tension is highest and matches are of- ten won or lost. For the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow, the PGA of America adjusted the diabolical sequence of holes known as the Green Mile – holes 16, 17 and 18 – so that they fell in the middle of the second nine to ensure the majority of groups would face them before match- es were closed out. Bethpage needs no adjustment. Its 17th and 18th pose their own challenges, but they pale compared to the strain of the gauntlet of par 4s at 12, 15 and 16 sandwiched around the 13th, a tight 608-yard par 5. These holes have no problem extracting strokes and will provide a reckoning for many of the matches. There’s no similar death march through Cypress Point’s second nine, but the majesty of its closing clifftop holes will undoubtedly intensify the pressure as players attempt to survive or turn matches. It would be impos- sible for the competitors to not feel the added gravity of hitting the most important shots of their lives around the Octopus Cypress on the 14th, into the small 15th green tucked into its rocky Pacific cove, across the ocean at the 16th, arguably the world’s greatest par 3, and driving diagonally over the cliffs at the par-4 17th.
tilted and not particularly large, they generally don’t possess significant internal contour (the 15th and 17th are exceptions) and offer as much pinnable area as any American major champion- ship course. When players keep their approaches below the hole, they’ll face mostly straightforward, makeable putts. Cypress Point’s greens are devilish. Many have distinct hole locations sepa- rated by significant slopes and swales, and all have tremendous pitch in one direction or the other. Though the ap- proach shots are generally shorter, putts tend to break significantly as they near the hole (especially in the com- mon windy conditions), and extreme precision is required to challenge cer- tain tight hole locations. Creative touch and feel on the greens are as valuable at Cypress Point as just about anywhere. AN INTIMIDATING START Ryder Cup and Walker Cup players are already intensely nervous teeing off on the first hole of their matches, but the intimidation factor intensifies when the opening hole is a brute. Stadium seating surrounding the tee during the Ryder Cup dials up the pressure even more. Bethpage’s first hole certainly qualifies as intimidating as hitting the
dogleg-right fairway from the elevated tee is a must – no one wants to begin a match playing out of the Black’s deep rough. The first at Cypress Point, on the other hand, is more of a warmup and one of the design’s least-dramatic holes, though the elevated green is heavily sloped towards the front and doesn’t yield easy birdies. Though these both count as just one hole in each match, winning an especially tough opener can psychologically feel like going two-up. PENAL LATE As fun as it is to see players and teams exchange birdies or even eagles, they should be asked to physically and emotionally handle the stress of power holes late in the round. The best match- play courses have plenty of tantalising half-par holes that test calculated ag- gression, but they should also possess difficult, penal holes that occur in the heart of the second nine when the The ability to keep players off balance hole to hole and day to day is essential to great match-play courses.
GREAT TEMPTATIONS Walker Cuppers can try to drive the green at the par-4 ninth but missing has dire consequences.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 63
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
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