The best par 4s no one talks about

[Anthony Gray]

 There are some classics TOC 17, PB 8 and so on. But what are some par 4s that don’t get the love they deserve for being great holes?


 I’ll start…. North Berwick 17. When researching NB before I played it it’s never mentioned. But it’s awesome. It requires that all you got tee ball to make the second shot shorter. The second shot is intimidating because if it comes up short the third gets nasty. If you hit the green it’s hard to keep it there with the club the shot requires. And the green is a sneaky one and has more break than it looks. And a front pin placement is a great three putt opportunity. . Great hole. It’s a test and a tuff par late in the round if you are trying to post a good score.


 Next?

[Andy Shulman]

I'm partial to TOC #16, Corner of the Dyke.  The OB fence on the right is like a water hazard that runs the length of the hole....but worse, since the penalty is stroke-and-distance.  And, yes, you can aim your tee shot left of the bunker in the center of the fairway to avoid the so-called "amateur play," but then you're aiming back at the OB on your approach shot.


Another #16, this one at Belvedere in Charlevoix, MI, also makes my list.  A small, elevated and heavily undulating green is very difficult to hit and hold, even with a wedge.  And, the recovery shots from 30 or so feet below the green are diabolical.

[Carl Rogers]

Tobacco Road hole 18.

[Gib_Papazian]

The first one that comes to mind is #5 at Spanish Bay . . . . . deciphering it completely took some time and I'm generally a quick study.


   

[Ally Mcintosh]

I’ll give you one of the greatest par-4’s in Ireland from my home course, not often talked about as among the best 5 or 6 holes on the course:


The 10th at Portmarnock is a relatively short hole, 370 yards. It sweeps gently from left to right. It has one fairway bunker on the left placed in to a dune. Aiming straight at the green tempts but is fatal. Any approach from the right is incredibly difficult because of the green… It is a raised table-top which is long and skinny down the axis of the approach. There is one cavernous bunker front right and a steep horrible fall off right and back. The bunker works beautifully in tandem with an indent on the left middle of the green that sweeps balls away to a really cool run-off area. Hence any approach from the right is coming over a bunker directly at a swale just 15 yards beyond. A false front aids a ball to be bounced up from the left side of the fairway. Simple and perfect.

[Tim Leahy]

12th hole 505 yds for the pros Torrey Pines South. 3rd hardest hole on PGA tour in 2021. Great challenge for all, uphill usually into a wind with a well placed trap on the right, Kikuyu rough and a difficult green with hang gliders floating by behind the green.

[archie_struthers]

 


 So many  great ones. Pine Valley has a bunch but I go there too much. So . I'm going to say the 10th at Sand Hills really intrigued me. Had to flight the ball just right on the second shot.  Loved it!

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Three of my favourites, but one is very much talked about
#12 Sunningdale Old.....my favourite hole in the world
#8..Barnbougle Dunes
#16 Diamante

[John Kavanaugh]

The first one that comes to mind is #5 at Spanish Bay . . . . . deciphering it completely took some time and I'm generally a quick study.


 

A tour of my beloved much maligned course. The fact that I can't remember how I played any of these holes means so much. I choose for the good.


https://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/the-links-at-spanish-bay/

[jeffwarne]

15 at Palmetto.
13 at Palmetto

tough topic though-if no one talks about it

[David_Tepper]

#9 ("Paradise") at Golspie is a great par-4. 406 yards from the yellow tee, with heather down both sides of the slightly hog-backed fairway that curves gently to the left. The green is offset to the left and sits slightly below the fairway and is semi blind on your 2nd shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dloNXIKgvII

https://www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk/paradise/


 

[Jim Hoak]

Michael, #12 at Sunningdale Old is my favorite hole in the world, also!
Glad to see it loved by others--and wish it were more recognized.
I believe it is a hole designed by Colt--changed from the original by Park.  Is that correct?  Genius move.  But Colt was a genius.

[Steve Salmen]

Anthony, 


I agree with you on 17 at NB.  I also think #2 goes under the radar a bit.  I wish I could say I've made a 4 from the beach but I have not.


I think the best par 4 I've ever played is 13 at Shinnecock.  Most people here would not even put it in the top 3 on the back 9, however, I think it has a lot of great characteristics architecturally.


