In both of my published books, I covered golf holes that I considered to be the most challenging and distinctive in my experience.

In looking through my social media page, I noticed a request to submit the reader’s hardest holes that they had ever played.  I combed through all of the responses and was a bit surprised at the result.  I had expected perhaps one unique response per individual but I was surprised at the number of times certain holes were mentioned.

Multi-tiered green

Here is the result of the compilation of responses:

1.  8th hole at Pebble Beach–5
2.  18th hole at St. Andrews–5 (Old Course)
3.  12th hole-Old Head–5
4.  18th hole at Pebble Beach–3
5.  15th hole at Cape Kidnappers-2

There was interest in other holes but I was surprised at the concentration of these responses  (20 out of 150) for the top 5 listed above.  It was interesting to the breadth of responses of other holes some of which were the player’s local venues.  The survey verifies the love for the game and the global venues that make the game such a powerful force in life.

12th hole-Old Head, Ireland

The 12th hole is a par 5, 564 yards of pure terror.  When I first played the hole, I assessed it as the most difficult hole on the course.  I have now changed my opinion, it may now be designated as the most difficult hole on the planet.

You are immediately intimidated as you approach the tee box.  On a clear day, the view is spectacular with the ocean all the way down the left side with the teeing ground a bit below the hole.  With the teeing ground below and the target area uncertain, intimidation sets in as you will have a blind tee shot to  drive the ball right center to pass the first test of getting the ball in the fairway.  Any tee shot down the left side of the hole, will probably end up in the Atlantic Ocean with your only option to try it again.  Unlike most golf holes, this one requires every shot to be as you intended or par or better is an unlikely achievement.  You’ll need two great shots from the fairway to land on a multi-tiered green to achieve a par or better.  Old Head is never quiet so you executing these shots without wind or rain is tough in it’s own right.  When you introduce the elements of weather such as wind speed and precipitation, the hole gets geometrically more difficult.

The view from the tee.

As I found it out personally, you can get weather during your play and some of it completely unexpected and potentially very disruptive.  I managed to get my tee shot into the fairway in brilliant sunshine.  As I trudged down the fairway, about 50 yards from my lie in the fairway, the heavens opened  and in a matter of 30 seconds, rain poured down violently and horizontally.  I had decided to wait a few minutes and not don the rain pants, which turned out to be a very bad idea.  As I smashed a 3 wood down the middle of the fairway in the pouring rain, I was completely soaked as I approached a 130 yard shot to the green.  The grips on the clubs were completely gone in the matter of these few minutes, but fortunately, the rain gloves were in the bag.  Rain gloves are terrific as they actually improve the grip of the club when they are wet and it didn’t take very long for them to get soaked.  The wind was howling and in addition to the horizontal rain, I estimated 50 mph winds,  so 130 yards was really about 170 yards.  My 5 iron from 130 yards in these conditions fell short of the green but I was able to chip up to the hole for a cozy, unlikely par.  The conditions here had deteriorated to such a point that a professional tournament would have suspended play.

PARdon Me

My third book, PARdon Me will be published on April 29, 2025.  The book is another rendition of stories, golf holes and opinions about the game we all love.  Pre orders will be available during the month of April prior to publication and more information will be forthcoming regarding availability.  All book proceeds are donated to colleges, universities and The First Tee. Amateur golf has never been stronger and support for these programs will enhance the opportunity to advance the game.  My personal ego is resonating that I think it’s a pretty good read, and I hope my readers will agree.