Scott Avra
6.
Stone Eagle, Palm Desert, California PAR 3, 153 YARDS
Stone Eagle Golf Club appears like an oasis in California’s rugged Santa Rosa Mountains. Located in San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, with its thousands of acres of protected land, the Tom Doak design is one of the most visually appealing desert courses in the United States. “Stone Eagle is often subtle in its challenges,” says Doak. “The effect of elevation changes and tilted stances make it hard to get your approach close to the hole. Likewise, being on the green in regulation is no guarantee of par. But the design tempts you to take chances... where one slip will remind you of the rugged nature of this place.” On the par-3 No.12—our sixth hole—golfers are left with little alternative other than to find the green. Featuring what Doak describes as a “postage stamp target stuck onto the side of the mountain,” there is something of a bailout area short and right of the green, but any tee shots heading short-left or over the green, well, then it is time to pray.
7.
Royal Cinque Ports, Kent, England PAR 4, 449 YARDS
Established in 1892 on the Kent Coast, and less then three miles around the coastline from Royal St. George’s, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club—or “Deal” as it is often referred to, after the town it adjoins—is one of the truly great British links courses. A [British] Open venue in 1909 and again in 1920, the original course was improved under the direction of James Braid after the First World War, in 1919. The 449-yard 12th hole has a stroke index of one on the Royal Cinque Ports scorecard and it does on ours too. Played into a headwind this hole effectively becomes
winter 2014
a par five, although even with a favorable breeze it will take two fantastic strikes to reach the green in regulation. The only break golfers can sometimes receive are from the banks that rise up from either side of the green, often supplying corrective bounces to wayward approaches. By the way, it was at Deal where Walter Hagen made his Open debut in 1920, although despite arriving in a chauffeur-driven car and with a footman in attendance, the “Haig” was denied entry into the clubhouse as he was a professional.
8.
Augusta National, Georgia PAR 3, 155 YARDS
Our eighth hole is probably the most famous par-3 in the world, the 12th hole at Augusta National, Golden Bell. This may be the shortest hole at the home of the Masters—on the course designed by club founder Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie—but many believe it to be the heart of this remarkable golf course. It provides the central attraction to Augusta’s Amen Corner, with the 11th green to the left, the 13th tee to the right, and behind the 12th tee is often assembled the biggest crowd at the Masters. Golden bell is only 155 yards long, yet deceptive breezes whip and swirl around this corner of the golf course, usually making club selection uncertain. With Rae’s Creek running in front of only a narrow green, and with three bunkers jealously hugging the putting surface, this is one of the toughest mid-iron shots in golf. Just ask Tom Weiskopf: the American carded a 13 at Augusta’s 12th in the first round of the 1980 Masters—a record that stands to this day—after he sank five balls into Rae’s Creek, one from the tee and four from the drop zone.
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