Golf Top 18 -- The Par Fours
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In addition to ranking the Top 18 Courses I have played, I have taken the chance to isolate my 18 favorite golf holes by Par. Also, please also see my rankings of the best holes by number order, which I've dubbed the "Dream 18" and the "Second 18" or go to the Golf Course Guide for a full description of any course that graced this list with one of its best designed golf holes.
This page of par fours represents those holes that I find to be the cream of the crop. Given that at least half of all golf holes are par fours, this is the most competitive of the "by par" listings. There are so many other great holes that didn't make this list, but I had to narrow it down somehow, and these are the ones that have that special place in my golfing heart (and definitely not because I score well on them). I'm sure people will question some of my choices, but all I can say is all of the following holes represent the most unique, challenging and/or beautiful par fours I've played. That being said, drilling down further and trying to rank these 1-18 is too difficult even for me, so I have broken them into larger sections called the "Front Nine", which has the absolute best of the best and the "Back Nine" which may fluctuate more from time to time as more great holes are encountered. Within each of these sub-sections, the holes are in alphabetical order by Course. UPDATED JULY 2022 |
"The Front Nine"
Course: Ballybunion Old Course
Hole: 11
Location: Ballybunion, Ireland
Stats: Par 4. Back tees: 473 yards
Comments: This par four is legendary and is widely regarded as one of the better seaside par fours in the world. The fairway is like a rollercoaster heading down towards the green, with many levels and undulations between. The approach is to a green settled between dunes and general golfing misery if it should be missed.
Course: Ballybunion Old Course
Hole: 11
Location: Ballybunion, Ireland
Stats: Par 4. Back tees: 473 yards
Comments: This par four is legendary and is widely regarded as one of the better seaside par fours in the world. The fairway is like a rollercoaster heading down towards the green, with many levels and undulations between. The approach is to a green settled between dunes and general golfing misery if it should be missed.
Course: Hokuala Ocean Course
Hole: 16
Location: Lihue, Kauai, HI
Stats: Black tees: 330 yards
Comments: This is the short par four that inspired me to start ranking holes in the first place as it was the first golf hole I can remember playing that had me wanting to take pictures, video and otherwise just sit and stare at it. Set on a lava peninsula (the picture here is taken from the right of the green complex, way up the hill), the tee shot should be an iron hit about 200 yards. If pushed right, it will find a steep hillside, which will make the approach shot a lot more dangerous. However, if pulled, it will find the Pacific Ocean. The straight shot will leave a wedge to the downhill peninsula green with ocean short or left and a deep collection bunker behind. The green is rock hard and the ideal shot will find the right front edge of the green and collect to the middle. Chasing after a left pin placement is foolhardy and should never be attempted. The views of Lihue harbor and the surrounding Kauai mountains are great.
Hole: 16
Location: Lihue, Kauai, HI
Stats: Black tees: 330 yards
Comments: This is the short par four that inspired me to start ranking holes in the first place as it was the first golf hole I can remember playing that had me wanting to take pictures, video and otherwise just sit and stare at it. Set on a lava peninsula (the picture here is taken from the right of the green complex, way up the hill), the tee shot should be an iron hit about 200 yards. If pushed right, it will find a steep hillside, which will make the approach shot a lot more dangerous. However, if pulled, it will find the Pacific Ocean. The straight shot will leave a wedge to the downhill peninsula green with ocean short or left and a deep collection bunker behind. The green is rock hard and the ideal shot will find the right front edge of the green and collect to the middle. Chasing after a left pin placement is foolhardy and should never be attempted. The views of Lihue harbor and the surrounding Kauai mountains are great.
Course: Ko'olau Golf Club (CLOSED 2020)
Hole: 18
Location: Kaneohe, Oahu, HI
Stats: Black tees: 476 yards
Comments: There is something strangely attractive to me about having the 18th hole be a tough finish, as it is all that sometimes stands between the golfer and shooting a personal best or winning a match. Based on that criteria alone, the 18th at Ko'olau has to be considered one of the best, as it is definitely the hardest finishing hole ever. At 476 yards, this beast is amazingly difficult. The drive requires a 220-yard carry over the jungle just to hit one of the fairway bunkers 250 yards from the green. To hit the fairway requires a minimum 240 yard carry and really needs something longer to leave a manageable approach to the green. This slanted green is back over the jungle and is surrounded by deep, unforgiving bunkers. A huge tree guards the left side and will nab anything hit over there. Par is an unbelievable score here.
