17th Hole -- Old Course, St. Andrews
In the opening round of the 2015 British Open, the field averaged a bogey (4.8) on the Road Hole. Not sure why. All the 450-yard par 4 requires is a tee shot over a railroad shed/hotel to a blind, dogleg-right fairway surrounded by heather, with an approach to a narrow green guarded by a bunker that's harder to escape than most prisons and a stone wall lining the back of the hole that garners overrun balls. Nothing to it.
18th Hole -- Blue Monster Course, Doral
For years, the Blue Monster's finishing holes lived up to its namesake. However, following a $250 million renovation to the course, the 18th has made players tremble in even greater fear. Specifically, a tightened fairway has correlated to an uptick in balls in the lake. During Thursday-Friday play at the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Championship, there were four birdies in 145 attempts against 69 bogey-or-higher scores.
12th Hole -- Augusta National
Fourth Hole -- Bethpage Black
How can this 517-yard par 5 at Bethpage Black -- one of the hardest layouts in America -- be the course's second-handicapped hole? For one, add 100 yards to that distance, because the hole makes a severe track uphill. The view from the tee will make the most courageous individual seek shelter-- go left, you're in a cavernous bunker; right, in thick rough. Traversing up the hill requires a long shot over a deep wall of sand, with the green surrounded by, you guessed it, more beach.
17th Hole -- TPC Sawgrass
17th Hole -- Ocean Course, Kiawah Island
18th Hole -- Carnoustie
Jean van de Velde. Enough said.
Photo By: Stephen Szurlej
13th Hole -- Whistling Straits
Thanks to a strong Sunday gust at the 2015 PGA Championship, Bubba Watson overdrove the 409-yard hole. However, don't let Bubba's feat fool you: The hole known as "Cliff Hanger" is one of the most arduous challenges in championship golf. Anything less than an accurate tee shot will find the sand. Same sentiment applies to the approach, with shots off to the right falling towards Lake Michigan.
First Hole -- Oakmont Country Club
Eighth Hole -- Pebble Beach
Photo By: Stephen Szurlej
14th Hole -- Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort
Photo By: Dom Furore