Difficulty Ranking: 1

The most difficult hole on the course challenges the right-to-left player most. The tee-shot is blocked on the right by tall trees, almost forcing a fade into the narrow fairway. But heavy woods line the left and trouble the pulled shot.

The most effective bail-out strategy is to hit the ball high over the trees on the right into the open area. But a ball that hits these trees risks falling into the creek that is 50 yards off the tee.

Charlie Shoop's third shot to the 18th green in the 2000 event.  He would eventually sink a six-footer for a five to tie the points and retain the cup for Blue.  ( Photo Story  )

This hole is made tougher for those giving strokes, and has often been the number one handicap hole. The pressure is on the lower handicap player to close a match before it gets here. In 1996, the Concord Cup committee changed the course handicap rankings so that players would not be forced to give strokes on the hole. Due to pressure from the players, the committee reversed the decision the following year. Again in 1999, the committee changed the handicap of the hole to number seven.

Only ten matches have reached the 18th hole, and only three of these were

halved. In 1997, Ron George lost three matches on this hole. In 1996, Dennis Hackett sunk a 12-foot par putt here to halve a match with Charlie Shoop and clinch victory for the Red.

The required left-to-right drive causes some players to bail well right.  Here in their key 2005 match, Jeff Hackett tees his ball well right (see the arrow) and Vince Olenik played in that direction as well.