Hole 12 at National Golf Links of America

Par 4 • 435 Yards • Southampton, New York

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Tough

The 12th hole at National Golf Links of America draws its inspiration from the legendary "Eden" hole at St. Andrews' Old Course, carrying forward centuries of Scottish golfing tradition. This strategic par-4 challenges players with classic links-style features that have tested golfers since the course's golden age design era.

Tees:

435y388y

Green:36y × 33y

Fairway @250y:80y wide

11 Bunkers dogleg

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 435 yds
Green: 7428 sq ft
Bunkers: 11
Course Slope: 141
Course Rating: 74.3

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Recommended Gear

Bunkers everywhere — a versatile wedge is your scoring club on this hole.

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

With the fairway expanding from 60 yards wide at 200 yards to 80 yards wide at 250 yards, longer hitters have a significant advantage on this 435-yard par 4. Aggressive drivers can take advantage of the wider landing area in the 250-yard range to set up shorter approach shots.

approach

The substantial 7,428 square foot green (36 yards by 33 yards) provides a generous target for approach shots, but club selection becomes critical from various distances. Use the green's ample size to your advantage by aiming for the center and letting natural shot dispersion work in your favor.

hazard warning

Bunkers positioned at 164 yards from the tee create a strategic decision point for shorter hitters. Consider laying up short of this hazard zone if your typical drive distance puts you in jeopardy, as finding sand this far from the green makes par significantly more difficult.

tee shot

The fairway's narrowest point at 60 yards wide occurs at the 200-yard mark, making accuracy crucial for mid-handicap players who typically hit drives in this range. Consider taking a more controlled club off the tee to ensure you find the short grass.

approach

At 435 yards, this par 4 demands respect but offers scoring opportunities for well-positioned drives. Players reaching the wider 250-yard fairway area will have mid to short iron approaches into the expansive green, creating excellent birdie chances.

train this shot at home

This 435-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

With bunkers guarding the green, pick the side with the most room and let the slope feed the ball toward the pin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 435-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 12?

This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers. Key challenges include: large green requiring good lag putting.

How big is the green on hole 12?

The green is fairly large with multiple pin positions. Lag putting becomes important on longer putts.

What's a good score on hole 12?

This hole is a demanding hole where bogey is not unusual. This longer par 4 will test most golfers. Focus on position over distance.

Can I practice hole 12 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for National Golf Links of America. You can play this exact 435-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →