This par 3 at Bel-Air Country Club could determine U.S. Women’s Amateur champion

LOS ANGELES — There’s the 12th at Augusta National. The 17th at TPC Sawgrass. The seventh at Pebble Beach.

All iconic par 3s for a variety of reasons. There’s plenty of other famous short holes across the United States.

Yet, the par-3 10th at Bel-Air Country Club is making a name for itself this week at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The hole measures 205 yards. That doesn’t tell the whole story. It plays about 15 yards uphill. And the tee shot goes from next to the clubhouse, over a canyon to a green nestled between hills that make it seem like an amphitheater. There’s also the famous swinging bridge on the left that takes players from the tee box to the green.

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Photos

“It’s really unique,” Gianna Clemente, the third seed who advanced to the Round of 32, said. “We don’t get many par 3s that are 210-215 and uphill.”

The hole has been widely talked about all week during the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and for good reason. For the first two days of stroke play, golfers faced the daunting shot one of the days as their opening shot. From the tee box, the target looks tiny compared to the canyon below and bridge on the left.

The hole almost didn’t even happen. It came about when Bel-Air lost some land to neighboring UCLA, and the canyon crossing allowed the course to use some neighboring land to build its back nine. There’s an elevator to get players to the tee box, and the bridge helps players get across to the green.

In the first two rounds, the hole averaged 3.31 and 3.38 strokes. Neither day was it the hardest hole at Bel-Air, even if it’s the most visually intimidating.

“I think people are probably a little overwhelmed when they step on the tee,” said Caroline Canales, who plays collegiately at UCLA and has played the hole roughly 100 times. “I’ve missed the green way more than I’ve hit the green. It’s just a daunting hole.”

Although the terrain around the green all slopes toward the putting surface, thick rough is there to hold balls up before coming down the hill. That can lead to tricky chip shots and an easy opportunity to make a bogey.

On Wednesday morning, there was a 10-for-9 playoff for the final match play spots, and golfers played the par-3 10th to begin. Eight of the 10 made par or better, including one birdie. There were also two bogeys.

Come Sunday, it’s likely the 10th hole will be pivotal down the stretch. Par is a good score, but even that may be enough to gain a shot on your opponent. There’s a good chance players who can conquer the difficult hole will find a way to be victorious the remainder of the week.

“It’s a good hole,” said medalist and top-seed Briana Chacon. “It’s hard to make birdies, but I’m happy if I’m walking away with a par.”