Famous Golf Holes
The holes every golfer knows, painted by the only artist commissioned for both the U.S. Open and The Open.
Some golf holes are famous far beyond the people who have played them. Linda Hartough has painted many of them on site, over four decades of work that includes commissions from Augusta National, the USGA and The R&A. Here are some of them.
St Andrews: the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole
On the Old Course, players cross the Swilcan Burn on the small stone Swilcan Bridge on the way up the 18th, one of the most photographed places in golf. The 17th, the Road Hole, plays over the corner of the Old Course Hotel to a green with a deep pot bunker in front and a road and stone wall behind.
Augusta National: Amen Corner
Amen Corner is the stretch of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes along Rae's Creek. The par-3 12th, Golden Bell, plays over the creek to a shallow green, and the 13th, Azalea, is the hole Augusta National commissioned Linda to paint in 1984, the commission that changed her career.
Royal Troon, Pebble Beach and beyond
The 8th at Royal Troon, the Postage Stamp, is the shortest hole on The Open rota. At Pebble Beach, the little 7th drops toward the ocean and the 18th curves along Carmel Bay. Harbour Town's 18th runs along Calibogue Sound to the lighthouse, the 9th at Royal County Down looks out to the Mountains of Mourne, and the 18th at Pinehurst No. 2 is where Payne Stewart holed the putt that won the 1999 U.S. Open.
Famous golf course prints
#18 Swilcan Bridge St Andrews
The 18th at the Old Course is a walk through history. This iconic par-4 offers a wide fairway, but the real challenge lies in the emotions of the moment. Crossing the Swilcan Bridge, you pause to reflect on the legends who’ve walked before you. The approach to the Valley of Sin and the green, framed by the R&A clubhouse and cheering crowds, is a fitting finale to the Home of Golf.
#17 Road Hole at Dawn St Andrews
olf’s most notorious par-4 begins with a blind drive over the Old Course Hotel, where courage and precision determine your fate. The tee shot must thread between the hotel and out-of-bounds to find the narrow fairway. From there, the approach demands pinpoint accuracy to avoid the deep Road Hole Bunker and the dreaded road behind the green. This legendary hole has humbled champions for generations.
#17 Road Hole St Andrews
Notorious worldwide as golf’s ultimate test, this legendary par-4 strikes fear into the hearts of even the greatest champions. The blind tee shot must clear the imposing Old Course Hotel while avoiding out-of-bounds stakes that run perilously close to the fairway. The approach shot presents an agonizing choice: risk the cavernous Road Hole Bunker or face the unforgiving road behind the green. Many dreams have died on this merciless hole.
#17 Road Hole St Andrews, 2015
Carved into golfing folklore as the world’s most punishing par-4, this iconic hole begins with a heart-stopping tee shot that must carry the looming Old Course Hotel. Strategic positioning is critical to avoid the maze of hazards awaiting wayward drives. The approach shot offers no mercy, as players must navigate between the gaping Road Hole Bunker and the unforgiving road that claims countless balls. Champions have risen and fallen on this legendary battleground.
#12 Golden Bell Augusta National Golf Club 2003
The 12th Hole of the Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most famous holes in golf. The play of this difficult hole has determined the outcome of many Masters Tournaments. The swirling winds, Rae’s Creek and the green angle makes club selection paramount. The green, guarded with a deep bunker in the front and two bunkers in the rear, is only nine yards deep in the center. En route to the green the player crosses Ben Hogan bridge. In March, the yellow flowered Golden Bell, Forsythia intermedia, blooms behind the green.
#12 Golden Bell Augusta National Golf Club, 2008
The 12th at Augusta National, “Golden Bell,” is a masterpiece of simplicity and challenge. The narrow green, the whispering creek, and the unpredictable winds create a symphony of tension. It’s a hole where legends are made – or unmade.
#12 Golden Bell Augusta National Golf Club
“Golden Bell” stands as a jewel of Amen Corner, its beauty as captivating as its challenge is unforgiving. The narrow green, guarded by Rae’s Creek and framed by blooming azaleas, demands perfection with every swing. The breeze dances unpredictably through the pine. Here, at Augusta’s most iconic par-3, history is made ? or unmade ? in a single, fleeting moment.
#12 Golden Bell Augusta National Golf Club, 2016
The 12th hole, “Golden Bell,” is where beauty meets danger. The iconic bridge, the shimmering creek, and the vibrant azaleas create a postcard-perfect scene. But don’t be fooled– this par-3 has humbled even the greatest champions.
#12 Golden Bell Augusta National Golf Club, 2009
“Golden Bell” at Augusta National is a study in elegance and intimidation. The short yardage belies the difficulty, as Rae’s Creek and swirling breezes conspire to test even the steadiest hands. It’s a hole that demands respect and rewards precision.
Amen Corner
The year 1958 was eventful at the Masters Tournament. Two bridges across Rae’s Creek were dedicated in honor of Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. A young pro named Arnold Palmer won the tournament for the first time. And Amen Corner was born. Actually, the famous stretch of golf holes — Nos. 11, 12 and 13 at Augusta National Golf Club — had been in existence for 25 years. But a catchy nickname for the three holes didn’t exist until Herbert Warren Wind, the golf writer for Sports Illustrated, came up with the term to describe the action in 1958.
