The 18th hole is where everything comes to a head. It’s where friendly wagers are settled, record rounds are either sealed or slip away, and where pressure can turn a good day into a great one – or unravel it entirely. Whether it’s navigating a daunting water hazard, soaking in a breathtaking view, or keeping composure amid cheers (and jeers) from the gallery, the final hole often defines the entire round. In this post, we’ll explore some of golf’s best finishing holes and what makes them so unforgettable.
18th Holes You Must Play
1. Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach, California
Pebble Beach Golf Links is renowned as one of the most iconic courses in the world, and its 18th hole delivers a finale worthy of its reputation. With the Pacific Ocean surging against the cliffs along the left side, golfers face a narrow fairway that demands precision off the tee. The challenge doesn’t end there—the approach is to a small, well-guarded green perched dramatically on the ocean’s edge, making for one of the most unforgettable finishing holes in golf.
2. Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, Georgia
No matter whose name tops the leaderboard, Augusta National’s final tee shot is never a sure thing. Threading a narrow chute lined with towering pines and avoiding the bunkers at the fairway’s end demands nerves of steel. The uphill approach leads to a green guarded by two more traps, and the tiered putting surface serves as the ultimate test, turning even a two-footer into a potential moment of triumph – or heartbreak.
3. Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte, North Carolina
The 18th at Quail Hollow delivers a dramatic finale to ‘The Green Mile,’ the course’s famed closing stretch. This challenging par-4 follows a narrow fairway flanked by a meandering stream on the left, while fairway and greenside bunkers lie in wait on the right. Aggressive play can yield a potential for birdie, but but failure to find the fairway could mean trouble.
4. Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The 18th at Harbour Town is as iconic as it is intimidating. The wide fairway, framed by the red-and-white lighthouse, feels inviting off the tee – but the approach is another story. Nearly 200 yards over the Calibogue Sound stand between you and the green. Miss left, and you’re wet. Miss right, and you’re marooned in mounded no-man’s-land.
5. TPC Sawgrass
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
If the island-green 17th left you with a square or two on the card, redemption won’t come easy at TPC Sawgrass. Water runs the entire length of the 18th fairway on the left, while trees punish anything bailed out to the right. The closing hole demands two pure shots and a deft touch around the tiered green.
6. The Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf & Tennis
Lahaina, Hawaii
The 18th at the Plantation Course at Kapalua is a spectacular finishing hole, framed by sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Stretching 677 yards from the championship tees, it’s one of the longest holes on the PGA Tour—though the downhill slope and trade winds can turn it into a launch pad, where 400-yard drives are within reach. The fairway may be wide, but elevation changes, deep bunkers, and its pronounced slope ensure this par-5 is anything but a walk in the park.
7. Carnoustie Golf Links
Scotland
The 18th at Carnoustie Golf Links – aptly named ‘Home’ – is among the most demanding finishing holes in golf. Thick rough, treacherous fairway bunkers, and the Barry Burn winding its way across the hole create a gauntlet from tee to green. It’s a stage built for drama, etched into history by moments like Jean van de Velde’s infamous collapse at the 1999 Open Championship.
8. The Old Course at St. Andrews Links
Scotland
The finishing hole at the Old Course is one of the most iconic in the game – not for its difficulty, but for its history. At just over 350 yards and sharing a massive fairway with the opening hole, it offers little of the bite found elsewhere. Yet what it lacks in challenge, it more than makes up for in tradition. From the Valley of Sin and the Swilcan Bridge to the backdrop of the red Hamilton Grand and the Royal & Ancient clubhouse, every step up this fairway feels like a walk through the very soul of the game.
9. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Southampton, New York
The 18th hole at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is widely considered one of the toughest finishing holes in all of golf. This uphill par 4 measures a whopping 485 yards from the championship tees and requires two well-struck shots to reach the green. The fairway is narrow and sloping making it difficult to find the short grass off the tee. And the green is elevated and guarded by three bunkers, leaving little room for error.
10. Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, Kentucky
Located in Louisville, Kentucky, Valhalla‘s 18th hole is a stunning par-5. Stretching 542 yards from the championship tees, it challenges players with a large fairway bunker on the left and a beautiful water feature on the right. The green, protected by surrounding bunkers, features three distinct putting sections arranged in a horseshoe, a nod to the state’s rich equine heritage.
11. Straits Course at Whistling Straits
Kohler, Wisconsin
Nicknamed “Dyeabolical” after its designer, Pete Dye, the 18th at the Straits Course lives up to its fearsome name. At 520 yards from the championship tees, it requires a long and perfectly placed tee shot, but that’s just the start. Swirling winds, tricky bunkers, rolling sand dunes, and a forced carry over Seven Mile Creek all stand between players and the bottom of the cup.
12. McLemore Highlands Course
Rising Fawn, Georgia
The 18th hole at the McLemore Highlands Course is a truly masterful par-4. The fairway meanders around strategically placed bunkers and massive boulders, guiding players to a green perched on the edge of Lookout Mountain. Conquer this finishing hole, and the reward goes beyond a good score – you walk away with a sense of accomplishment and a quiet reminder of just how spectacular the game of golf can be.
13. Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
The final hole at Oakmont Country Club is as tough as they come. This 484-yard par-4 features a narrow fairway lined with bunkers on both sides, demanding a precise tee shot. The approach is equally unforgiving, requiring an accurate strike to a sloping green protected by even more bunkers. Over the years, this finishing hole has produced unforgettable moments in major championships, from Angel Cabrera’s clutch par to win the 2007 U.S. Open, to Dustin Johnson’s decisive birdie on the 72nd hole of the 2016 U.S. Open.
14. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Orlando, Florida
Bay Hill’s 18th might look straightforward on paper, but this 458-yard finishing hole is anything but. A perfectly placed tee shot is essential to set up a clear line into the green, which is guarded by a massive lake on the right and three bunkers to the left and behind. Go for it aggressively, and the reward can be huge, but a misstep here can quickly send your score sliding in the wrong direction.
Once the last putt drops and the scorecard is signed, the last thing you want to think about is hauling your clubs in and out of rental cars, through airports, and everywhere in between. Ship them ahead with ShipSticks and focus on soaking in the memories of a round, hopefully, well played.
