Hole #8

Opened in 1962, the Doral Golf Resort and Spa is located near Miami and has five 18-hole golf courses. The Signature course, designed by Dick Wilson, is the Blue Monster. The course has held PGA sponsored tour every year since it’s opening (46 years). In 2007, The Doral Open was replaced with the World Golf Championship CA Event.

The 18th hole on The Blue Monster is the signature hole. The 467 yard par 4 is called the toughest finishing hole on the Tour. The Statistics back up the claim as it was ranked #17 on the 2006 tour.

I really liked the 8th. Is is a great Par 5 with water on both sides as you approach a well protected green. My 3rd shot was 10 yards from the green and above the hole. I was envisioning an up-down par or at worst a bogey. I put a decent bump and run shot at the flag. The ball rolled slowly past the flag, off the green, and ended up in the water. Suddenly I went from a possible par, to writing down a triple bogey after another chip and 2 more putts.

The other courses at Doral are the Red (Dick Wilson), Gold (Ray Floyd), Silver (Devlin/Von Hagge – Pate), and the Great White (Greg Norman). Doral is ranked in the top 75 golf resorts in North American by Golf Digest (#73). I did not stay there, so I can’t attest for the accommodations. I will say that courses were fantastic (I also played the Great White).  

Playing the Blue Monster is like grabbing a big piece of professional golf history. You are challenging the same holes that Jack, Arnie, Phil, and Tiger have been playing for years. For a day, a couple of holes, or even one good shot, you can imagine being lucky enough to make a living swinging a golf club.