The 12 Most Iconic Holes in Golf

The 12 Most Iconic Holes in Golf

by Bradley Turner Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction, MBA, PGA

It is a tough task to identify the most iconic holes in golf! To begin, I thought it would be best to be clear on the definition of the word iconic. According to Webster, the definition of iconic is “widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence.” An icon is “a person or thing widely admired, especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere.” So, it is evident that my favorite holes on my home course are not going to meet the definition of iconic. For that reason, I selected holes that are widely known by avid golfers and holes that have influenced the history of the game. There are plenty of holes that may be more difficult and others with historic significance. But few have the elements of a golf hole that can be considered an icon!

Lastly, I thought it was appropriate for the writer to have actually experienced these iconic golf holes. I would not like to read about a food critic that writes about a restaurant that they had never experienced for themselves. Therefore, I will give you my thoughts on playing these holes and hope to justify their selection.

Iconic Par 3 Holes

#17 TPC Sawgrass

This meets the requirements of iconic in every way. Arguably the most recognized hole in golf, Pete Dye’s creation changed the landscape of golf course architecture. I don’t think there was a “signature hole” until TPC Sawgrass opened up for play. The 17th is a fan favorite and a PGA Tour player’s nightmare. A simple 137-yard shot to a large green with three distinct hole locations makes it a mental challenge for every skill level.

I have played there six times, and I have found the water half the time. That is not a very good percentage for a scratch golfer. Each time I played there, it was the most exciting shot of the day, and my heartbeat increased as I made my swing. I played once with a PGA Tour player, and I asked him when he started to think about the 17th during the Players Championship. He said, “when I wake up in the morning.”

#12 Augusta National Golf Club

We see it every year at the Masters Tournament. Someone makes a mistake on the 155-yard 12th hole and finds Rae’s Creek. I don’t recall any Masters Tournament where a birdie on the 12th won the tournament for the eventual champion, but it has been the demise of many that could have won the Green Jacket.

The most surprising aspect of the shot is the incredibly small target that players are faced with. I was shocked at how narrow the green was when I stepped on the putting surface. The green depth is less than ten paces, and the green sits diagonally to the player. It is definitely a more difficult shot for a right-handed player as any poorly struck shot will tend to fly short and right of the intended target.

#16 Cypress Point Club

This may be the most iconic hole in golf period. A 233-yard carry over the Pacific Ocean to a peninsula green is probably the most majestic golf shot in the game. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, combined with the smell of the Pacific Ocean, makes you want to sit down and enjoy the fantastic scenery.

My only time playing Cypress Point was in 1990, and it remains an all-time favorite experience as I played very well that day. I was four under par as I stood on the 16th tee and was in awe of the shot required. It was a calm day, and my caddy said, “Today’s the day to go for it.” I hit a 3 wood to the center of the green and almost made the birdie putt, which was a great feeling and a feeling I can recall as I write about this great golf hole!

#7 Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach is a visual masterpiece combined with outstanding golf holes. There is a reason the USGA continues to play major championships there, as it is a must-play for any avid golfer. Possibly the most photographed hole in golf, at only 107 yards, the short 7th is a downhill sand wedge to a very small and well-protected green. It is not a hard shot except if the wind comes in off the Pacific Ocean, where stories are told that golfers need 4 irons to reach the putting surface!

Iconic Par 4 Holes

#17 Old Course at St. Andrews

The Road Hole at St. Andrews has been lengthened significantly since the days of Old Tom Morris. The hole’s challenge is basically the same and is famous for the road that runs beside the green. The road itself is an integral part of the golf course, meaning you must play from the road. The road hole bunker is a deep pot bunker that protects the green. At 478 yards, you must play your tee shot over the corner of the Old Course hotel to find the fairway. I am certain that Old Tom did not have to contend with such a tee shot in 1860.

#18 Bay Hill Club

I have lived in Orlando for more than 30 years and first played Bay Hill as a college golfer in 1982. Bay Hill is special and the home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The heroics that have played out over the years have been amazing to witness. Tiger has won the tournament eight times, and two of these victories included birdies at #18 on Sunday. At 441 yards, this is not a birdie hole! For most golfers, it is a short par-5, as the green is protected by a pond that runs into the depth of the green. When the hole location is far right, don’t even think about hitting your approach shot on that line unless you are Tiger Woods.