Hole: 18
Location: Kaneohe, Oahu, HI
Stats: Black tees: 476 yards
Comments: There is something strangely attractive to me about having the 18th hole be a tough finish, as it is all that sometimes stands between the golfer and shooting a personal best or winning a match. Based on that criteria alone, the 18th at Ko'olau has to be considered one of the best, as it is definitely the hardest finishing hole ever. At 476 yards, this beast is amazingly difficult. The drive requires a 220-yard carry over the jungle just to hit one of the fairway bunkers 250 yards from the green. To hit the fairway requires a minimum 240 yard carry and really needs something longer to leave a manageable approach to the green. This slanted green is back over the jungle and is surrounded by deep, unforgiving bunkers. A huge tree guards the left side and will nab anything hit over there. Par is an unbelievable score here.
Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links
Hole: 8
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Stats: Black tees: 416 yards
Comments: A blind uphill tee shot (for the longest hitters, driver can even be too much if hit right of center) leads to one of the most frightening and memorable approaches in golf, so the drive must be in the fairway. The second shot to the green will be over the ocean to a disturbingly small and well-guarded green and seems impossible to pull off. The putting green has few flat putts and chips from anywhere but below the hole will be tough to negotiate.
Hole: 8
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Stats: Black tees: 416 yards
Comments: A blind uphill tee shot (for the longest hitters, driver can even be too much if hit right of center) leads to one of the most frightening and memorable approaches in golf, so the drive must be in the fairway. The second shot to the green will be over the ocean to a disturbingly small and well-guarded green and seems impossible to pull off. The putting green has few flat putts and chips from anywhere but below the hole will be tough to negotiate.
Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links
Hole: 9
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Stats: Black tees: 462 yards
Comments: At Pebble Beach, this long par four is the toughest hole on the front side. It is long, straight and runs along the Pacific the entire way. However, the contours of the fairway lean heavily from left to right, which means that almost every approach shot will have the tendency to slide right, due to the player's lie. This makes the second especially scary (although beautiful) as it must carry or shape around a yawning bunker front left to a green nestled on cliffs above the beach below to the right.
Hole: 9
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Stats: Black tees: 462 yards
Comments: At Pebble Beach, this long par four is the toughest hole on the front side. It is long, straight and runs along the Pacific the entire way. However, the contours of the fairway lean heavily from left to right, which means that almost every approach shot will have the tendency to slide right, due to the player's lie. This makes the second especially scary (although beautiful) as it must carry or shape around a yawning bunker front left to a green nestled on cliffs above the beach below to the right.
Course: The Prince Course at Princeville
Hole: 1
Location: Princeville, Kauai, HI
Stats: Tournament tees: 448 yards
Comments: The start to the Prince course is a perfect taste of things to come as it is terrifying, like so many shots on this great course. The elevated tee shot must find its way between jungle short / right and long / left as the angled fairway snakes its way between the two. The second shot will be slightly uphill to the green, over the Anini stream, which guards its front. Thus, the longer the drive, the less heartburn on the approach, where the only real bailout is long and right over the green. The green is large, but tiered, making distance accuracy important. I argue this is close to the hardest opening hole in golf, both on paper, but also in the heart of the golfer, who must endure such fear on the first shot of the day.
Hole: 1
Location: Princeville, Kauai, HI
Stats: Tournament tees: 448 yards
Comments: The start to the Prince course is a perfect taste of things to come as it is terrifying, like so many shots on this great course. The elevated tee shot must find its way between jungle short / right and long / left as the angled fairway snakes its way between the two. The second shot will be slightly uphill to the green, over the Anini stream, which guards its front. Thus, the longer the drive, the less heartburn on the approach, where the only real bailout is long and right over the green. The green is large, but tiered, making distance accuracy important. I argue this is close to the hardest opening hole in golf, both on paper, but also in the heart of the golfer, who must endure such fear on the first shot of the day.
Course: Royal County Down Golf Club
Hole: 9
Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland
Stats: Black tees: 486 yards
Comments: The finishing hole to the front nine is known as one of the top rated par fours in all the world, and I have to agree. This hole features a blind tee shot over the top of the dune into apparent oblivion. However, the correct line is marked by the top of the Slieve Donard hotel and the fairway is very generous, making it more than fair, even if scary from tee. From the top of the dune, the view to the fairway below is spectacular. The approach to the green is flat and the green is between dunes right and bunkers left. The creativity in the overall design of this hole is one-of-a-kind and fantastic.
