25-to-Life: Tracks You Won’t Forget

>>7,356 yards >>par 72 Kiawah Island Golf Resort Ocean Course Kiawah Island, SC

>>8,325 yards >>par 73 The International Pines Course Bolton, MA

>>7,310 yards >>par 72 Ko’olau Golf Club Kaneohe,Oahu, HI

>>7,266 yards >>par 72 PGA West Stadium Course La Quinta, CA

>>7,255 yards >>par 71 Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, PA

>>6,543 yards >>par 72 Tot Hill Farm Golf Club Asheboro, NC

>>7,362 yards >>par 72 Whistling Straits Straits Course Haven, WI

>>6,999 yards >>par 70 Pine Valley Golf Club Pine Valley, NJ

>>7,386 yards >>par 71 Bethpage State Park Black Course Farmingdale, NY

Once you play on Bethpage Black it almost takes away from the other four courses. It remains the only one on which golf carts are not permitted— after all, it was the home of the 2002 U.S. Open and will host it again next year. Hilly and long with beautiful signature holes, this course still seduces many despite the mandatory footwork. It is not hard to find the eager asleep in their cars at 5 a.m. to beat the fact that you can’t reserve tee times. One of the most most memorable— and possibly most painful—points on this journey is Hole 4, which has three tiers, each covered with bunkers that make seeing the hole’s location nearly a mission impossible. Generally the kind of course that draws long hitters, and rest assured they will meet you at the first tee to be sure you notice the signage warning the less skilled to take their game to other terrain.

>>6,554 yards >>par 71 Tobacco Road Golf Club Sanford, NC

>>7,157 yards >>par 72 Medalist Golf Club Hobe Sound, FL

>>7,229 yards >>par 72 Winged Foot Golf Club West Course Mamaroneck, NY

This course is known to wear out even the heartiest of players— some have even said it’s plain exhausting. Though it is fairly wide open, there is much struggle to be had. Word has it that even after a well-placed drive you will need another wood to place your next shot. Generally, plan consecutive long hits to get you to the point where you will use your irons. It seems that every green is either an uphill or downhill putt, but none are straight shots.

On Hole 18 you can actually hit green and find you have rolled off in a different direction. We suggest the trained eye of caddy staff as a survival tool but heed this word of caution: Do not mistake their dispassion. It’s necessary because many have taken their word and found happiness, but an equal number have ignored and been floored. Nonetheless, sportsmanship springs eternal, so they will help you out of a pinch—even if you got there on your own.

>>7,412 yards >>par 72 Desert Mountain Golf Club Renegade Course Scottsdale, AZ

>>7,215 yards >>par 72 TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

>>6,938 yards >>par 72 Hallbrook Country Club Leawood, KS

>>7,304 yards >>par 72 The Tradition at Royal New Kent Providence Forge, VA

>>6,991 yards >>par 72 Blackwolf Run River Course Kohler, WI

>>7,078 yards >>par 72 Grand Traverse Resort Bear Course Acme, MI

>>7,412 yards >>par 71 Oak Tree Golf Club Edmond, OK

>>7,650 yards >>par 72 The Concord Resort & Golf Club Monster Course Kiamesha Lake, NY

>>7,220 yards >>par 71 Wolf Run Golf Club Zionsville, IN

>>7,674 yards >>par 72 Silver Lakes ( backbreaker/heartbreaker) Glencoe, AL

>>7,159 yards >>par 72 One & Only Ocean Club Ocean Club Course The Bahamas

This beautiful wide-open track will blow you—and just about every shot you take—away. Also featuring a prominent amount of brush, definitely enough to get you in trouble, these fairways are not easily forgotten. Distances multiply by the time you navigate winds that seem to come from angles you never learned in geometry class, so be ready for a work out. You may even find it a bit of relief when (you most likely ) drop your ball in the drink at the inlet on Hole 4, but there will still be more than a dozen holes to deal with. Stay strong.

>>7,523 yards >>par 71 Butler National Golf Club Oak Brook, IL

>>6,953 yards >>par 72 Spyglass Hill Golf Course Pebble Beach, CA