Sagamore's 18th Hole Is A Challenging A Par 3 Ender

Hole: 18th
Course: Sagamore Spring Golf Club
Location: Lynnfield
Par: 3
Yards: 212 (blue), 180 (white tees); 149 (red)

The feeling on what is the best type of 18^th hole to end a round – easy after a grueling 17 holes, moderate to get a satisfying par or bogey in order to end on a high note, or challenging to cap a fulfilling 4-5 hours – is probably evenly spread out among people you ask.

At Sagamore Spring Golf Club its final hole certainly leans more toward the latter two choices.

The par 3 is daunting to say the least. It is long (180 yards from the white tees; more than 200 from the blues), stretched out even more by the uphill green.

If that isn’t enough the right half of the front of the green is protected by large sand traps and rolling grass mounds on the left. If you hit it too far to avoid the hazards in the front, there is very little room in back of the green before you find yourself smack dab next to a tree, or worse, on Main Street.

The green is not huge – as in most cases on the par 3s at Sagamore.

But even before you get to the green you have to contend with weeds and a pond in front of the tee, for those who occasionally (wink, wink) duff their drive and don’t get height on the shot. Trees line the entire left side of the fairway and are thick for the first half on the right.

“This is one of the most challenging finishing holes, even though it is a par 3,” said Joanne Paul of Arlington.

“You are happy with a par or bogey on this hole,” said Jeremy Tranfaglia of Lynn.