For sheer drama, no type of hole can match short par 4s. From the moment that the player steps to the tee, the anticipation builds as he considers the options and decides whether to go for the green or lay up.

On the best drivable par 4s, a good drive should provide a very real bonus in the form of birdie or eagle opportunities, while poor execution will exact a punishment of bogey—or worse.

These risk-reward propositions are at the heart of the following 20 holes. Whether they help decide a match during a memorable buddies trip, like the 16th at Bandon Dunes (pictured), or take place under the spotlight of an international audience, like Riviera's 10th at this week's Northern Trust Open, drivable par 4s make for some great theater.

---

>> Where you can go for the green