Old Mac · Hole 17
Blue
567
White
492
Gold
427
Red
327
The penultimate hole is a reachable par 5 with a genuine risk-reward decision on the second shot. Players who have kept their score together can take on the green in two with a good drive — but the approach is flanked by bunkers and the green is elevated, making the two-shot play demanding. A lay-up leaves a short wedge and excellent birdie chance.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Driver aimed at the left-center of the wide fairway. The second-shot decision requires being in the fairway — from rough, going for the green in two is impractical. Reaching 270 yards or beyond opens up the two-shot route; a 250-yard drive makes the layup clearly correct.
Approach
Going for it in two requires a 275+ yard second shot to reach the elevated green — only realistic for longer hitters from the fairway in a favorable wind. The flanking bunkers and elevated green make the carry demanding. Laying up to 90 yards leaves an excellent wedge approach that should yield birdie regularly. Know your distance and make the right decision without sentiment.
Putting
The elevated green is the firmest on the back nine closing stretch. The surface slopes from left to right and from back to front. From above the hole anywhere on this green, putts are the fastest of the day — three-putting from above the pin in the closing stages of a round is demoralizing. Get below the hole on the third shot.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The two-shot route is tempting late in a round with momentum — but the flanking bunkers on approach and elevated green make it a high-variance play. Take the layup unless your lie, distance, and wind are all perfect.
- •The elevated green makes the distance to the front of the putting surface longer than the yardage to the green suggests — always add 5–10 yards for elevation on the approach.
- •The fast surface on the elevated green and the left-to-right slope create a treacherous combination from above the hole. One bad putt can cost two strokes here.
Wind Intelligence
The routing of the 17th creates a wind angle that can be favorable in a southwest wind — a slight tailwind that makes the two-shot route more accessible. In a southwest, longer hitters have a genuine eagle opportunity from the fairway at 270+ yards. In a headwind or crosswind, the layup is the only sensible play.
Hazard Map
- ▲Flanking bunkers on second shot approach to green
- ▲Elevated green adding distance beyond yardage
- ▲Extremely fast putting surface from above the hole