#79 – Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (2002) |
Bay Hill was the winter home of “The King” Arnold Palmer and is technically a private club, but it open to guests staying at the Bay Hill Lodge. It is the host location for the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of the most popular tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Hole 1: Par 4 (459/436/413/380/360)
The first hole at Bay Hill is a fairly long dogleg left Par 4. The ideal drive is down the left, cutting off a little bit of the corner. But be careful – too far left and you are in the bushes or driving range!
Hole 2: Par 3 (230/218/198/183/149)
The second hole is a pretty straightforward downhill par 4.
Hole 3: Par 4 (435/404/371/321/232)
Next you come to a par 4 that curls around the water. The ideal tee shot on this hole is between the lake and the bunker in the distance.
Unfortunately, I hit me tee shot too far to the right where it was knocked down by the trees. This left a very difficult approach shot to the green.
Here is a look back up the fairway from the green.
Hole 4: Par 5 (569/496/466/441/398)
The 4th hole is an uphill par 5 that longer hitters can reach in 2.
Hole 5: Par 4 (384/364/346/328/314)
The 5th is a short downhill par 4.
Hole 6: Par 5 (589/542/504/445/398)
And now we come to one of the more well-known holes at Bay Hill. A par 5 that curls all the way around the lake, this hole tempts you to cut off as much as you dare on both your first and second shots. Or, you could be like Bryson DeChambeau and go for the green from the tee – a 350 yard carry completely over water!
I hit my best drive of the day and this was my second shot on this hole.
Unfortunately, I hit it to the right of the fairway and was left with this challenging 3rd shot into the green.
Finally, here is a look from the green back at the tee box across the lake.
Hole 7: Par 3 (196/181/160/134/104)
The 7th hole was a mid-length, uphill par 3.
Hole 8: Par 4 (456/406/369/343/263)
The 8th is a downhill par 4 with the second shot over a small pond.
Hole 9: Par 4 (481/447/412/395/363)
The final hole on the front side is another long, straight par 4.
Hole 10: Par 4 (397/382/359/332/291)
Hole 11: Par 4 (436/406/394/368/319)
Hole 12: Par 5 (573/563/537/490/435)
Hole 13: Par 4 (371/355/335/315/255)
Hole 14: Par 3 (216/180/163/139/122)
Hole 15: Par 4 (427/412/391/337/318)
Hole 16: Par 5 (510/491/454/400/354)
Hole 17: Par 3 (220/174/163/149/144)
Hole 18: Par 4 (460/440/406/349/312)
Final thoughts: Bay Hill is a wonderful course and it is always a fun experience to have the opportunity to play a course that you see the Pros play on TV. It is made even better by being treated as a valuable member by everyone at both the Lodge and course.
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