What’s the toughest golf hole in your state? We set out to answer that question the only way we know how – by building a scoring system, debating too many honorable mentions, and reliving a few personal meltdowns along the way.
This wasn’t just about length or intimidation. We scored every hole using five weighted categories: Par-to-yardage ratio, average score relative to par, USGA course rating, slope rating, and a subjective hazards/design component that accounts for everything from island greens to bunkers the size of Rhode Island. The result? A state-by-state Chaos Meter that highlights the most relentless, punishing, beautifully evil hole in each region.
From iconic monsters like Augusta National’s 12th to under-the-radar killers like Bayside Resort’s 227-yard third in Delaware, these are the holes that don’t just demand great golf – they demand perfect decisions. Scroll through and see which ones you’d take on ... and which ones you’d rather skip.
How is the Chaos Score calculated?
To identify the most difficult golf hole in every U.S. state, we built the Chaos Meter – a custom scoring system that evaluates holes across five key dimensions.
These include objective factors like the hole’s length relative to par, USGA course and slope ratings, and actual scoring averages where available. Each metric is weighted to reflect its impact on overall difficulty, with longer holes and steeper slope ratings earning higher scores.
We also included a subjective design component to account for the kinds of hazards and architectural quirks that don’t always show up in raw data: things like island greens, forced carries, deceptive visuals, or multi-tiered greens. The result is a rating out of 10 that balances math with misery – a fair (but unforgiving) way to crown the hardest hole in every state.
🌪️ Chaos Score categories (max score in parentheses)
Alabama: No. 9, Shoal Creek, Par 4, 455 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 1.0
Overall Score: 4.99
No. 9 at Shoal Creek is a punishing par 4 that demands both precision and power. With a fairway that tightens near the landing zone and a sloping green guarded by water short and left, players are constantly navigating risk from tee to green. The length alone makes par a formidable task, and missteps off the tee are often unrecoverable. It’s a hole that asks every question—and penalizes even slightly wrong answers.
Alaska: No. 8, Anchorage Golf Course, Par 3, 177 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 1.9
Course Rating: 0.7
Slope Rating: 0.8
Hazards/Course Design: 0.2
Overall Score: 4.39
No. 8 at Anchorage Golf Course might not dazzle with length or intimidation, but its challenge lies in precision and weather. With the green tucked subtly behind a deceptive front edge and ever-changing winds sweeping across the Chugach Mountains, club selection becomes guesswork. It's the kind of par 3 where you won't lose strokes dramatically—but where gaining one is quietly difficult.
Arizona: No. 16, TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), Par 3, 163 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.1
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.6
Overall Score: 3.62
Golf's most famous party hole earns its difficulty not just from the raucous crowd, but from the deceptive short iron shot it demands. The small green is protected by deep bunkers, and swirling desert winds have embarrassed even the best players. It's a test of nerves as much as it is of touch.
Arkansas: No. 14, The Alotian Club, Par 5, 559 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.7
Scoring Average: 0.4
Course Rating: 1.3
Slope Rating: 0.9
Hazards/Course Design: 0.0
Overall Score: 4.35
No. 14 at The Alotian Club challenges players with sheer length and precision. Reaching this par 5 in two requires elite power and ideal wind. With a narrow fairway and subtle elevation changes, it's more strategic than scenic—and often ends in a scramble for par.
California: No. 8, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Par 4, 395 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.3
Scoring Average: 0.9
Course Rating: 1.2
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 5.36
Often considered one of the greatest par 4s in the world, No. 8 at Pebble Beach combines a blind tee shot, a cliffside second, and a tiny green perched above the Pacific. It’s majestic—and merciless. One poor swing, and you're staring at double bogey.
Colorado: No. 3, Castle Pines Golf Club, Par 4, 472 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.3
Course Rating: 1.2
Slope Rating: 1.5
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 5.51
This long, uphill par 4 at altitude plays more like 500 yards thanks to a daunting second shot into an elevated, well-protected green. The narrow approach and severe bunkering make this a hole where par feels like a birdie.
Connecticut: No. 4, TPC River Highlands, Par 4, 481 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.5
Course Rating: 0.7
Slope Rating: 0.7
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 3.88
River Highlands' fourth hole is a lengthy and exposed par 4 that punishes anything less than a perfectly flighted tee ball. Miss the fairway, and you’ll be staring at tree trouble or worse. It’s a brute that rarely gets respect outside of tour week.
Delaware: No. 3, Bayside Resort Golf Club, Par 3, 227 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.9
Scoring Average: 2.5
Course Rating: 0.6
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.0
Overall Score: 7.22
Stretching well over 220 yards, this par 3 is a demanding test of long iron control with little margin for error. Wind is almost always a factor, and the green doesn’t offer much forgiveness. It’s a par 3 that plays like a par 4—and scores like one too.
