Holey Terror: Hole No. 9 at The Links at Gettysburg
The hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, PA, are famously associated with the defining battle of the Civil War, with tales of lingering Confederate and Union spirits. Yet, 160-plus years later, a different kind of shot is being fired just a few miles away at The Links at Gettysburg.
This daily-fee course near the Mason-Dixon line offers a significant test of a golfer’s mettle. A round here is a march up and down the rolling central Pennsylvania countryside, characterized by lakes and creeks on nearly every hole, and dramatic rock cliffs that create some of the most memorable backdrops in golf. Once the smoke clears and your final score is tallied, you’ll understand why this layout routinely ranks among the Mid-Atlantic’s most ballyhooed courses.
There are truly no weak holes at The Links; any one could be a featured spread. Notable favorites include the short par-3, No. 3, which assaults the senses as you putt in the shadow of a massive cliff, accompanied by the low roar of a waterfall. Also noteworthy is the 600-yard, par-5 No. 16 — on paper the second toughest hole — which plays from a high bluff to a narrow ribbon of fairway grass pinched between two water hazards.
However, it is the 539-yard, par-5 No. 9 that earns this week’s Holey Terror spoils of war. Reachable in two (just 454 yards from the middle tees), the closing hole of the front nine is an address of danger, drama, and beauty. The tee shot demands precision to avoid a pair of strategically placed ponds flanking the fairway. An aggressive second shot must then contend with three bunkers guarding the left side of the green and a protective “moat” designed to fend off eagle hunters. A towering rock wall, blasted from the earth, lines the back of the hole with the clubhouse perched above, offering a dramatic setting in front of a captive audience. Whether you card a 3 or a double-bogey 7, you might find yourself whistling “Dixie” as you make your way to the back loop, regardless of your affiliation.
The TeeTime Golf Pass Holey Terror Challenge
Think you’ve got what it takes to conquer Hole No. 9 — or a hole just like it at your home course? We want to see it.
Film yourself playing the most unique or brutal hole at your favorite course and post it on social media with #TeeTimeChallenge, tagging us @teetimegolfpass. We’ll feature the best submissions on our channels — and the winners earn a free TeeTime Golf Pass for next season.
Whether it’s a cliff-top par-3, a dogleg with water on both sides, or a green that eats golf balls for breakfast — every course has that one hole. Show us yours.
And if you know a hole that deserves its own Holey Terror spotlight, let Bud know. Submit your nomination to [email protected] — we’d love to feature it in an upcoming issue of our weekly newsletter.
