Short Par 4 18th holes

[Tom ORourke]

Llanerch near Philadelphia has a great 18th that is 290 yards. A creek down the left, a big tree on the right, and a potato chip of a green. Four is not a bad score. I once played in a threesome there and we made a 2, a 3, and a 4. I had the 3. And the green abuts the clubhouse and is a wonderful setting.

[Matthew Petersen]

Among modern courses, one occurs to me at the Sewailo GC in Tucson (design by Ty Butler and Notah Begay). It's an odd course in a lot of ways but it does have a ton of half par holes, which helps. One of those is the 18th. It's 390 from the tips, where only collegiate play, but around 300 for everyone else and the direct line to the green is even a bit shorter than that. There's water right (and, yes, a waterfall). It's not a great short 4 by any means because the strategy is almost entirely about just not hitting your ball in the water, but it's certainly a unique and fun way to end a round.


I will echo the expressed sentiment here, too, that I love a birdie hole as the last at a tournament venue. Needing birdie is a whole different kind of pressure at the end of the round, never mind that it gives challengers the chance to make up ground positively at the end of the day, even before the leader might get there. But more than that it's just harder to make 3 than to make 4, even if one hole is 'easy' and the other 'tough.'

[Matthew Petersen]

The 18th at Talking Stick South is also a sort hole with water right, though not really drivable. The challenge is in picking a club and a line and then trying to keep your tee shot as close to the water line as you dare because the green is much easier to approach from that side (go left and you end up with a short over a bunker to a green running away from you to the water).

[Matthew Essig]

Here are some more:

-The Olympic course at Gold Mountain.
-Elie
-Gullane #2/#3
-Bethpage Black

[Bill_McBride]

Here are some more:

-The Olympic course at Gold Mountain.
-Elie
-Gullane #2/#3
-Bethpage Black

Elie?   I don't remember it being short. 

[Alex Miller]

Here are some more:

-The Olympic course at Gold Mountain.
-Elie
-Gullane #2/#3
-Bethpage Black

360 and often downwind (I think).


Elie?   I don't remember it being short.

[Pete_Pittock]

When I used "short" it's sorta code for drivable. It seems that very few 18th holes shorter than 350 yards have been built in the last thirty years. There are many built in the classic age and before, but it has been pointed out that the game of golf was different back then.
  So to me the question becomes why did this happen. It is a function of continually seeing strong par 4s televised on the PGA tour. Is it something in the mind of developers?  Does real estate fronting courses matter?  If you build a drivable par 4 finishing hole, and then surround it with grandstands does that negate the architectural structure.
As an example, could or would the 17th hole at the Phoenix tour stop work as a finishing hole? And would it work on a non televised course.
     As famous as the 18th on the Old Course has become, I have much more affinity for the finisher at Prestwick. A
hole sometimes drivable depending on winds and tee, with the green player under scrutiny by the members behind the large windows.

[Jim Franklin]

The 18th at Baltimore CC is in the 380 range. I love it. During the Senior Players Championship, we finished one our 1 and 2 which meant a 496 yard par 4. There has been talk of changing the routing. Personally, I would rather sit on our Adirondacks after the round talking about my birdie or birdie miss than my 12 footer to save double. I see nothing wrong with a birdie opportunity on the 18th hole. Sorry Matt Ward.

[Mark Pearce]

THe 18th at Elie is driveable, Bill, believe it or not.  Obviously not by normal human beings but long hitters almost invariably try and several succeed.  Bear in mind that it plays down the prevailing wind.

[Ed Tilley]

Frilford Heath has 3 courses. The 2 older ones, the Red and Green, both have short 18th holes at just over and just under 300 yards respectively from the very back tees. Both are driveable but both carry a fair amount of risk - I've lost many more balls than the number of times I've driven each green. It seems modern courses require a "stern" test for the 18th and the modern blue course 18th reflects that at 430+ yards and a really tight drive. Personally, I much prefer the short holes which have options rather than the formulaic long par 4.

[Thomas Dai]

Frilford Heath has 3 courses. The 2 older ones, the Red and Green, both have short 18th holes at just over and just under 300 yards respectively from the very back tees. Both are driveable but both carry a fair amount of risk - I've lost many more balls than the number of times I've driven each green. It seems modern courses require a "stern" test for the 18th and the modern blue course 18th reflects that at 430+ yards and a really tight drive. Personally, I much prefer the short holes which have options rather than the formulaic long par 4.

The 18th on the Green is a right sod, but admirable in the same breath. So tempting yet so easy to screw-up with over-ambition or miss-hit. Just as it should be really. One of those holes where the mind thinks birdie-3 on the tee but the scorecard says 6 when you walk off the nasty/nice green.


Atb

[David Grady]

Hyannisport's 18th is short (325), but plays uphill. OB right, driving range left. Somewhat reminds me of the Scottish "back to the town" holes that are the weaker than the rest of the course. Guessing that its design was largely dictated by the tight space available for the course.

[Keith Grande]

I was very disappointed in Ballybunnion's 18th...a layup to bunkers/tall grass and a blind wedge shot to a green with tall grass on all sides.  Very anti-climactic.

[Charles Lund]

I was going to mention Gold Mountain Olympic #18.

Originally #9, it was changed to the finishing hole.  The walk up the hill was severe so walkers were saved from a hard walk to the 10th tee, now number 1 tee.

I caddied in the 2006 Public Links, 2011 US Junior Am, and was a walking scorer for the 2015 NCAA Regionals.  I also followed an earlier NCAA Regional back around 2008 and the Washington State Amateur around 2011.  I play several rounds a year on the course.

