Hole by Hole description of Atlanta Athletic Club

No. 1, 430 yards, par 4: No. 1 is a good starting hole that requires a slight right-to-left tee shot in order to hit the ideal landing area.
A tall tree line guards the left side of the fairway.

A large bunker is positioned at 260 yards out to protect the right hand corner of the dogleg. At 430 yards, some players will probably opt to use something less than a driver off the tee. This should leave the player a short to middle iron shot to a fairly generous green that slopes from back to front. The aggressive player may try to turn a driver around the corner and play a short wedge to the green but needs to make sure he draws the ball just the right amount in order to gain this advantage. The key to the approach shot is to keep it below the hole so the player can hit an aggressive putt in trying to start with a birdie.

No. 2, 471 yards, par 4: The second hole is an excellent par 4 that again sets up best for a right to left player off the tee.

Trees and heavy rough protect the left side and a collection of bunkers guard the right side to almost 300 yards out. Most players will not be able to drive it past the last bunker and this will therefore place a premium on accuracy off the tee.

Even a long accurate tee shot will still leave a long iron shot into a narrow three club green that is well bunkered. This hole normally plays as a par 5 from the member tees and should prove to be a very difficult par 4 for the competitors. Par will be a good score on this hole.

No. 3, 469 yards, par 4: No. 3 is another demanding Par 4 that typically plays as one of the most difficult holes on the front side of the Highlands Course.

The prevailing wind blows against you here, and that adds to the length and difficulty of the hole. Players will definitely want to favor the left side of the fairway with their tee shot in making sure that they avoid a steep slope that drops off the right side of the fairway.

This slope leads to a deep hollow, which is covered with trees, and is all but impossible to play out of. Depending on conditions, players will most likely hit a long iron into a large green that can have three-putt written all over it. The smart player will stay down the left side, hit the fat part of the green, take his two putts and gladly leave with a 4.

No. 4, 204 yards, par 3: Play on the par-3 holes during this week could well decide the winner of the 83rd PGA Championship.

No. 4 is a scenic and difficult start to some of the more demanding par 3s anywhere. A large lake guards the front of the green and surrounds the entire left side as well. When the wind blows, it wreaks havoc on a player's club selection. At 204 yards, most players will hit a mid- to long-iron into a green that possesses a number of tempting hole locations.

There is a bail out area to the right but there is not much future in leaving it right. If you carry the shot too far right, a large bunker and steep grass bank will make the short shot back towards the water almost as tedious as the tee shot.

The back left and front right hole locations are the most tempting and the most rewarding if a gambler can hit it close. Par is still a good score here but I suspect a few birdies will be made, especially if the wind stays quiet.

No. 5, 541 yards, par 5: This is a par 5 that most players will reach in two even though it is slightly uphill all the way.

A series of bunkers on the right side protects this subtle dogleg right tee shot. Players will either draw the ball right to left off the bunkers to the fairway or try to blow it over the bunkers if they are long enough.

Caution must be taken not to drive the ball through the dogleg as playing a second shot from the rough will make it difficult to hold the small par 5 green that is well bunkered. A well-placed tee shot with enough length will allow the player to use the opening on the left side of the green to hit his fairway wood or long iron approach shot.

Approaching a small green with a partially blind view of the hole location will probably not allow many eagles, but birdies should be plentiful here.

No. 6, 425 yards, par 4: This straightaway hole, which plays at medium difficulty, may be one of the best par 4 birdie opportunities on the front side.

The ideal tee shot here will favor the left side of the fairway with a little left to right shape. The long bunker positioned at 270 yards out along the right side of the landing area will keep most players honest, but the big hitters should carry past it with no problem.

A series of trees protect the left side of this narrow fairway, so care must be taken not to drive the ball too far left off the tee.

Players should play a mid- to short-iron into a long, undulating green that has a number of tricky hole locations. Bunkers guard both sides of the green to collect any errant approach shots. A player's ability to keep the approach shot below the hole will be the key to the number of birdies made on this hole.

No. 7, 183 yards, par 3: This is a sneaky, tough Par 3 hole that plays 183 yards from the Championship tees.

This hole will not overpower anyone, but the difficulty will be in holding a mid-iron approach shot to a wide green that is narrow from front to back.