Florida: No. 17, TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course), Par 3, 137 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 0.6
Slope Rating: 1.5
Hazards/Course Design: 0.0
Overall Score: 3.82
Arguably the most famous hole in golf, the 17th at Sawgrass is short, iconic, and nerve-wracking. It’s not the yardage—it’s the context. Wind, adrenaline, and water combine to wreck scorecards. Simple in design, brutal in execution.
Georgia: No. 12, Augusta National Golf Club, Par 3, 155 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 0.4
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 1.0
Overall Score: 4.49
Golden Bell is a deceptively short hole with a staggering history. Swirling winds over Rae’s Creek and the ultra-narrow green force absolute precision. It’s the smallest target on the biggest stage—and many have cracked under its pressure.
Hawaii: No. 18, Kapalua Plantation Course, Par 5, 677 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.9
Scoring Average: 1.9
Course Rating: 0.7
Slope Rating: 0.8
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 5.81
This par 5 is dramatic, sloping downhill across wide terrain with ocean views. At 677 yards, it plays shorter thanks to the elevation—but the fairway slopes, blind shots, and tricky green make it far from a pushover. An epic finisher, but not a guaranteed birdie.
Idaho: No. 14, Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, Par 3, 154 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 2.9
Course Rating: 0.5
Slope Rating: 0.5
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 5.46
The world’s only floating green makes this Idaho gem unforgettable—and tougher than it looks. Accuracy is everything, and even perfectly struck shots can drift off target due to breezes off Lake Coeur d’Alene. Par is a thrill. A birdie is brag-worthy.
Illinois: No. 17, Medinah Country Club (Course No. 3), Par 3, 193 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.9
Scoring Average: 1.2
Course Rating: 0.8
Slope Rating: 0.8
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 4.42
This long par 3 over water has played a pivotal role in multiple major championships. The green is narrow and tucked, with a bailout area that rarely pays off. It’s a classic case of hit the green—or reload.
Indiana: No. 5, Crooked Stick Golf Club, Par 5, 621 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.8
Scoring Average: 1.2
Course Rating: 1.3
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 6.43
This monstrous par 5 requires three strong shots just to sniff the green. Strategic bunkers and a narrow second-shot landing area demand total control. Birdie? Be thrilled with bogey.
Iowa: No. 15, The Harvester Golf Club, Par 5, 650 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.9
Scoring Average: 0.4
Course Rating: 1.5
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 5.58
Few holes in the country stretch as far as this monster. A rolling fairway and elevated green make laying up feel like a trap. The wind often decides your fate—and usually not in your favor.
Kansas: No. 6, Prairie Dunes Country Club, Par 4, 387 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.3
Scoring Average: 1.2
Course Rating: 1.3
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 5.40
This mid-length par 4 plays into the teeth of the Kansas wind. Natural fescue rough and a crowned green punish anything short or offline. It’s subtle, but relentless.
Kentucky: No. 13, Valhalla Golf Club, Par 4, 351 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.3
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.9
Slope Rating: 1.5
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 5.45
Short doesn’t mean easy. This drivable par 4 tempts big hitters, but water, trees, and a tricky green complex often turn eagle hopes into scrambling pars—or worse.
Louisiana: No. 18, TPC Louisiana, Par 5, 585 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.8
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.0
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 4.97
The closing hole at TPC Louisiana is a classic risk-reward par 5 with water left and trouble right. With the tournament on the line, this hole can swing everything from a double to an eagle.
Maine: No. 12, Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, Par 5, 564 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.8
Scoring Average: 3.3
Course Rating: 0.7
Slope Rating: 0.9
Hazards/Course Design: 0.2
Overall Score: 6.84
Belgrade’s signature par 5 is a scoring roller coaster. A reachable green in two tempts aggression, but a narrow fairway and a deep collection area short-right can derail the bold.
Maryland: No. 18, Congressional Country Club (Blue Course), Par 4, 520 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 2.5
Course Rating: 1.8
Slope Rating: 1.0
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 7.26
One of the most difficult finishing holes in golf, Congressional’s 18th is long, demanding, and rarely yields birdies. Accuracy is essential, but distance is non-negotiable.
Massachusetts: No. 17, The Country Club (Brookline), Par 4, 375 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.3
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.6
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 4.57
This compact but demanding par 4 features uneven lies, a sloped fairway, and a green that repels anything but perfection. A deceptively tough penultimate test.