#10 Augusta National Golf Club

I chose this hole as it was the most stunning for me when I saw it for the first time. The 1992 Masters was my first experience walking the hallowed grounds at Augusta. The 10th hole at 495 yards is a mind-boggling descent of 110 feet to the putting surface. With the Georgia pines lining the fairway and, of course, the perfect conditions and snow-white bunkers, it was a sight to behold for any Masters fan.

As for playing at Augusta, I knew how to play the 10th, having watched the Masters for many years. A good drive with a slight draw and down the slope to a slight sidehill lie, followed by a 6 iron to 15 feet. One putt later, and I had birdied one of the iconic holes in golf!

#8 Pebble Beach Golf Club

The Bing Crosby National Pro-Am was a must-play event for PGA Tour players for many years, and the crown jewel of the golf rotation was Pebble Beach. In those days, the PGA Tour played Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, and Spyglass. Television coverage was always at Pebble Beach, and I remember seeing the 8th hole many times and was stunned that such a hole actually exists. At 428 yards, most players will play out to the edge of a 100-foot cliff and hit a 175-yard shot over a chasm to an extremely small green.

When I had my chance to play Pebble Beach, it was a perfect day for golf. I stood on the 8th tee anticipating the second shot that I had wanted to play for over 20 years. I promptly heeled my tee shot into the left rough and had to play a 3 wood to the left of the green! I played a mulligan second shot, but it is not quite the same as hitting the most amazing approach shot in golf.

Iconic Par 5 Holes

#18 Pebble Beach Golf Club

The ocean holes at Pebble Beach are all amazing, but the 18th is the most heroic and perhaps the best finishing hole in golf. It’s a reachable par 5 at 543 yards; all it takes is a precision tee shot that starts out over the ocean before the ball hopefully finds the fairway. Because out of bounds is not too far to the right, there is no bailout on the tee shot.

A perfect tee shot will not guarantee that a golfer will attempt to go for the green on the second shot. The green appears to be perched out on the rocks with very little room for error. It is an amazing shot to reach the 18th in two and an admirable feat to reach the green in regulation.

#13 Augusta National Golf Club

There may not be a hole in professional golf that produces more excitement than the 13th at Augusta National. The hole continues to be lengthened and now is relatively short at 510 yards. It appears to be easy pickings for the best players in the world, yet it continues to wreak havoc at every Masters.

The slope in the fairway is outrageous in angle and forces you to swing as if you are hitting the ball off a three-foot tee. This will produce a draw or hook for a right-handed golfer, but the green is more receptive to a fade. I still recall Nick Faldo hitting a 2 iron off the side slope and onto the putting surface in his 1996 Masters victory. In my opinion, that was one of the greatest shots I have ever seen on what many believe is the best par-5 in the world.

#7 Pine Valley

Pine Valley has been rated the number one golf course in America for many years. Pine Valley is basically an unkempt sand dune with immaculate fairways and greens for golfers to find their golf balls. Most likely the least well-known of the holes on my list, but for avid golf fans and those that enjoy golf course design, Pine Valley has 18 great golf holes. Since there are no national tournaments held at Pine Valley, some of these holes are not recognized by golf fans. However, the 7th, at over 600 yards, has an area known as hell’s half-acre that requires every golfer to play over. Imagine the size of a football field with sandy dunes and brush extending the entire width of the fairway. There is no place quite like Pine Valley, and hell’s half-acre is no place you ever want to find your golf ball.

#14 Old Course at St. Andrews

The Old Course has been lengthened for the 2022 Open Championship this July. The 14th is now a 618-yard brute that will make reaching the green in two a serious challenge for the world’s best players. A notorious cross bunker appropriately named hell can cause big problems for any golfer. Jack Nicklaus took four strokes to finally get out of the hell bunker in 2000, as it is almost seven feet deep with a steep sod wall. Many major championships have been contested at the Old Course, and many more are planned for the future. The 14th will continue to remain a hellish challenge for all golfers who make the trip to golf’s mecca.

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