With Halloween just a day away, it seemed like the perfect time to look back at some of the more daunting shots golfers come across when playing the game. Whether it be insanely difficult traps, obstacles to maneuver or creepy creatures, making it through a round of golf can be downright scary. Relatively speaking. #HappyHalloween
Hell Bunker
In golfing lore, Hell Bunker has become one of the most iconic sites in the game, by far one of, it not the most famous hazard in golf. Appropriately titled, Hell Bunker sits on the 14th hole of the Old Course at St. Andrews. The 10-foot wall provides the biggest challenge for players on the inward stretch. Hee Young Park got caught in its trap at the 2013 RICOH Women’s British Open during the final round and was able to escape the hole with a bogey.
Scary Lies
In 2007, Paula Creamer literally found herself between a rock and a hard place. While Tiger Woods famously moved a boulder that stood in his way, Creamer took the route of hitting her ball directly off the giant rock. Creamer went head to head with the obstruction during the Saturday morning Foursomes Matches of the 2007 Solheim Cup. She found herself atop the rock on the 9th hole when playing with partner Juli Inkster. The two ended up halving their match.
Beware of Trees
The biggest challenge that comes with getting stuck behind a tree is the injury that can be caused to not only the club but also the golfer. Players are faced with the challenge of trying to advance their ball while not ending up with their club wrapped around the trunk. Or if the club manages to just escape the tree, there are sometimes hidden dangers including tree roots beneath the surface that can result in serious injury.
Creepy, Crawly Fans
There are some interesting creatures who have ended up in the galleries at LPGA events over the years. Everything from slithering snakes to birds to deer to gators have made an appearance. This very large lizard made his way onto the course earlier this month at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
Pressure Cooker
In the women’s game, it doesn’t get much more daunting than the first tee of the Solheim Cup. The first hole is surrounded with fans both friendly and opposing alike, decked out in everything from stars and stripes to headgear to face paint, chanting and cheering, reminding players of their patriotic duty to their team. It can be pretty intimidating, especially for rookies representing their country for the very first time.
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