Designed by Pete Dye, the par-3, 132-yard 17th of TPC Sawgrass, known simply as the “Island Green” is one of the most intimidating holes on the PGA tour. In addition to being almost entirely surrounded by water, the undulating green has earned the badge of ruining rounds for many of the best golfers on the tour (In 2007, a record 50 shots fell into the water in one round).

2. Apple Tree Resort in Yakima, WA

Everything is apple in Yakima. The Apple Tree Golf Course set in a former apple orchard is no exception. Designed by John Steidel, the par-3 17th has an island green shaped like an apple with a sand trap for a “leaf” and a bridge for the “stem”. It has been named “Best Par Three” by the Seattle Times, and “One of Washington’s Top 18 Holes”.

3. Coeur d’Alene Resort, Idaho

Located on the north shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Coeur d’ Alene luxury resort features a marina, convention facilities, spa, as well as a notable 18-hole golf course. Designed by Scott Miller, the course’s main claim to fame is its par-3 14^th hole green which floats, like a boat. In fact, it sails around Lake, never staying in one place. Because of that movement, there’s no bridge – If you actually hit the green, you’ll need to sail yourself there, in a boat aptly named the “Putter”.

4. Kings North at Myrtle Beach National

For over twenty five years, the North Course at Myrtle Beach National has been one of the most requested and best recognized courses in the area. The par-3, 12th hole (originally the 3rd hole) with its island green and ‘SC’ shaped sandtraps is the signature hole for the Arnold Palmer designed course.

5. Golf Club Santa Ponsa II, Spain

Designed by José Gancedo, and inaugurated in December 1991, Golf Santa Ponsa II is a ~6,000 yard, par 72 course. The finishing hole has been created in the shape of the island of Mallorca. Unfortunately Santa Ponsa II is exclusively reserved for the shareholders of the society and not for the public.

A Very Brief History

Before there was a professional golf tour, many of the game’s greatest players earned money by competing in exhibition matches against each other. There was no better ‘exhibitor’ than Walter Hagen. A man with a larger than life personality and a grandiose lifestyle to match it. To draw the widest audience as possible, celebrities of that time would also join in on the competition.

The Haig and the Babe Square Off

Walter Hagen was friends with many of the sport’s greats at the time including Babe Ruth. Their matches were documented in numerous periodicals including the New York Times, even though this one was played in Florida! Below is the 1932 article from the Times that reported the match. One can only imagine the caliber of shots performed and the electricity generated from these legends!

The Modern Day Exhibition Match

As for the modern day exhibition match, I suggest all golfers find a group of authentic golfing companions and play an exhibition match similar to what the greats used to do — build it up, even write about it — the anticipation will enhance the experience and the memories. Even if you have no modern day celebrities, coming down the drive it will be hard not to think what the Hagen must of felt like when making an entrance before an exhibition match.

The Exhibition Match Moving Forward

The game would reap significant benefits if the exhibition match was brought back to courses. The closest we’ve had is the Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf and those were splendid! Now add a mix of celebrity and an intimate crowd and watch as new fans fall in love with the sport.

For this round, we have two competing shots – one from the PGA and one from the European tour; one in a tournament, and one in a practice round; both involving water.

First up, Darren Clarke on a long par 5:

Next up, Vijay Singh on a short par 3:

So, whom would you vote for?

President Obama is no stranger to golf, even teaming up with his political opponents for the sake of the game. In June 2011, Obama teamed up with Speaker of the House, republican John Boehner. They played at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, against Vice President Joe Biden and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Unlikely victors, Obama and Boehner beat Biden and Kasich, winning them a whopping $2. Sign of the financial crisis—I don’t know. The scores of the players, like most important things in Washington, are “classified”. It is likely that Boehner, who is #43 on Golf Digest’s ranking of Washington’s top 150 golfers with a handicap of 8.6, outperformed his teammate. Obama is #108 on the list, with an estimated handicap of 17. The most noted golfer out of the bunch is Vice President Biden, who ranks far better than his boss at #29 with a 6.3 handicap.

Maybe we can learn something from Golf Summit, as the game was later dubbed. Although a round of golf may not solve all our problems (or our country’s), it can create a better atmosphere for later conversation and dialogue.

2010 – Mickelson’s shot from the pine needles

With two pine trees, a creek, and over two hundred yards between him and the pin, Mickelson delivered a blistering iron off the pine needles through the trees to four feet. it was perhaps one of the gutsiest shots ever played – the birdied hole led to a 67 and his third green jacket.

2005 – Tiger’s chip from the collar

Trailing Chris DiMarco, Woods knocked his tee shot over the green, where it came to rest against the collar of the first cut of rough. After taking stock of the situation, he hit a low spinning pitch, landing the ball 25 feet above the hole. The ball bit and then trickled down to the cup, hanging ever so briefly onto the lip before dropping in. The crowd erupted, and Tiger went on to win the green jacket in a playoff.

1987 – Larry Mize’s chip in

At the end of 72 holes, Larry Mize and Greg Norman both led the pack in the 1987 Masters. On the second hole of a sudden-death playoff, Norman hit his approach shot to the edge of the green, while Mize sprayed his second some 150 feet right and long. Norman looked destined to win his first green jacket until Mize bounced his third shot onto the green and into the hole. With Norman unable to sink his birdie putt, Mize won his first and only major championship.

