Where are some other Alps holes?
Fishers Island (No. 4)
Playing along the water, many consider the Fishers Island Alps hole to be the best in the world. The hole plays over a chasm from the tee, and the punchbowl green is very pronounced with tight grass around all the edges. The green is blind from most of the fairway, but the beautiful views are always visible.
National Golf Links of America (No. 3)
The first Alps Macdonald built, this one features a diagonal left-to-right fairway, adding interest from the tee. Of the hole, Tom Doak said, “Macdonald’s third hole at National Golf Links was not just an homage to the Alps at Prestwick, but an improvement on the hole.” It takes a true golf genius to improve on anything from Prestwick.
Lookout Mountain Club (No. 11)
Lookout Mountain Golf Club has another fabulous Alps hole built by Macdonald’s protégé Seth Raynor. Because of the blind nature of the approach shot, there is a large flagpole behind the center of the green. The green has deep bunkers on either side rather than the front. This one is extra interesting because it plays downhill to the green.
The Greenbrier (Old White, No. 13)
Not a strict Alps because you can get a view of the green from one side of the fairway, the 13th at TPC’s Old White is still a wonderful hole. The front hill is severe and still makes for a challenging test. A river runs down the left side of fairway, and the closer you keep your ball to the water, the better the view of the green. Success on this hole takes strategy from the tee box all the way to the green.
St. Louis CC (No. 18)
The Alps hole at St. Louis Country Club is an incredible way to finish a round of golf. The uphill tee shot bends to the left with the clubhouse behind. The blind green is fronted with a deep bunker with very little area to get a good stance or lie. There aren’t too many mountains in Missouri, but Macdonald found a way to make an Alps template anyway.
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