GO AHEAD! DOUBLE DARE YA!
Forget
pitch and putt - this tee-off point on top of a 430m (about 1300’)
mountain in South Africa is the hardest golf shot in the world, and
more than US $1M awaits the player who can score a hole in one.
Players must take a helicopter to the top to play the longest - and
highest - par three on the planet.
Taking the shot also requires
courage - a player needs to teeter terrifyingly close to the edge of
the mammoth hillside. Indeed, the Extreme 19th Hole is so high the
ball takes almost 30 seconds to reach the ground.
Channel Nine cricket commentator
Mark Nicholas recently joined an elite list to have the shot in just
three swings. “It was awesome, riveting and phenomenal,” he said.
“It’s like the end of the world when you get up there and it’s an
awful lot of fun. It’s such an adrenalin rush taking the helicopter
up and then rushing back down.”
The hole is based at the Legends
Golf and Safari Resort, within the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in
South Africa’s north-eastern Limpopo Province. The other 18 holes
were designed by world golfing legends Trevor Immelman, Sergio
Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Australia’s Robert Allenby.
A round of golf - including cart
and lunch - costs a reasonable $7000.
The Extreme 19th hole itself costs
$1,060 per foursome, $265 per player, which includes: helicopter
ride, souvenir cap and glove, and a DVD of you playing the hole.
So far, no one has even come close
pocketing the million-dollar prize, but Harrington became the first
golfer to conquer the hole within par. Harrington said: “This is the
type of innovation and excitement we need to get more people playing
golf.” There aren’t many new innovative ways to play the game but
this is certainly one of the best. “I think this hole is awesome – I
love the whole experience, the helicopter, the views, the drama and
having the green the shape of Africa. And now I’ve got bragging
rights over all the other professionals who have played this and not
managed to make a three. I love everything about it.”
USGTF
TRIP PLANNED FOR COLORADO IN 2012
We are
currently gauging interest in a USGTF members trip to Colorado for
the summer of 2012. The time frame would be approximately four or
five days and would be from a Monday through Friday. If enough
interest is shown, we will go ahead and make plans for what should
be a fun get-together. It will also give you a chance to meet and
network with your fellow members. If you are interested in such a
trip, please e-mail the USGTF National Office at
info@usgtf.com and indicate the
week that would work best for you.