The undulating green offers a number of difficult hole locations that will test even the best iron players. The quiet pond in front will not come into play, but the large steep faced bunker that guards the front of the green must be negotiated in order to get the ball close. Look for the hole locations to favor the left side of the green during the week.

Par is a good score, but any time a tour player can tee up his approach shot, there is a good chance for a birdie.

No. 8, 463 yards, par 4: Definitely one of the best holes on the golf course.

A new tee has been added to this dogleg left that now requires a tee shot to carry 250 yards over water to reach the ideal landing area.

Bunkers positioned at 240-260 yards out protect the right corner of the dogleg. Those choosing to play it safe can take the water out of play but will lengthen the hole considerably. The ideal tee shot draws right to left off the right side bunkers in order to hug the left side of the fairway and shorten the second shot.

Players, however, need to be careful not to draw the ball too much or trees will block out an approach shot to the left side of the green. Water and sand will come into play for any approach shot that lands, short or left of the green. The tendency is to hit plenty of club on this uphill approach shot, but keep in mind that downhill putts on this slick green can be treacherous.

No. 9, 416 yards, par 4: A well-placed drive here should set up an excellent birdie opportunity before heading into the back nine.

The key will be to make sure to keep the ball between the bunkers that guard both sides of the slightly elevated landing area. A tee shot that gets going left will most certainly finish in the left side bunker.

Some players will be able to carry the right hand bunkers but this is not the line. Anything out of the fairway to the right will deal with deep rough and be blocked out for the second shot. The ideal tee shot will leave a short iron approach to a well-bunkered green that is slightly downhill for the player.

Club selection on the approach shot will be critical as this wide green has a variety of challenging hole locations. When the flag is cut back right, this hole will play 1 to 2 clubs longer.

No. 10, 439 yards, par 4: This hole underwent more change than any other during the redesign by Rees Jones in 1995.

Some players may remember a straight away 360-yard hole with a small rounded green that played surprisingly difficult during the '81 PGA Championship. Now a 439-yard dogleg right, this hole will play very different.

A pair of bunkers positioned on the left side of the fairway at 260 yards out will require a left to right tee shot to turn the corner. A mid- to short-iron shot into a deep three-club green will be hard to get close.

A lone bunker guards the front left side of the green. Players need to take extra care to guard against long or left, as shots winding up in either of these places can spell disaster.

No. 11, 454 yards, par 4: A sharp dogleg left that requires a very well placed tee shot in order to be able to attack the flag on the second shot.

The tee shot is deceptive in that it looks like a player should drive the ball left over the bunkers, but in most cases this will be a mistake. The carry will be 280 yards plus, and anything that does not carry will be bunkered and blocked out for the second shot.

There is plenty of room to the right but this will lengthen the hole considerably. The downhill approach shot to this well-protected green will test the nerves of the best players regardless of the club they are using. Bunkers guard the left side of this long narrow green while a picturesque pond hugs the right side from front to back.

It will take two excellent shots to make birdie here.

No. 12, 547 yards, par 5: Maybe a time to gamble on the reachable par 5.

A 300-yard drive from this elevated tee box will definitely put a lot of players in "go territory" for their second shot. A tee shot that can be turned right to left around the corner of this dogleg left hole will be even better.

Those who do not hit a good drive will be faced with a tricky lay up shot for their second. A lake that guards the front right of the green also runs parallel to the fairway out to a point about 100 yards from the green. This tightens the landing area considerably for any lay up shot played to within 100 yards of the green.

The player who is unable to go for the green in two will want to lay up well short of this lake so he can hit a full wedge for their third shot to a green that a number of challenging hole locations.

No. 13, 364 yards, par 4: The shortest and tightest par 4 on the golf course.

The objective off the tee will have little to do with length, but rather with a player's ability to control the distance that he hits the tee shot. This is a slight dogleg right hole that has tall pines lining both sides of the fairway.

A bunker on the right side steers tee shots to the left center of the fairway but make sure you do not hit too far down the left side or you will be blocked out for your second. An iron off the tee will be the smart play for most players. A short iron approach shot to this slightly elevated green will require pinpoint control of distance in order to get the ball close and take advantage of this short hole. A series of bunkers guard the front of this heavily contoured green that is shallow from front to back. If the wind blows, it will be in the player's face and this will make club selection all the more critical.