Other great par 4s that may get overlooked due to fancy neighbors:  10 at Shoreacres, 12 at Elie, 9 at Maidstone (again, made 5 from the beach)

[David_Tepper]

#17 at Brora is also worthy of mention.

https://broragolfclub.co.uk/hole/hole-17

[Joe_Tucholski]

I have to chuckle when the thread asks for holes no one talks about and the courses mentioned are:
North Berwick
TOC
Tobacco Road
Spanish Bay
Portmarnock
Torrey Pines
Pine Valley
Sand Hills
Sunningdale
Barnbougle
Diamante
Palmetto
Golspie
Shinnecock
Shoreacres
Elie
Maidstone
Brora

Maybe as Steve says the thread should be overlooked holes on great courses.
I do appreciate the Belvedere reference.

[Adam G]

I'll nominate 8 at Essex County Club. Everyone talks about the back 9, particularly 10, 17, 18 (and 11, thought that's a par 3). But 8 is just awesome. Blind drive to a 3 level fairway (short left is high, long left is right, right is in the middle) with OB up the left. If you go left and hit it far enough you catch the speed slot and have the angle into a green sloping hard back to front and right to left. From the right the slope of the green makes it a much harder shot, but you don't deal with the OB. And the green is awesome with a devilish pin on a shelf back right. Just an awesome, awesome hole. I'm kind of shocked I haven't seen the multi-level fairway like this hole used more often.


Here is a great photo of the fairway: https://twitter.com/the_fried_egg/status/1446645871152701442/photo/4

[John Foley]

# 15 @ World Woods - Pine Barrens - one of the best short par 4's gives you multiple options. Faz did good on this one.


# 3 @ Pennhills in Bradford PA. Very rumpled FW canted at an angle to the left that makes you hit the right shape to hold which then makes you hit a good shot from a sometimes hanging lie to a raised green. One of my favorite holes. Travis from back in the day. A place more people need to see.


#14 @ Chechessee. Doesn't get the nice pictures that #12 gets, but forces you to hit a bold drive and then approach to one of the most unique greens I've seen. Was on the back left on a shelf putting to a pin middle on the right and the caddie said not sure we can keep this on the green. Hit what I thought was a perfect put and he was right!

[Adam Lawrence]

Michael, #12 at Sunningdale Old is my favorite hole in the world, also!
Glad to see it loved by others--and wish it were more recognized.
I believe it is a hole designed by Colt--changed from the original by Park.  Is that correct?  Genius move.  But Colt was a genius.

Correct. Max Behr felt the bunkering was illogical and could be improved -- I'll try to find the article.

[Dan_Callahan]

I think my favorite par 4 that flies under the radar (and might even have some haters) is the 12th at Enniscrone. I stood on that tee and had no idea what the hell was going on. Got out to my ball and laughed at just how spectacular the greensite was.

[Chris Clouser]

Dan Callahan,


I just pulled up the flyover of your hole...      That is freaking awesome and looks like something from a video game. 

[Tim Passalacqua]

I LOVE #4 at Southern Pines. 

[Kalen Braley]

Dan Callahan,

I just pulled up the flyover of your hole...      That is freaking awesome and looks like something from a video game.

Made me look Chris.

That's pretty wild.  Sign me up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvBnIIY9Rs

[Paul Jones]

7th at Moraine is one of my favorites - from golfcoursegurus website

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Michael, #12 at Sunningdale Old is my favorite hole in the world, also!
Glad to see it loved by others--and wish it were more recognized.
I believe it is a hole designed by Colt--changed from the original by Park.  Is that correct?  Genius move.  But Colt was a genius.

I believe it was indeed totally redone by Colt.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

I have to chuckle when the thread asks for holes no one talks about and the courses mentioned are:
North Berwick
TOC
Tobacco Road
Spanish Bay
Portmarnock
Torrey Pines
Pine Valley
Sand Hills
Sunningdale
Barnbougle
Diamante
Palmetto
Golspie
Shinnecock
Shoreacres
Elie
Maidstone
Brora

Maybe as Steve says the thread should be overlooked holes on great courses.
I do appreciate the Belvedere reference.

I did place that as a disclaimer when mentioning 12 at Sunningdale.
However, it i still a hole that flys somewhat under the radar considering just how perfect it is.