18
Hole 18 of 18 · Back nine

Please!

Par 4440 yardsHandicap 8Difficulty 1
228 Cup matches have ended on this hole · Blue won 88, Red won 82, 58 halved. See them all →
Diagram of hole 18
Hole diagram
Hole 18

Course Notes by Steve Shoop

The most difficult hole on the course challenges the right-to-left player most. The tee-shot is blocked on the right by tall trees, almost forcing a fade into the narrow fairway. But heavy woods line the left and trouble the pulled shot.

The most effective bail-out strategy is to hit the ball high over the trees on the right into the open area. But a ball that hits these trees risks falling into the creek that is 50 yards off the tee.

Charlie Shoop's third shot to the 18th green in the 2000 event. He would eventually sink a six-footer for a five to tie the points and retain the cup for Blue.

This hole is made tougher for those giving strokes, and has often been the number one handicap hole. The pressure is on the lower handicap player to close a match before it gets here. In 1996, the Concord Cup committee changed the course handicap rankings so that players would not be forced to give strokes on the hole. Due to pressure from the players, the committee reversed the decision the following year. Again in 1999, the committee changed the handicap of the hole to number seven.

In 1996, Dennis Hackett sunk a 12-foot par putt here to halve a match with Charlie Shoop and clinch victory for the Red.

The required left-to-right drive causes some players to bail well right. Here in their key 2005 match, Jeff Hackett tees his ball well right (see the arrow) and Vince Olenik played in that direction as well.

The scorecard click a hole

Hole123456789Out101112131415161718In
NameAwayGooseCreekCoke MachineReloadJudayCarefulSlopeHalfway HomeTop of the StretchUpConcedeSocialSwing AwayToughFallHackettPlease!
Yards3451533733863141704913845573,1733553735713835001643401214403,247
Par43444354536445–53434–
Handicap11179313155171456212164188