COURSE CADDIES :: Highland Links :: Hole 18 :: PAR 4


Welcome to the Course Caddy, a look at each and every hole in Golden Tee 2014. Over the next few months, we will spend each day looking at a different design, starting with Hole 1 on the first course and ending with the final hole on the final design.

We want—no, NEED—your help in this process!

How do you play a particular design? Share your thoughts on strategy and YouTube uploads in the comment section. Your feedback is integral in the complete understanding of the design.

All holes will then be available for reference on the Course Caddy page—a bookmark must for the entire encyclopedia! Enjoy.


Highland Links Hole No. 18


We close out Highland with a design that—compared to other finishing holes—really isn’t all too devastating. It can be, certainly, but we’ve seen much worse. And if you can approach No. 18 with a plan some awareness of the trouble, eagle should be doable and birdie should be your floor.

The layout of the hole is straightforward: If you miss right, you’re going in the water. Don’t miss right.

The green will also slope that way some, and your ball carries incredibly well off the tee. These are items to be aware of regardless of where the pin is located. Oh, and that Highland wind. Although I don’t think you need to be reminded how deadly this can be.

With this baseline knowledge acquired, the rest will depend on the pin. The easiest location on this particular hole is actually when the hole is tucked closest to the tee box. This kind of setup gives you options.

Because the hole slopes down severely, you can actually land your ball in the rough and it will roll down. You don’t want to land too short and risk not making the green, but shots such as these can lead to really solid chances at getting close to the hole.

The more challenging shots on Highland 18 will come when the pin is nestled deep in the back of the green, perhaps in the area closest to the drop-off. This shot will require touch. It will also likely require some sort of spin—Backspin or Bite—in order to get your ball to settle.

You can’t go long, even if it means a lengthy putt for eagle. The ideal shot is Bite with proper distance control so your ball trickles down near—or in—the hole.

A putt here is all you want. You have an opportunity to do better here, and many people have. But staying on the green is the name of the game, and changing your approach depending on the pin will lead to more twos than anything else to close things out.

How do you play?