Five Fearsome Water Hazards

The history of the water hazard harks back to the very origins of the game found upon the hallowed fairways of Scottish links courses. Small 'burns' meandered throughout these courses as they plotted their way to the sea and water has played a key role in golfing layouts ever since.

Memorable moments from bygone eras have regularly involved the murky depths of some of the world's most famous watery graves.

So, with that in mind, let's have a look at some of the most fearsome - and our favourite - water hazards in golf.

Island green at TPC Sawgrass - 17th hole

Few holes are more famous in global golf than the 17th at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

While playing a defining role in the destination of the annual Players Championship trophy, this very hole has destroyed the hopes of some of the world's best players thanks in no small part to the water that envelopes the island green.

One such player is current Masters champion Sergio Garcia who famously put two in the water when embroiled in a heated battle with Tiger Woods in 2013.

https://youtu.be/GLfwhnXjaUc

The Barry Burn - 18th hole Carnoustie

Also known as the Pitairlie Burn, though not in golfing circles, the Barry Burn meanders through the 18th hole at Carnoustie in Scotland.

The burn is a key factor in making this one of the hardest closing holes on all of the great Scottish links courses - perhaps in world golf - and it comes into play on three separate occasions. It's hardly surprising then that many players have come to grief when putting the final touches to their rounds.

The fate which befell Frenchman Jean van de Velde on this very hole during the 1999 Open Championship is still regarded as one of the biggest golfing collapses of all-time - and due in no small part to the threat of the dreaded Barry Burn.

Pacific Ocean - Pebble Beach 18th hole

The Pacific Ocean comes into play on many of the golf courses along the United States' West Coast and arguably most famously at Pebble Beach.

The five-time U.S. Open venue has numerous holes which force golfers to wrestle with the largest water hazard on Earth. During the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the 18th hole plays as one of the most daunting closing holes on the PGA Tour.

As a reachable par-5, those brave enough to go for the green in two do so at their peril. Both tee shots and approach shots will hug the shoreline, while the error margin is minuscule.

During the 2010 U.S. Open Tiger Woods hit one of the gutsiest and most impressive shots of his career on this very hole.

Pacific Ocean - Cypress Point 16th hole

This par-3 hole involves a carry over the Pacific Ocean to a target green just riddled with danger. Anything right is firmly in trouble; land short and your ball will fall victim to a devious bluff and roll mercilessly to its watery grave below.

There are few holes which provide such drama from the tee and the Pacific Ocean is a key ingredient in that. The risk and reward tariff is sky-high on the 16th at Cypress Point and helps turns this golf course into a 'bucket-list' must for us.

Atlantic Ocean - 12th hole Old Head Golf Links

One of the most picturesque golf courses in world golf, Old Head Golf Links also boasts some treacherous holes thought its layout.

The par-5 12th is very much case in point with the Atlantic Ocean lapping below threatening every tee-shot and each golfer brave enough to go for the green in two. Tee shots must be kept down the right and caution should be exercised when going for a narrow target green.

Have a look at the cliffs of Kinsale below:

Which water hazards strike fear into your heart? Let us know and add to our list below.