A player must hit enough club to carry the bunkers, but make sure he stays below the hole because downhill putts will be hard to get close on this one.

No. 14, 442 yards, par 4: A deceptive tee shot here will tempt the player to drive it down the right side and cut off some of this slight dogleg right, but the player better make sure that he hits it plenty long or the second shot will be blocked out.

The ideal tee shot will be down the left center of the fairway, making sure to stay inside the bunker that borders the left side of the landing area.

From here, a short iron approach to the most severe green on the course must be negotiated. A large bunker in the front forces a player to be sure he has taken enough club to carry onto this elevated green. The toughest hole placement on the green will be left side, behind the bunker. A shot that falls short will leave a difficult uphill bunker shot and anything behind the hole will be difficult to get down in two.

No. 15, 227 yards, par 3: Intimidating is the only way to describe this 227-yard par 3.

This is the longest and most difficult par 3 on the course. Slightly downhill, but extremely difficult with a large pond that guards the entire right side of the green.

This pond starts well in front of the green, completely hugs the right side and wraps around the back right corner. There is little room for error off the tee as any shot that leaks to the right is going to be wet. The tendency is to take plenty of club and favor the left center of the green no matter where the flag is cut. Look for the hole to be cut back right for Sunday's final round.

This hole was a turning point for Jerry Pate during the final round of the 1976 U.S. Open. Pate strung a 1-iron down the water line to six feet behind the hole and made the putt for 2.

No. 16, 441 yards, par 4: This is another hole that received extra attention during the recent redesign.

Bunkers were added to the right side of the tee shot landing area at 280 yards and this will encourage players to favor the left side off the tee.

The landing area to the left has been widened some, but will still be plenty tight for what will probably require a fairway wood tee shot for most players. Some players may opt for the driver but need to thread the needle as the landing area tightens the further you drive it.

A perfectly placed tee shot will still leave a difficult uphill second shot to a green that will be partially blind to the player. The player will be able to see the flag but not the putting surface. Club selection will be critical on this approach shot, as players will want to make sure to carry the ball up but still try and stay below the hole. A difficult green that slopes from back to front.

No. 17, 207 yards, par 3: The Highlands Course signature hole also happens to be one of the most beautiful holes on the course.

Stair steps of elevated tee boxes overlook a huge lake that surrounds most of the 17th green. Beautiful as it may be, this hole will play extremely difficult and will be a critical hole, especially this late in the round.

Playing downhill, the distance will be a little misleading. However, at 207 yards over water, it will play plenty long for most players. Again a premium will be placed on club selection, as there is not much place to miss the tee shot. Any shot that is miss hit is going to be wet.

Beyond the green is dry but not much else, as downhill pitch shots out of rough will be played back towards the water and will be hard to stop. The hole plays longer to the left side of the green so anything hit to the back left has to be perfect in order to avoid the water. A 3 on this hole is a great score, but those who need to make 2 will have to take their chances.

No. 18, 542 yards, par 4: This is one of the most demanding and exciting finishing holes in the game.

Highlands #18 is the hole that Jerry Pate hit his famous shot heard round the world; a 194 yard 5 iron to within two feet of the hole to win the 1976 U.S. Open.

Since that time, this hole has been lengthened and will play a grueling 490 yards during the 83rd PGA Championship. The length required on this dogleg left tee shot will all but force the player to try and draw the ball around the corner in order to shorten the distance for the second shot.

A tee shot that is hit too far to the right may have trouble reaching the green with the second shot. A large lake comes into play at the left corner of the dogleg and will quickly collect any tee shots that are hooked too much. Even with a perfectly placed 300-yard tee shot, the player still has to hit a near perfect 190-yard second shot to an undulating green that is well protected with bunkers left and surrounded by water front and right. Look for the flag to be cut front left for Sunday's final round, same place it was in 1976.

It took a perfect shot to make 3 and then it will be no different in 2001. Hopefully the huge crowd surrounding the 18th will have an opportunity to see another great shot decide another great championship.

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