Michigan: No. 18, Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course), Par 4, 496 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 3.2
Course Rating: 1.6
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.2
Overall Score: 7.68
This legendary closer is brutal in length and layout. Uphill all the way with a perched green and narrow landing zones, it has crushed major dreams for decades.
Minnesota: No. 16, Hazeltine National Golf Club, Par 5, 572 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.8
Scoring Average: 1.4
Course Rating: 1.8
Slope Rating: 1.4
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 6.85
This par 5 is pure attrition—long, tight, and uphill with water lurking left. Players have to survive three demanding shots, and even then, the green complex offers no favors. A major-caliber closing stretch centerpiece.
Mississippi: No. 4, Fallen Oak Golf Club, Par 4, 423 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 1.0
Course Rating: 1.1
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.0
Overall Score: 4.94
Fallen Oak’s fourth hole is a stout, tree-lined par 4 that forces players to shape their shots off the tee and land with precision into a guarded green. There’s no water, but plenty of ways to get wet in score.
Missouri: No. 16, Bellerive Country Club, Par 3, 239 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.9
Scoring Average: 1.1
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 4.97
This brutally long par 3 is usually played with a long iron or even hybrid. Water short and left makes for nervy tee shots, and the green’s subtle breaks leave no easy outs. Survive it, and you’ve gained on the field.
Montana: No. 14, Old Works Golf Course, Par 4, 443 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.3
Course Rating: 1.5
Slope Rating: 1.4
Hazards/Course Design: 0.0
Overall Score: 4.57
Set against a stark black-slag backdrop from its mining past, this tough par 4 features a demanding uphill approach into a green with sharp falloffs. It’s a visual masterpiece and a scoring menace.
Nebraska: No. 15, Sand Hills Golf Club, Par 4, 453 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.2
Course Rating: 0.0
Slope Rating: 0.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 2.08
This minimalist masterpiece plays tougher than it looks. Exposed to prairie winds with an unguarded but undulating green, it’s more about execution than intimidation. Still, it's not one you can fake your way through.
Nevada: No. 17, Shadow Creek, Par 3, 154 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.2
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 3.54
This jungle-wrapped par 3 is as lush as it is penal. Water short and right, towering pines everywhere else—it’s a sharp test that comes at the end of an already demanding round.
New Hampshire: No. 7, Mount Washington Resort Golf Course, Par 4, 343 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.3
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 0.9
Slope Rating: 0.8
Hazards/Course Design: 0.2
Overall Score: 3.20
Short but sneaky. This classic Donald Ross design puts driver in players’ hands—but it’s no guarantee. A sloping green and awkward angles make birdie tough and par frustratingly elusive.
New Jersey: No. 18, Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course), Par 5, 555 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.7
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 5.12
This legendary finisher has seen major drama thanks to its reachable nature—with consequences. The uphill green repels long shots, and trouble lurks right for those trying to cut the corner.
New Mexico: No. 15, Paako Ridge Golf Club, Par 5, 640 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.9
Scoring Average: 3.3
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 8.01
This mile-high monster requires all the yardage you can muster. The winding fairway and elevated green stretch the hole well beyond its carded length. Add in altitude wind, and it’s a beast few forget.
New York: No. 7, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Par 3, 188 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.9
Scoring Average: 1.8
Course Rating: 1.1
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 5.70
This infamous par 3 became nearly unplayable at the 2004 U.S. Open. With a turtleback green and punishing crosswinds, it’s a perfect storm of terror. Hit it short? Roll off. Long? You're dead.
North Carolina: No. 16, Pinehurst No. 2, Par 4, 513 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 2.1
Course Rating: 1.8
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 7.10
Donald Ross’ brilliance is on full display here, with crowned greens and subtle tilts that repel even solid approaches. Long, exposed, and exacting, it’s a brutal test late in the round.
North Dakota: No. 5, Hawktree Golf Club, Par 5, 554 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.7
Scoring Average: 2.9
Course Rating: 1.0
Slope Rating: 1.0
Hazards/Course Design: 0.0
Overall Score: 6.75
This long par 5 winds uphill into swirling winds, with a raised green that demands a third shot with spin. There’s little in your favor—and a lot working against you.
Ohio: No. 12, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Par 3, 184 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 0.2
Course Rating: 1.7
Slope Rating: 1.5
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 4.68
Water left, bunker right, and a green that slopes away from the tee—this par 3 is a classic Nicklaus trap. The wrong shot here doesn’t just miss—it ricochets into trouble fast.
Oklahoma: No. 18, Southern Hills Country Club, Par 4, 491 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 2.5
Course Rating: 1.2
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 6.55
Few finishing holes are as brutal as this one. Long, narrow, and uphill into a sloped green, it often decides tournaments—and rarely yields birdies.
