The Preserve · Hole 12
Back
145
Forward
125
A mid-round short iron with a stunning backdrop of ocean cliffs stretching along the coast. At 145 yards, this is a more manageable distance after the brutality of hole 11 — your hands are still warm and your club selection is back in a comfortable range. The ocean cliffs frame the right side of the green in a composition that would look at home in a golf magazine. Let the scenery settle you before the shot.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Standard short-to-mid iron distance at 145 yards in still air, but wind adjustments apply as always. The green is medium-sized with the most welcoming shape of the closing holes. Aim for the center and let any miss stay on the putting surface. The right side — toward the cliffs — is the danger zone; left and short are acceptable.
Putting
The green on hole 12 is one of the more straightforward putting surfaces on the course, with a consistent slope from back to front. Standard back-to-front break applies on most putts. Leave the ball below the hole and make a confident stroke — this is a birdie opportunity relative to holes 8 and 11.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •Players relax here after the difficulty of 11 and lose focus, missing right toward the cliffs. Stay committed to an inland target line.
- •The scenic backdrop makes a great photo — but take it after your shot, not before.
- •This is a birdie opportunity. Play it like one. Don't lay up mentally just because the previous holes were hard.
Wind Intelligence
The cliff geography at hole 12 creates a mild shelter effect on some wind directions, making the wind slightly less severe than adjacent cliff-edge holes. However, do not assume protection — an off-shore or rotated wind can funnel along the cliff face and create crosswind conditions at green level. Always check the flag before clubbing.
Hazard Map
- ▲Ocean cliffs right of the green — lateral hazard
- ▲Fescue rough left and behind the green