Old Mac · Hole 15
Blue
125
White
50
Gold
50
Red
50
The easiest hole on the course by handicap, the 15th is a short par 3 to a punchbowl green — the course's second punchbowl design and one of its most charming holes. A shot of any reasonable quality will be gathered by the bowl toward the center, making birdie a realistic goal for all players.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Short iron or wedge aimed at the center of the punchbowl. At 125 yards, wind is the primary variable — take the correct amount of club and aim at the center of the bowl. A ball landing on any portion of the bowl's slope will funnel toward the center. In a headwind, take more club and trust the gather effect.
Putting
All putts break toward the center of the punchbowl. From anywhere in the back portion, putts slope toward the front and center. From the sides, break is toward the center. First-time visitors almost never three-putt from center; long putts from the back slope can surprise with pace.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •Flying the punchbowl is the worst outcome — a ball through the back of the green leaves a very difficult chip back into the bowl across a firm, fast surface.
- •In a tailwind, the short distance can be deceptive — the bowl can be overshot easily with too much club. Take one less club in a tailwind.
- •Players sometimes relax here after the demands of holes 8–14 and lose focus. The short hole is a gift — accept the birdie chance with full concentration.
Wind Intelligence
The short distance makes wind the dominant variable on hole 15. In a headwind, the 125-yard hole can play 155+ yards — two or even three clubs more than calm distance. In a tailwind, it can play 90 yards. Always check wind direction and strength carefully — the punchbowl bowl rewards the correctly classed shot and punishes the badly classed one severely.
Hazard Map
- ▲Outer fringe beyond gathering zone — flies reject away from bowl
- ▲Back of green — running through the punchbowl leaves difficult chip back