Golf Travel Golf Courses Golf Real Estate the best of golf
Home > Best of Golf > Features > Best Match-Play Holes
Par 5s

Augusta National Golf Club; Augusta, Ga.
13th hole, 510 yards

A classic dogleg around Rae’s Creek that continues to confound the best players in the world because they know that a cautious, sound play will rarely make worse than par (and often lead to birdie). Yet, the allure of an eagle three is often too good to pass up, no matter what it introduces into the equation.

Bethpage State Park (Black); Farmingdale, N.Y.
4th hole, 517 yards

A.W. Tillinghast loved a mid-hole forced carry designed to put pressure on the tee shot, especially in match-play situations that were often prevalent in his thinking. He created the midway “Sahara” swarm of bunkers on most of his courses, but none is more dramatic and strategic as the set here. Pulling off the carry and positioning the second shot properly make birdie possible on the flattish green.

Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship); Carnoustie, Scotland
6th hole, 520 yards

A boundary fence runs the length of the hole to catch hooked drives while two center-line bunkers force a tee-shot decision: Play left and open up the best approach angle to a well bunkered green, or play right, bring “Jockie’s Burn” into play, and eliminate eagle chances. Hogan played this hole cautiously during his 1953 British Open win, but in match play he might have approached it differently.

Pebble Beach Golf Links; Pebble Beach, Calif.
18th hole, 543 yards

A hole that has improved with technology advancements because it is now a reachable par 5 in the vein of Augusta National’s 13th. As with any standout match-play arena, anything can happen here, with the Pacific Ocean looming left, out of bounds right, and a deep fronting bunker that makes even a wedge approach tricky.





page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Kingsbarns seventh hole Feature:
Recipe for a Links
A renowned minimalist architect describes how to build a modern links
read more »
peter thompson Feature:
Call of the Wild
A five-time British Open winner’s advice for tackling—and enjoying—the unique challenges of links golf
read more »
London British Open Feature:
Here Comes the Sun
Summer in England means a wealth of sporting events, from Wimbledon to the British Open
read more »
Ben Hogan vs. Tiger Woods Feature:
Ben Hogan vs. Tiger Woods
Whose swing is better? There is a big difference between a great swing and a pretty one
read more »
Arnold Palmer vs. Phil Mickelson Golf Head to Head:
Arnold Palmer vs. Phil Mickelson
Who is the better No. 2?
read more »
Macgregor MT Pro-C Irons Golf Equipment Reviews Links Gear:
Macgregor MT Pro-C Irons
Perfect melding of form and function.
read more »
Golf Ping G10 Driver Links Gear:
Ping G10 driver
Ping's newest driver will help you hit more fairways
read more »

Lost Treasure
The author makes a plea for the return of a special book that was misplaced 20 years ago at another milestone celebration
read more »

Origin of the Links
A primer to understanding the most puzzling and misused word in golf
read more »



Ernie Els LINKS Magazine Columns

subscription center

subscribe now
Sign Up for our Free LINKS Insider E-Newsletter
advertisement
e-brochures
view all
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
Treviso Bay
 
home | site map | subscribe to LINKS Magazine | subscription changes | feedback | contact us | advertising information | order back issues | get FREE information | links e-newsletter registration | links partners | privacy policy | terms and conditions