In the golden age of golf architecture, greats like Alister MacKenzie, Donald Ross and C.B. Macdonald built courses that still thrill players today. But the modern era—post 1960—has its own collection of masterpieces that blend beauty, strategy, and innovation. These holes don’t just test your skill; they engage your brain, tempt risk and reward creativity. We explore some of the best.
16th Hole – Cypress Point Club (California)
The original course was a MacKenzie design, but Robert Trent Jones Jr’s work to restore and modernize parts of the course including the par-3 16th hole preserved its magic. The hole is 231 yards over the Pacific Ocean and demands power and precision. What makes it special isn’t just the cliff top drama; it’s how wind, tide and angle of attack affect club choice. It’s natural land meets expert design.
12th Hole – Kingsbarns Golf Links (Scotland)
Opened in 2000, Kingsbarns is a modern classic. The par-5 12th hole by Kyle Phillips arcs along the North Sea and is the essence of risk-reward golf. Longer hitters may be tempted to go for the green in two but must flirt with a coastline that will swallow up wayward shots. The rolling fairway and tiered green demand planning from tee to cup with multiple playing lines and outcomes.
13th Hole – Shadow Creek Golf Course (Nevada)
Tom Fazio’s Shadow Creek in Las Vegas is a masterpiece of engineering built in the desert and turned into an oasis. The par-5 13th hole is Fazio at his best. Water guards the left side from tee to green daring players to cut off more than they can chew. Trees and bunkering frame the shot lines perfectly, and the green is subtly contoured to add difficulty without being unfair. It’s strategic, scenic, and pure Fazio.
6th Hole – The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (South Carolina)
Pete Dye’s Ocean Course is brutal in the wind but the 6th hole is the standout. This par-3 plays along the Atlantic with a green perched on a dune ridge. The wind blows randomly and the green is shallow and heavily protected. Its beauty is in simplicity—just a long iron and a green—but in execution it’s one of the toughest and most thrilling tee shots in golf.
4th Hole – Bandon Dunes (Oregon)
David McLay Kidd’s Bandon Dunes introduced American golfers to the purity of Scottish links on U.S. soil. The 4th hole is a short par-4 that hugs a cliff edge with stunning views of the Pacific. At 340 yards it’s a decision: lay up to a narrow fairway or go for the green guarded by sand, fescue and ocean breezes. This hole is the epitome of short, strategic golf.