Hole: 9
Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland
Stats: Black tees: 486 yards
Comments: The finishing hole to the front nine is known as one of the top rated par fours in all the world, and I have to agree. This hole features a blind tee shot over the top of the dune into apparent oblivion. However, the correct line is marked by the top of the Slieve Donard hotel and the fairway is very generous, making it more than fair, even if scary from tee. From the top of the dune, the view to the fairway below is spectacular. The approach to the green is flat and the green is between dunes right and bunkers left. The creativity in the overall design of this hole is one-of-a-kind and fantastic.
Course: Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Hole: 4
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Stats: Black tees: 370 yards
Comments: The fourth at Spyglass hill is the perfect risk/reward par four. With a daunting field of ice plant and sand dunes down the left of the hole, the golfer is tempted to lay up off the tee for accuracy or stay way to the right. However, this hole has the skinniest green in the entire world with a large tier separating front from back, and running away from the golfer, all the time surrounded by thick, wispy grass, and dunes a little farther away. Thus, approaching the green from far away is very, very dangerous. With the pin cut in the front, hitting a shorter tee shot is acceptable, but it must hug the left side to cut some of the distance off, which is frightening. For any pin middle or back, the only real option is to hit a longer drive, which is generally means a tighter landing area, and any preferred miss when then be to the right. Overall, the hole is so unique and the experience can differ tremendously depending on the wind conditions and the decisions of the golfer that it is truly a one of a kind experience.
Hole: 4
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Stats: Black tees: 370 yards
Comments: The fourth at Spyglass hill is the perfect risk/reward par four. With a daunting field of ice plant and sand dunes down the left of the hole, the golfer is tempted to lay up off the tee for accuracy or stay way to the right. However, this hole has the skinniest green in the entire world with a large tier separating front from back, and running away from the golfer, all the time surrounded by thick, wispy grass, and dunes a little farther away. Thus, approaching the green from far away is very, very dangerous. With the pin cut in the front, hitting a shorter tee shot is acceptable, but it must hug the left side to cut some of the distance off, which is frightening. For any pin middle or back, the only real option is to hit a longer drive, which is generally means a tighter landing area, and any preferred miss when then be to the right. Overall, the hole is so unique and the experience can differ tremendously depending on the wind conditions and the decisions of the golfer that it is truly a one of a kind experience.
Course: Turnberry Ailsa Course
Hole: 10
Location: Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland
Stats: Black tees: 452 yards
Comments: Following the world-famous 9th hole at the Ailsa course sits the incomparable tee shot at the 10th, sitting under the shadow of the Turnberry lighthouse and close to the snack shack where a large selection of Irish beverages to boost the courage can be purchased. This one features a long tee shot over a cove (and close to the former residence of Robert the Bruce) that must be hit solid and can't go left. The bunkers recently placed in the middle of the split fairway make this tough hole even trickier. The approach must then avoid the massive bunker 30 yards short of the green, but is otherwise quite accessible to a relatively flat green.
Hole: 10
Location: Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland
Stats: Black tees: 452 yards
Comments: Following the world-famous 9th hole at the Ailsa course sits the incomparable tee shot at the 10th, sitting under the shadow of the Turnberry lighthouse and close to the snack shack where a large selection of Irish beverages to boost the courage can be purchased. This one features a long tee shot over a cove (and close to the former residence of Robert the Bruce) that must be hit solid and can't go left. The bunkers recently placed in the middle of the split fairway make this tough hole even trickier. The approach must then avoid the massive bunker 30 yards short of the green, but is otherwise quite accessible to a relatively flat green.
"The Back Nine"
Course: Bandon Dunes
Hole: 16
Location: Bandon, OR
Stats: Black tees: 363 yards
Comments: This phenomenal short par four along the ocean gives the driver his pick of poison. The lay-up offered will leave around 150 to the green, but the area of the lay-up is close to the ocean cliffs. The adventurous player can clear the waste area leaving 100 yards and go more to the left, but it is a good poke to clear the trouble and there is more trouble to the far left. The approach is terrifying (and more so from the right) as the green is perched on the cliffs where anything going a little offline is dead.
Hole: 16
Location: Bandon, OR
Stats: Black tees: 363 yards
Comments: This phenomenal short par four along the ocean gives the driver his pick of poison. The lay-up offered will leave around 150 to the green, but the area of the lay-up is close to the ocean cliffs. The adventurous player can clear the waste area leaving 100 yards and go more to the left, but it is a good poke to clear the trouble and there is more trouble to the far left. The approach is terrifying (and more so from the right) as the green is perched on the cliffs where anything going a little offline is dead.
