Old Mac · Hole 12
Blue
588
White
513
Gold
448
Red
348
A reachable par 5 with enormous bunkers that define the risk-reward calculation on the second shot. Longer hitters who find the fairway can go for the green in two, but the massive bunkers flanking the approach zone make the decision genuinely terrifying. The safe layup leaves a simple wedge approach and an excellent birdie chance.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Driver to the center of the wide fairway. The landing area is generous at 260 yards — take full advantage of the width here because the second shot decision is where the challenge really begins. Reaching 270 yards opens up the two-shot possibility; 250 yards makes the layup decision simpler.
Approach
The decision point: the enormous bunkers flanking the green approach are among the largest at the resort. Going for it in two requires a 250+ yard second shot that must thread between massive left and right bunkers with only 30 yards of green entrance to land in. The layup to 90 yards leaves a wedge approach to the same green with far less penalty for error. For most players, the layup is clearly correct.
Putting
The large green has a consistent back-to-front slope. From the back half, long putts can be very quick. From the front, the slope brings putts from back naturally — lag putts from the back half are the most challenging. Birdie is very achievable here with a precise third shot.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The enormous bunkers are not just large — they have extremely steep faces and the green immediately behind them slopes away from recovery. Getting up-and-down from these bunkers in regulation is a genuine feat.
- •The two-shot route requires a perfect 250+ yard carry between the bunkers. In a crosswind, the margin for error is even smaller. Most players should lay up.
- •The seemingly generous green accepts a properly weighted third shot — but a bump-and-run from outside the green can run through on the firm Old Mac turf.
Wind Intelligence
Hole 12 runs at an angle that can play with or against the prevailing southwest wind depending on direction. In a favorable wind, the par 5 becomes more reachable and the two-shot risk/reward decision is genuinely tempting for longer hitters. In a headwind, the layup is the only rational choice and the third shot approach becomes its own challenge.
Hazard Map
- ▲Enormous left and right bunkers flanking green approach
- ▲Steep bunker faces making recovery extremely difficult
- ▲Back slope behind green