1987 – Nicklaus’s Final Masters

At the 1987 Masters Nicklaus made a monumental back-nine charge, shooting a 30 that featured an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch on 15, 16, & 17. The round featured a number of clutch shots, but the tricky 12-footer he holed for birdie on 17 most resonates in people’s memories. Nicklaus went on to par the 18th and carded a 65 – he then watched his competitors falter, giving him his 6th green jacket.

1935 – Gene Sarazen’s Double Eagle

Unfortunately we don’t have a video, but Gene Sarazen’s historic hole-out for double eagle went a long way toward helping popularize the Masters (then called the Augusta National Invitational). Deciding between a 3-wood and 4-wood, he chose the latter and hit a towering shot that flew some 235 yards, cleared a greenside pond, and dropped into the hole. The deuce tied Sarazen for the lead with Craig Wood – he then went on to win the only 36-hole playoff in Masters history.

If you are really trying to hone in on your chip shots, grab a glass of wine and watch this video on knocking down wine bottles with pinpoint accuracy. It may be April’s fools (just like the tennis video of Roger Federer), but we’ve heard those guys down under can really dial in their wedges!

If you are wondering who’s ball flight you’re watching, the list is below. You can see more of Michael David Murphy’s work here. These images were captured during the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

1st Hole – Vijay Singh
1st Hole – Lee Westwood
8th Hole – Lucas Glover
8th Hole – Padraig Harrington
2nd Hole – Tiger Woods
2nd Hole – Padraig Harrington
3rd Hole – Tiger Woods
8th Hole – Vijay Singh
14th Hole – Ernie Els
1st Hole – Ross Fisher
17th Hole – Alvaro Quiros
9th Hole – Ernie Els
9th Hole – Tim Clark
6th Hole – Tiger Woods
17th Hole – Alvaro Quiros
8th Hole – Vijay Singh
10th Hole – Y. E. Yang
10th Hole – Y. E. Yang
1st Hole – Padraig Harrington
2nd Hole – Padraig Harrington
4th Hole – Padraig Harrington
9th Hole – Padraig Harrington
10th Hole – Soren Kjeldsen
2nd Hole – Lucas Glover
2nd Hole – Lucas Glover

Every play “hit the target” on the golf range? Well, it’s a bit like that, except you are aiming for the 3 foot mouth of a barrel, bobbing in a dinghy 150+ yards out to sea in high winds.

These guys are good.

Ten years ago, patrons would get their individual daily badges for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Most of the badges were used by those who originally go them, however too many were traded, exchanged, and sold online. As a result, members began to crack down on this abuse of the system by adapting to the times.  First, they created a single tournament badge. This cut down on the exchange significantly because if you sold your badge for Thursday it was gone for the rest of the week — unless you knew the person using it and they gave it back to you. Further, if you sold your badge to someone who acted inappropriately on the grounds, their (i.e. your) badges would be taken away and you would not receive another one come this time next year.

So how do you grace one of the game’s most hollowed grounds; a place that fosters the sport’s greatest traditions by an organization that advocates its finest lessons?

Augusta National Chairman, Billy Payne welcomes every reader of this years official journal by writing:

The Masters Tournament was conceived some 75 years ago in the middle of the Great Depression when Bob Jones and Cliff Roberts had a vision of giving back to the game that had been so good to them. This vision has continued over the years through good times and bad. It is stronger today than ever before, as we move globally to in inspire young people to take up this game, preserve its values and learn its lessons.

The answer: It’s not as difficult as it may seem and it is can be done in a manner that would likely be approved by the chairman himself. Remember, I write this with the game’s greatest intentions in mind; for younger audiences who may not have the annual opportunity. You know, kind of like moseying near the brush next to Seminole to watch the game’s greatest ball striker during a practice session.

Here is a great option. We’ve already been over that gracing the grounds during the actual tournament is extremely difficult. If you’re going to try, find a broker, a credible person on ebay, or a friend. Although, many people argue that the practice rounds are much more enjoyable from a spectator’s perspective; this is where I’m fortunate enough to speak from experience. I’ve had the good fortune to attend The Masters each day it’s been held, except for Wednesday. I was there on Sunday in 2001 when Tiger won and many times before and after. I can’t tell you which is better right now because each day has its strengths and weaknesses (a later post). However, what’s important is making sure every person who wants to experience the vision, legacy, and creation of Bobby Jones, there is a chance.

The practice rounds are much less regulated. There is a raffle one can enter. Actually, if you don’t live in the South, you will likely have a greater chance of getting them. Augusta National, rightfully so, wants to make sure that a wide audience has the opportunities to experience the tournament. With this context, there are two simple ways to increase your chances of attending The Masters:

1. Have you and your friends sign up for practice round tickets.

Chances are that one of them will get lucky, especially if its their first time.

2. Make your way to Augusta during the practice rounds and just ask.

I know it might sound crazy and way too simple, but by 10:00 a.m. there are already people leaving the practice round to either go to work, back to the hotel, or off to the course to play. You can tell which people are leaving because they will go and get their phone they checked in earlier. Remember, do not purchase the tickets because even though ticket scalping was legalized by the state in 2001, it is illegal within 1,500 feet of the the grounds — so if you do that, make sure you’re in the legal limit. By 11:00 a.m. there are many people already exiting the grounds and all you have to do is ask for their ticket. It’s simple. Any true golfer would give their Masters practice round ticket to another fan without hesitation or compensation.

Jon @ atruegolfer.com