This #TipTuesday brings you an insider’s tip on how to play the 12th hole at Puakea Golf Course from golf writer Mike Dauplaise of Prime Golf Destinations. How would you play it? (Image courtesy of Mike Dauplaise)
No. 12 – Par 4
(397/356/339/298)
A number of design elements into play that make this hole interesting. Water, sand, trees, crazy terrain and elevation changes combine to make par a very good score here.
A large pond looms down the entire right side of the hole. The elevated left side of the fairway is definitely the place to be because of the angle to the green, but two bunkers there squeeze the safety zone and push many shots to the right. Any shot right of center will bounce down a steep hill and toward the lower portion of the fairway.
There is plenty of room on the lower level before reaching the pond, but the angle to the green makes the second shot much more difficult. A pair of large trees at the edge of the water just short of the green forces a left-to-right shot for any pin position not on the front left. Plus, two large bunkers that guard the left side of the green grab shots too wary of the water, leaving a delicate recovery shot down the hill and toward the water. Par is a very good score here.