Course: Banff Springs Golf Course
Hole: 15
Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada
Stats: Black tees: 470 yards
Comments: There are only a handful of teeing areas as serenely perfect as the 15th at Banff Springs. Formerly the 1st hole, the tee box sits underneath the famous Banff Springs hotel with a view of mountains and hanging glaciers in the distance. The elevated tee shot will then fly over the Bow River below and hang in the air against the forested backdrop of Mt. Rundle for a long, long time. The distance on the drive can also be mammoth in the high-altitude air. The approach shot is challenging as 6 bunkers surround the green, and often at least six elk may surround your golf ball at any time.
Hole: 15
Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada
Stats: Black tees: 470 yards
Comments: There are only a handful of teeing areas as serenely perfect as the 15th at Banff Springs. Formerly the 1st hole, the tee box sits underneath the famous Banff Springs hotel with a view of mountains and hanging glaciers in the distance. The elevated tee shot will then fly over the Bow River below and hang in the air against the forested backdrop of Mt. Rundle for a long, long time. The distance on the drive can also be mammoth in the high-altitude air. The approach shot is challenging as 6 bunkers surround the green, and often at least six elk may surround your golf ball at any time.
Course: The Challenge at Manele
Hole: 17
Location: Lanai, HI
Stats: Black tees: 444 yards
Comments: This is the best par four on the island of Lanai and one of the most challenging drives anywhere on earth. The tee box is perched on one side of a cove of the Pacific Ocean and the fairway is on the other. The hole then doglegs right around the cliffs down to a shallow, but wide green on the cliffs, with a huge bunker short and hazard right and long.
Hole: 17
Location: Lanai, HI
Stats: Black tees: 444 yards
Comments: This is the best par four on the island of Lanai and one of the most challenging drives anywhere on earth. The tee box is perched on one side of a cove of the Pacific Ocean and the fairway is on the other. The hole then doglegs right around the cliffs down to a shallow, but wide green on the cliffs, with a huge bunker short and hazard right and long.
Course: Edgewood Lake Tahoe
Hole: 14
Location: Stateline, NV
Stats: Gold tees: 447 yards
Comments: One of the most gorgeous holes in all of golf starts with a tee shot through a shoot of trees. Anything left is in a lake, while a bunker looms right to grab the timid or greedy. The approach turns the corner and presents a wide open view of the green with Lake Tahoe and Mt. Tallac directly behind it. It is a striking hole and embodies all that is memorable about Edgewood.
Hole: 14
Location: Stateline, NV
Stats: Gold tees: 447 yards
Comments: One of the most gorgeous holes in all of golf starts with a tee shot through a shoot of trees. Anything left is in a lake, while a bunker looms right to grab the timid or greedy. The approach turns the corner and presents a wide open view of the green with Lake Tahoe and Mt. Tallac directly behind it. It is a striking hole and embodies all that is memorable about Edgewood.
Course: Kinloch Golf Club
Hole: 5
Location: Kinloch, North Island, New Zealand
Stats: Blue tees: 304 yards
Comments: It is rare to find a golf hole that almost perfectly aligns with a players visual tastes, architectural preferences and gives enough excitement to be labelled a fantastic hole. The 5th at Kinloch is one such effort. The slightly elevated tee shows the player all the options they have and all the danger. Being a short par four, most clubs in the bag are available depending on risk tolerance and confidence. The approach is slightly uphill to a contoured and angled green with many pin placement options. All of this with a part of the course that feels as far from civilization, with a New Zealand archetypal backdrop.
Hole: 5
Location: Kinloch, North Island, New Zealand
Stats: Blue tees: 304 yards
Comments: It is rare to find a golf hole that almost perfectly aligns with a players visual tastes, architectural preferences and gives enough excitement to be labelled a fantastic hole. The 5th at Kinloch is one such effort. The slightly elevated tee shows the player all the options they have and all the danger. Being a short par four, most clubs in the bag are available depending on risk tolerance and confidence. The approach is slightly uphill to a contoured and angled green with many pin placement options. All of this with a part of the course that feels as far from civilization, with a New Zealand archetypal backdrop.
Course: Pacific Dunes
Hole: 13
Location: Bandon, OR
Stats: Black tees: 444 yards
Comments: The signature hole on this course is one of two long par fours that runs along the the ocean cliffs (#4 heads the opposite direction). This one features enormous and beautiful sand dunes to the right side. The fairway is pretty wide, but the approach to the green is easier from the left side. The green itself is deep and leaves little room for error as left is gone, right is in trouble and anything short won't make it up the steep hill...so the golfer must keep his concentration even though the views are fantastic.
