Ranking the Hardest Holes on the PGA Tour

The hardest holes on the PGA Tour are traditionally long par fours, often with challenging tee shots and penal conditions for those who find themselves out of position off the tee. 

During the 2014-2015 PGA Tour season, this again proved to be the case. 

Some of the entries in this rundown of the 10 toughest holes on tour (with respect to field scores to par) will be immediately familiar to golf fans: the 18th at Doral and the Road Hole at St. Andrews. 

To see where the two aforementioned holes rank among the 10 toughest (and for the other eight), click through. 

10. PGA National No. 6

Par: 4 

Yardage: 479 

Average score (2015): 4.41 

A long par four that plays as a par five every other week of the year, the sixth at PGA National features a narrow landing area with water on the left and fairway bunkering on the right. The green is guarded by two bunkers in front of it, there's nowhere to miss long, and water skirts the left edge of the green. Good luck. 

9. Chambers Bay No. 7

Par: 4

Yardage: 508 

Average score (2015): 4.41

With a tight, hard fairway that traditionally yields a blind approach shot nearing 200 yards, Chambers Bay's seventh hole is more than 500 yards long. As we saw at last year's U.S. Open, every green on the course can be treacherous, depending on pin position. The bunkering/waste area along the right side of the fairway is treacherous and must be avoided. Otherwise, bogey is virtually assured. 

8. East Lake No. 5

Par: 4

Yardage: 535

Average score (2015): 4.42

Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson were two of the pros voicing displeasure with the fifth hole at East Lake during last year's Tour Championship when it was set up as a 535-yard par four. The fifth, unlike the rest of the holes on this list, is unplayable and borders on unfair in wet conditions—hence player ire at the Tour Championship. Only three birdies were recorded here last year. 

7. Chambers Bay No. 4

Par: 4

Yardage: 495

Average score (2015): 4.44

The fourth hole at Chambers Bay, host of last year's U.S. Open, features penal bunkering right of the fairway and plenty of undulation in the landing area. A small green with bunkers in front and behind makes approach shots difficult as well. The fourth is a par five during regular play, which is an indication of its difficulty. It surrendered just 16 birdies. 

6. Robert Trent Jones GC No. 12

Par: 4

Yardage: 490

Average score (2015): 4.47

Another near-500-yard par four, the 12th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, host of the Quicken Loans National, is played at nearly one-half of a stroke over par. Thirty double bogeys and 10 "others" (triples or worse) were recorded at this long, tough hole last year. 

5. Torrey Pines GC (South Course) No. 12

Par: 4

Yardage: 504

Average score (2015): 4.49

The 12th at Torrey Pines South Course surrendered the second-fewest birdies of any course in the top 10 (eight) last year. More than 500 yards in length, there are bunkers left and right of a narrow fairway and left and right of the front of the green. And if that weren't enough, No. 12 generally plays into the wind. If you land in the bunkers in front of the green, you're looking at a bogey.

4. Chambers Bay No. 7

Par: 4

Yardage: 508

Average score (2015): 4.52

Sensing a pattern? Another long, long par five that was difficult to handle in 2015. The players won't miss not having to return to Chambers Bay in 2016.

There were more bogeys, double bogeys and worse combined than there were pars at the seventh. Plenty of bunkering along the right side of a narrow undulating fairway and nowhere to miss the undulating green with a long-iron approach shot made this hole extraordinarily difficult. 

3. Whistling Straits No. 18

Par: 4

Yardage: 520

Average score (2015): 4.53

A 520-yard par four played tough? What a surprise. The 18th at Whistling Straits, site of last year's PGA Championship, saw 43 double bogeys recorded, which was more than any other hole on this list.

The aptly named Dyeabolical forces players to hit a narrow fairway that runs perpendicular to the teeing area. A wealth of bunkering left of the fairway and a tucked green make this hole obscenely difficult. Did we mention it's 520 yards? 

2. Trump National Doral No. 18

Par: 4

Yardage: 476

Average score (2015): 4.57

The finishing hole at the Blue Monster has a fairway that's nearly impossible to hit and rough right of the fairway that's nearly impossible to reach the green from. So you just bail out left, right? Not exactly, as a water hazard runs the entire left side of the hole. Add in the intimidating nature of the tee shot and bunkering right of the green, and it's no wonder nearly as many players made bogey as par here in 2015. 

1. St. Andrews No. 17

Par: 4

Yardage: 495

Average score (2015): 4.65

Not only is the Road Hole at St. Andrews iconic, but it's also incredibly difficult.

Players face a blind tee shot to an undulating fairway with penal bunkers left. Find the fairway, and you're looking at a long carry to a difficult, raised green that's built to repel approach shots. And it's guarded by the infamous Road Hole bunker, into which balls also funnel. Players pray for a par here, and only nine golfers made birdie at the 2015 British Open.