Kingwood (Island)

Many courses have a “signature” hole, but the Islands route at The Clubs of Kingwood features two holes that have gathered chatter in one form or another.

The first is No. 6, a double-dogleg par five that was named “National Hole of The Year” by the Golf Course Architects Society of America. The hole is defined by its gutsy shortcut, which takes the second dogleg out of play: Players who drive left off the tee can opt to carry a corner of the San Jacinto River, through two pockets of trees, to an eagle putt. Complicating matters is a pair of trees that sit in the middle of the fairway. One’s choice of route must be steadfast before they begin.

Despite that hole’s awards, the closing number may be even more renowned. That’s the kind of reputation that comes when a hole is named “Golf’s Toughest Finishing Hole” by Golf Digest. This reputation is cemented by a large lake left, another lake inset within a pair of split fairways (which are equally skinny), and then finishing up the long par five with a shot to an island green. You may be praising Joe Finger’s name at No.6 and cursing it by the time the round ends.