Hole: 13
Location: Bandon, OR
Stats: Black tees: 444 yards
Comments: The signature hole on this course is one of two long par fours that runs along the the ocean cliffs (#4 heads the opposite direction). This one features enormous and beautiful sand dunes to the right side. The fairway is pretty wide, but the approach to the green is easier from the left side. The green itself is deep and leaves little room for error as left is gone, right is in trouble and anything short won't make it up the steep hill...so the golfer must keep his concentration even though the views are fantastic.
Course: Reflection Bay
Hole: 16
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Stats: Black tees: 454 yards
Comments: The seventh hole is a split-fairway masterpiece of a par 4 with a creek dissecting it. The safer play is to lay up about 230 yards, to the left of the creek. However, this leaves a very long approach to the shallow green, which is surrounded by bunkers, including one behind the green that will actually save most balls hit too long from rolling into the lake. The aggressive drive must fly at least 250 (it is a little downhill), but will leave a short pitch to the beautifully designed green that wraps around a pesky pot bunker front and center. This is a truly gorgeous hole and a fun test of golfing skill and decision making. This hole was bumped off the list when the course closed in 2008, but since it re-opened recently, it has been re-instated to its former glory.
Hole: 16
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Stats: Black tees: 454 yards
Comments: The seventh hole is a split-fairway masterpiece of a par 4 with a creek dissecting it. The safer play is to lay up about 230 yards, to the left of the creek. However, this leaves a very long approach to the shallow green, which is surrounded by bunkers, including one behind the green that will actually save most balls hit too long from rolling into the lake. The aggressive drive must fly at least 250 (it is a little downhill), but will leave a short pitch to the beautifully designed green that wraps around a pesky pot bunker front and center. This is a truly gorgeous hole and a fun test of golfing skill and decision making. This hole was bumped off the list when the course closed in 2008, but since it re-opened recently, it has been re-instated to its former glory.
Course: Sand Hollow Championship Course
Hole: 13
Location: Hurricane, UT
Stats: Par 4. Black tees: 323 yards
Comments: The "little brother" to the previous golf hole at Sand Hollow (see the "Second 18"), this one is shorter and a little tighter, but the concept is still the same: avoid going right or left at all costs. The real dilemma here, which makes the hole all the more exciting, is whether or not to challenge the green. From the tee it seems perched on the cliff but there is actually about 10 yards of rough long and left that do make going for this green in one possible, even if a little crazy. This added choice brings the golfer's mindset into play along with just enjoying, and fearing, the sheer cliff views.
Hole: 13
Location: Hurricane, UT
Stats: Par 4. Black tees: 323 yards
Comments: The "little brother" to the previous golf hole at Sand Hollow (see the "Second 18"), this one is shorter and a little tighter, but the concept is still the same: avoid going right or left at all costs. The real dilemma here, which makes the hole all the more exciting, is whether or not to challenge the green. From the tee it seems perched on the cliff but there is actually about 10 yards of rough long and left that do make going for this green in one possible, even if a little crazy. This added choice brings the golfer's mindset into play along with just enjoying, and fearing, the sheer cliff views.
Course: The European Club
Hole: 7
Location: Brittas Bay, Ireland
Stats: Black tees: 470 yards
Comments: This fantastic par four heading right towards the Irish Sea features a difficult drive both visually and in actuality. The player is faced with a shoot of gorse bushes to fire down, being fully aware of the creek to the right of the fairway that is partially hidden from sight but not out of mind and the reed-filled lake to the left that is fully in sight, even if tough to reach. The approach after a good drive still must find the green with bunkers left and a hill right pushing shots towards the small creek. This great links hole features both a creek and a lake, but doesn't feel at all out of place.
Hole: 7
Location: Brittas Bay, Ireland
Stats: Black tees: 470 yards
Comments: This fantastic par four heading right towards the Irish Sea features a difficult drive both visually and in actuality. The player is faced with a shoot of gorse bushes to fire down, being fully aware of the creek to the right of the fairway that is partially hidden from sight but not out of mind and the reed-filled lake to the left that is fully in sight, even if tough to reach. The approach after a good drive still must find the green with bunkers left and a hill right pushing shots towards the small creek. This great links hole features both a creek and a lake, but doesn't feel at all out of place.
