World's Longest - and Highest - Par-3 not for the Faint of Heart


One of the craziest golf holes in the world is found at Legends Golf and Safari Resort in South Africa. The 900-yard (yes, that's right) par-3 features a tee atop Hanglip Mountain and a green - shaped like the African continent - 1,410 feet below.

The par-3 is actually a 19th hole and is used to settle ties. Its tee is accessible only by helicopter. Because of its extreme height, balls hit off the tee are estimated to have a "hang time" of 26 seconds or more. The severe drop requires spotters on the ground to find tee shots, which are usually made with a driver.

The regular course boasts holes designed by some of the game's top golfers. Two-time 2008 major winner Padraig Harrington designed a hole, as did European Tour player Raphaël Jacquelin. Trevor Immelman, Bernard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Justin Rose, Vijay Singh, KJ Choi and Retief Goosen also designed a hole at Legends.

In a recent match at the resort, Harrington and Jacquelin finished 18 holes all square, so they hopped on a helicopter that shuttled them to the mountain top. Jacquelin's tee ball found the green, but he three-putted the severely sloping surface. Harrington's shot landed in the bunker that rings the entire green, but he pitched out to a foot for a par and became the first-ever player to card a three on the hole.

To watch them play this incredible hole, visit http://www.compleatgolfer.co.za:80/new_site/content/news/singlepage.asp?id=856.

For more information about Legends Golf and Safari Resort, visit http://www.legend-resort.com.