(Golfweek File)

No. 18 at Pebble Beach Golf Links

Where: Pebble Beach, Calif.
Tournament yardage: 543
Par: 5
Designer: Jack Neville and Douglas Grant
Buzz: Any player who doesn’t feel special playing this oceanside beauty should take up another sport.

Pebble Beach has been the host to five U.S. Amateurs, its sixth U.S. Open is this June, and it has been the scene of a PGA Tour event since 1947. Star-power winners there include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods.

Phil Mickelson wrapped up his fifth AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title there in February with a birdie on the dogleg-left 18th.

Assuming good weather, this hole is a great example of a risk-reward par 5 that stands up to the modern professional game. Players must decide how much of the cliff to bite off on the tee shot, and they then face a perilous shot over sand and sea to the green. Most amateurs play it as (at least) a three-shotter, trying to get into position for a short iron or wedge onto the green.

The greens fees at Pebble are steep at $550 for the rack rate, but every golfer should experience the march up 18. And television viewers are twice as lucky this year, having seen the hole in February and getting another look in June.