Holey Terror: Hole No. 12 at Pilgrim’s Oak

Pilgrim’s Oak • Peach Bottom, PA • pilgrimsoak.com • 717-548-3011

Hole No. 12 • Par 3 • 192 Yards

Oftentimes, the best golf courses are the ones hardest to find. Pilgrim’s Oak, tucked away in southern Lancaster County, PA, is a prime example. There are no major towns nearby and to get there you have to share the road with John Deere tractors and Amish horse-and-buggys. But despite the directional challenges and solid-lined, no-passing lanes, the layout has become a favorite destination for both locals and traveling golfers, alike.

Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Pilgrim’s Oak is located in Peach Bottom, PA, a town you might not find on most AAA maps. But it’s here you’ll find a world-class 18-hole public venue which blends the subtleties of a classic links-style course with the bold design features of a modern stadium layout. Hurdzan’s philosophy of building courses that enhance, rather than distract from, their natural settings is on full display, as is his tendency to present risk-reward opportunities on just about every hole.

Holes 11-13 form Pilgrim’s Oak’s own version of Augusta’s “Amen Corner.” Of these three, it is the par-3, 192-yard No. 12 that qualifies as both the layout’s signature hole and its Holey Terror. Number 12 is played from a series of terraced tee boxes, over water and a rock basin, down to a large heart-shaped green. There are no bail-out areas as the back of the green is protected by wetlands and the right side guarded by tall trees and two menacing bunkers. There simply is no room for error, with the hole playing just as tough from the white and gold tees (160 and 101 yards).

Ranked as one of the top public courses in Pennsylvania, Pilgrim’s Oak offers just about every challenge imaginable – dramatic elevation changes, all types of natural hazards, plenty