blowing across the hole, players will have to cast away all doubt and pluck up the courage to aim out over the ocean, hoping they have judged the wind correctly! |
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Parque de Floresta, 5th hole Parque de Floresta provides one of the most enjoyable golfing experiences in the Western Algarve. Your tee shot on the short par three 5th will greatly determine how much you enjoy that particular hole though! With an elevated tee players are required to play a careful shot to the “Postage Stamp of Portugal”. A miniscule green that sits atop a steep mound - any misdirected shots will roll frustratingly off the edge and down the hill - leaving you with the most difficult of pitch shots which can easily leave your ball in a similar sport on the other side of the mound. The wind which flows through the valleys at Parque de Floresta doesn’t exactly increase your chances of finding the putting surface but if you manage to pull off the required shot you will advance to the 6th with a well-deserved feeling of accomplishment. |
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The Legend Golf and Safari Resort, Xtreme 19th! Few holes in the history of golf have generated as much interest as the the Xtreme 19th at the Legend Golf and Safari Resort. The tee is 400 metres up and the Africa-shaped green is 400 metres away from it...oh...and the tee is only accessible by helicopter! Most players lucky enough to have experienced this hole are staggered by the duration the ball soars through the air. Any golfer on holiday in South Africa should be willing to swap an arm and a leg for a crack at a hole which will go down in golfing history. |