Oregon: No. 16, Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes), Par 4, 338 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.3
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 0.8
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 3.66
On paper this is a breather, but the wind howling off the Pacific and a quirky, contoured green can turn birdie chances into double bogeys. Position is everything.
Pennsylvania: No. 3, Oakmont Country Club, Par 4, 426 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 1.3
Course Rating: 1.7
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 5.78
Church pew bunkers to the left. Razor-thin fairway. Lightning-fast green. Welcome to Oakmont’s third—a relentless two-shotter that defines the course’s reputation.
Rhode Island: No. 15, Newport Country Club, Par 4, 473 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.1
Course Rating: 1.3
Slope Rating: 0.8
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 4.18
Newport’s 15th plays longer than listed thanks to ocean winds and a forced carry over bunkers. The green slopes off the back edge, punishing anything overly bold.
South Carolina: No. 17, Harbour Town Golf Links, Par 3, 195 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.9
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.4
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 4.41
One of the toughest closing stretch par 3s on Tour. Small target, tricky wind, and water lurking left make club selection a guessing game—and execution a must.
South Dakota: No. 18, Sutton Bay, Par 5, 556 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.7
Scoring Average: 2.9
Course Rating: 1.2
Slope Rating: 0.7
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 7.07
This elevated finisher demands three sharp swings. Crosswinds off the prairie and tight landing zones make this a true test of precision late in the round.
Tennessee: No. 15, The Honors Course, Par 4, 501 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 1.9
Course Rating: 1.8
Slope Rating: 1.5
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 7.25
This brawny par 4 at The Honors Course has a sneaky uphill gradient and a green that rejects most long approaches. With little room for error, it's a true grinder's hole late in the round.
Texas: No. 12, Austin Country Club, Par 4, 435 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.1
Slope Rating: 1.3
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 4.32
With wind often swirling off the Colorado River, this par 4 challenges players to thread the fairway and approach a tricky green that slopes front to back. Precision wins; power gets punished.
Utah: No. 18, Glenwild Golf Club, Par 4, 498 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.2
Slope Rating: 1.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 4.62
This high-elevation par 4 closes the round with drama. A winding fairway and uphill approach to a tilted green leave little room for error. Most players just hope to hold on for par.
Vermont: No. 16, Ekwanok Country Club, Par 4, 431 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.4
Scoring Average: 2.1
Course Rating: 0.6
Slope Rating: 0.8
Hazards/Course Design: 0.2
Overall Score: 5.02
This historic gem punishes tee shots that drift right, while the sloped green demands pinpoint accuracy. Wind off the nearby ridges often amplifies the challenge.
Virginia: No. 12, Meadows Farm Golf Course, Par 6, 841 yards
Par/Yardage: 2.3
Scoring Average: 1.2
Course Rating: 1.1
Slope Rating: 1.0
Hazards/Course Design: 0.5
Overall Score: 6.18
At 841 yards, this is the longest hole in the U.S.—and plays every inch of it. Most players need four full swings just to get home. Bring snacks.
Washington: No. 13, Chambers Bay, Par 4, 527 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 2.2
Course Rating: 1.1
Slope Rating: 1.0
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 6.00
This mammoth par 4 often plays uphill into the wind with a blind approach. Miss long, and you're done. Miss short, and you're chipping from a pit. It's pure U.S. Open golf.
West Virginia: No. 18, The Greenbrier (Old White TPC), Par 3, 179 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.8
Scoring Average: 0.0
Course Rating: 1.4
Slope Rating: 1.1
Hazards/Course Design: 0.3
Overall Score: 3.58
This deceptively simple-looking finisher features a bunker-wrapped green and elevated tee box. The margin for error is razor-thin—and misses are rarely forgiven.
Wisconsin: No. 17, Whistling Straits (Straits Course), Par 3, 249 yards
Par/Yardage: 0.9
Scoring Average: 0.9
Course Rating: 1.6
Slope Rating: 1.4
Hazards/Course Design: 0.8
Overall Score: 5.67
This epic one-shotter runs along Lake Michigan, with wind, sand, and nerves combining for chaos. At nearly 250 yards, it's as much about guts as it is about execution.
Wyoming: No. 4, Aspen Hills Golf Course, Par 4, 554 yards
Par/Yardage: 1.5
Scoring Average: 3.3
Course Rating: 0.4
Slope Rating: 0.2
Hazards/Course Design: 0.2
Overall Score: 5.43
At 7,500 feet of elevation, this monster par 4 plays shorter than the number—but not easier. With a narrow landing area and an unpredictable breeze, it demands full control from the opening shot.
