Old Mac · Hole 4
Blue
145
White
70
Gold
5
Red
5
An Eden-inspired par 3 featuring a deep, penal bunker short-left of the green modeled on the iconic Eden hole at St. Andrews. The green is accessible from the right side but the deep left bunker — one of the most punishing single bunkers at the resort — makes any miss left a near-automatic bogey. Precision is everything.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Aim at the right-center of the green regardless of pin position. The deep left bunker is so penal that even a slightly left-center aim creates unacceptable risk. From the right side of the green, a long birdie putt is far preferable to a short recovery from sand. Take one extra club and commit to a firm, controlled iron swing.
Putting
The Eden green slopes subtly from left to right — away from the most dangerous bunker. Most putts from the right half break gently right to left; from the back, they run toward the front and right. A par here is excellent; don't be disappointed by a two-putt from the right side of the green.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The deep Eden bunker is one of the most difficult recovery shots at Old Macdonald — the face is steep and the landing area near the pin is tight. A bogey is the best expected outcome from the bunker.
- •Short is as bad as left — anything landing on the false front short of the green rolls back toward the bunker. Take enough club.
- •The hole looks simple at 145 yards — first-time players routinely miss left because they underestimate the crosswind effect toward the bunker.
Wind Intelligence
The Eden par 3 at Old Macdonald is fully exposed to the southwest crosswind, which blows from left to right directly toward the right side of the green — the safe side. In a left-to-right crosswind, paradoxically, the wind is your ally here: aim left-center and let it drift back to the right, away from the bunker. In a rare right-to-left wind, the bunker becomes even more dangerous.
Hazard Map
- ▲Deep Eden-style penal bunker short-left
- ▲False front rejecting short approaches
- ▲Steep bunker face making recovery extremely difficult