#13 Azalea Augusta National Golf Club
The 13th at Augusta National, “Azalea,” is a corner of pure enchantment. The fairway arcs gracefully, cradled by blooms and whispers of Rae’s Creek. Each shot here is a delicate balance of ambition and reverence, as nature and design unite in perfect harmony.
#8 Postage Stamp Royal Troon Golf Club
The legendary “Postage Stamp” stands as golf’s most celebrated short hole, where precision trumps power on this iconic par-3. At just 123 yards, this deceptively simple hole demands absolute accuracy to hit one of golf’s smallest greens, measuring merely 25 yards in length. This historic hole has witnessed countless aces and disasters alike, earning its place in golfing folklore as the ultimate risk-reward challenge.
#8 Postage Stamp Royal Troon
The 8th at Royal Troon, famously known as the “Postage Stamp,” is one of the most iconic par-3s in golf. Measuring just 123 yards, its small, sloping green is fiercely defended by deep, treacherous bunkers, including the infamous “Coffin Bunker.” Precision is everything, as the swirling coastal winds can turn this short hole into a daunting challenge.
#7 Pebble Beach Golf Links, 2010
A mere flick of the wrist, yet the 7th at Pebble Beach is anything but simple. This iconic par-3 tumbles toward the ocean, where the wind and waves conspire to test your nerve. It’s a postcard come to life, demanding a shot as timeless as the view.
#7 Pebble Beach Golf Links, 1995
The 7th at Pebble Beach is a jewel of a par-3, perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Measuring just over 100 yards, it may be short, but it’s anything but simple. The swirling coastal winds can turn a wedge shot into a test of precision and nerve. With the ocean as a stunning backdrop and the green surrounded by bunkers, this hole is a postcard-perfect challenge that embodies the beauty and drama of Pebble Beach.
#18 Pebble Beach Golf Links, 2023
The crescendo builds as you step onto the 18th at Pebble Beach, a par-5 that hugs the coastline like a final embrace. Waves crash against the rocks, echoing the rhythm of your heartbeat. Each shot is a brushstroke on this canvas of cliffs and sea, leading to a green framed by glory.
#18 Pebble Beach Golf Links
The 18th at Pebble Beach is where golf dreams reach their crescendo, a par-5 that serves as the sport’s most magnificent curtain call. Hugging the pristine coastline of Monterey Bay, this iconic hole offers a symphony of strategic choices against the backdrop of the endless Pacific. Every footstep on this hallowed turf connects you to the champions who’ve walked before, making the 18th at Pebble Beach not just a hole to play, but a memory to treasure forever.
#18 Harbour Town Golf Links
The iconic lighthouse stands sentinel as you face the sweeping finale of Harbour Town. This par-4 demands precision, with the Calibogue Sound hugging the left and a narrow fairway leading to a well-guarded green. The sea breeze carries both challenge and inspiration, reminding you that this closing hole is as much about strategy as it is about savoring the breathtaking Lowcountry views.
#18 Harbour Town Golf Links, 2025
The iconic lighthouse stands sentinel as you face the sweeping finale of Harbour Town. This par-4 demands precision, with the Calibogue Sound hugging the left and a narrow fairway leading to a well-guarded green. The sea breeze carries both challenge and inspiration, reminding you that this closing hole is as much about strategy as it is about savoring the breathtaking Lowcountry views.
#9 Royal County Down
Nestled beneath the majestic Mourne Mountains, this breathtaking par-4 showcases Royal County Down’s legendary beauty while demanding strategic excellence. The elevated tee offers stunning panoramic views. With sweeping vistas of Dundrum Bay and the Irish Sea beyond, this spectacular hole perfectly captures the raw magnificence of links golf at its finest.
#18 Pinehurst No. 2
The 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 is a par-4 that provides a fittingly dramatic conclusion to this iconic course. As the final chapter of Pinehurst No. 2, the 18th hole embodies the course’s blend of beauty, strategy, and challenge, leaving players with a lasting memory of one of golf’s most revered venues.
#18 Royal Birkdale
The 18th at Royal Birkdale is a closing hole that demands everything you have left. The fairway, framed by towering dunes, leads to a green set against the backdrop of the historic clubhouse. With the wind often howling off the Irish Sea, every shot is a test of nerve and precision. It’s a stage where champions are crowned and history is etched into the links. 15 3/8″x37″ Fine Art Paper is on sale for 50% off.
Looking for a particular course?
Call the gallery and we will tell you what is available, framed or unframed, and in which sizes.
Contact the galleryMore golf art
Golf Course Paintings
Linda Hartough's oil paintings of the great holes of golf, and the prints made from them.
Golf Prints
Signed limited edition golf art prints, artist proofs and giclées.
Golf Wall Art
Canvas golf wall art: canvas giclées and textured canvas prints, framed without glass.
Golf art by course