The hole allows a lot of options and great risk teward.  One of the coaches at the NCAA Regionals instructed his players to lay up and take bunkers out of play.  I saw one UAB player drive the green and two putt for birdie to set a course record in 2015.  I saw Jamie Lovemark attempt to drive the gteen, miss long and right, lose the ball, and make seven.  My player in the 2006 made par one day laying up and bogey the next day blocking it right and long.  His ball was not lost but he was able to hack it out and make bogey.

Several years ago, O.D. Vincent had UW players hitting it into the 17th fairway to take bunkers, water,  and woods out of play.  Several taller evergreens were planted to obstruct this line of play.

I generally play a fairway metal for a layup to a safe area and hit wedge over bunkers to a severely sloped green.  For me the option makes for tee shot offering quite a bit of forgiveness in exchange for a more difficult second shot.

Charles Lund


?quote author=Matthew Essig link=topic=63413.msg1510221#msg1510221 date=1471307482]
Here are some more:

-The Olympic course at Gold Mountain.
-Elie
-Gullane #2/#3
-Bethpage Black
[/quote]

[Thomas Dai]

I was very disappointed in Ballybunnion's 18th...a layup to bunkers/tall grass and a blind wedge shot to a green with tall grass on all sides.  Very anti-climactic.

This hole surprised me too. I was surprised to find such a small, narrow green on a course so highly regarded. Not saying such a green is bad or in any way inappropriate, quite the oposite actually, just that it was a surprise to find one as the 18th on such a highly regarded course and also one that is pretty much hidden from the clubhouse windows.


An opportunity not taken to have an 18th green visible through wide clubhouse windows is quite a surprise nowadays, especially when big machines are available to move dirt around pretty easily.


Atb

[rjsimper]

Ross's Cape Fear CC in Wilmington, NC has a shortie for a finisher, and I didn't much care for it...not necessarily because it's a short par 4 finisher, but because it felt a little wedged in, which is strange for a classic old course like that.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Ross's Cape Fear CC in Wilmington, NC has a shortie for a finisher, and I didn't much care for it...not necessarily because it's a short par 4 finisher, but because it felt a little wedged in, which is strange for a classic old course like that.

Interesting. I played it a few weeks ago and thought it was pretty good. It made me think not on
Ynhow far to hit the tee shot but what direction I wanted to hit it. The green was interesting and not an easy birdie considering its length. I know that a couples were changed when the new clubhouse was built. Don't remember if 18 was affected. I know nine was.

[Sean_A]

No, I wouldn't say Ballybunion's 18th is short.  Though I agree with the odd green surrounds being so tight with rough. 


I wouldn't say Elie's 18th is short either.  Some guys may reach it, but that would be very few and in very favourable conditions.  I think reaching the bunker would be an outstanding drive for 99% of golfers.


Ciao

[Richard Fisher]

The 18th at Royal Blackheath manages to get a good deal of quirk and fun into its 265 yards, although I am absolutely not claiming it as a 'great short part four'. It can though make a terrifically exciting match-play closer, in front of probably Britain's most architecturally significant clubhouse.

[Sean_A]

Richard


Practically any shot to that green is terrifying with that wonder of a house as backstop.  Do you know if any progress as been made with the course?


Ciao

[Tom Kelly]

Richard


Practically any shot to that green is terrifying with that wonder of a house as backstop.  Do you know if any progress as been made with the course?


Ciao

Yes, progress is being made as I type. I was actually just doing some paper work on it before I stopped quickly for a tea break and ended up here...... it will be a few years before the whole course is finished though due to tight schedules each year. It's not going to be a world beater on that soil and compact site but will be much improved. As has been said before the clubhouse is stunning even without the painting on the staircase. I still haven't made it up to the museum yet which will have to be done before we finish there.


I'd be interested to here GCA opinions on the 18th and it's hedge and will try to post a photo at some point soon. It sounds like the hole played from the bar to the 18th green is also quite fun...

[Chris DeToro]

The 18th at Carnegie Abbey in Rhode Island is among one of the most unique and shortest 18th holes I've ever played.  It's only 280 but plays uphill with OB left and the Narragansett Bay on the right.  I am not a fan of the hole--with the angle of the water, there is no place to lay up if you so choose, the best angle to the very slopey green is from the beach and the OB left pinches very near the landing area and leaves a near impossible shot to keep a ball on the green. 


I'm sure the desire to have a hole that fit the piece of buildable land on the water determined it, but I wonder if there wasn't a better option

[Matthew Essig]

I wouldn't say Elie's 18th is short either.  Some guys may reach it, but that would be very few and in very favourable conditions.  I think reaching the bunker would be an outstanding drive for 99% of golfers.


Ciao

To be fair, the OP says 340-360. 18 at Elie is, I believe, 359

[Mark Pearce]

I wouldn't say Elie's 18th is short either.  Some guys may reach it, but that would be very few and in very favourable conditions.  I think reaching the bunker would be an outstanding drive for 99% of golfers.


Ciao

To be fair, the OP says 340-360. 18 at Elie is, I believe, 359

Indeed.  There's no doubt Elie is short, by the criteria of the OP, whether or not it is drive able.  In a medal in July I played a utility and a sand wedge  to the green, laying up to avoid the cross bunkers in the prevailing wind.  That's a short par 4.

[Richard Fisher]

This may be cheating, but please I nominate the 18th at the Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club as the best short-par-four closing hole in the UK - OB and a stream off the tee, an active road to be carried, semi-drivable by some, an amazing green, bunkered cunningly. The fact that it's already been played as the 9th doesn't dilute its qualities as an 18th, I'd argue, but I am sure others will disagree! Incidentally there is now a back tee which brings the hole out to c320 yards (as opposed to 299 ) if you want a little additional challenge...