Extreme 19th
Encyclopedia
The Extreme 19th is the highest (400 metres or 1,312.3 ft) and longest (361 metres or 394.8 yd) par three
golf
hole in the world, located at the Legend Golf & Safari Resort in the Entabeni Safari Conservatory, Limpopo
Province, South Africa
. The hole was conceived by Graham Cooke of the UK, and designed by David Riddle.
The tee, located at the top of Hanglip Mountain
, is accessed via helicopter. Because of its height, a tee shot takes almost 30 seconds to land. To track the ball, shots are followed with four separate cameras, and golfers are supplied with six balls equipped with tracking chips. The fairway is seeded with Cynodon
grass, and has been landscaped to direct the ball towards the green, which has been shaped to resemble the continent of Africa
. The green is surrounded by a large waste bunker.
The 19th is an addition to an 18 hole course designed by professional golfers, including Pádraig Harrington
, Trevor Immelman
, Sergio García
, Bernard Langer, Colin Montgomerie
, Justin Rose
, Vijay Singh
, K. J. Choi
and Retief Goosen
. As of April 2009, the cost to play the hole was listed at R
6700 (741 USD
), and there is a prize of over USD
for the first golfer to score a hole in one
on the Extreme 19th.
As of June 3, 2011, no one had scored a hole-in-one, but two golfers had managed a birdie, including professional cricketer
Franklyn Stephenson
, who was the first to do so. Of professional golfers to try the hole, Pádraig Harrington
was the first ever to score par. American actor Morgan Freeman
has also scored par on the hole, and professional golfers Raphaël Jacquelin
, Justin Rose
, Sergio García
and K. J. Choi
have all carded bogeys.
Par (score)
The word "par" is a term in the game of golf used to denote the pre-determined number of strokes that a scratch golfer should require to complete a hole, a round , or a tournament...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
hole in the world, located at the Legend Golf & Safari Resort in the Entabeni Safari Conservatory, Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
Province, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The hole was conceived by Graham Cooke of the UK, and designed by David Riddle.
Hanglip
Hanglip is a part of the central Soutpansberg mountain range near Louis Trichardt, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The peak with radar station, at 1,719 meters above sea level, forms a prominent landmark visible from the town and the N1 national road.Hanglip mountain is situated in the 354 hectare...
, is accessed via helicopter. Because of its height, a tee shot takes almost 30 seconds to land. To track the ball, shots are followed with four separate cameras, and golfers are supplied with six balls equipped with tracking chips. The fairway is seeded with Cynodon
Cynodon
Cynodon is a genus of nine species of grasses, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World. The genus as a whole as well as its species are commonly known as Bermuda Grass or Dog's Tooth Grass.-Species:...
grass, and has been landscaped to direct the ball towards the green, which has been shaped to resemble the continent of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The green is surrounded by a large waste bunker.
The 19th is an addition to an 18 hole course designed by professional golfers, including Pádraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington
Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:...
, Trevor Immelman
Trevor Immelman
Trevor John Immelman is a South African professional golfer and winner of the 2008 Masters Tournament.-Early years:Immelman was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Born into a golfing family , he took up golf at the age of five. He attended Hottentots Holland High School...
, Sergio García
Sergio García
Sergio García Fernández is a Spanish professional golfer who plays on both the United States PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings...
, Bernard Langer, Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie
Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
, Justin Rose
Justin Rose
Justin Peter Rose is a South African-born English professional golfer who plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour while keeping his membership on the European Tour...
, Vijay Singh
Vijay Singh
Vijay Singh, CF , nicknamed "The Big Fijian", is a Fijian professional golfer who was Number 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005. He has won three major championships and was the leading PGA Tour money winner in 2003, 2004 and 2008...
, K. J. Choi
Choi Kyung-Ju
Choi Kyung-Ju , also known as K. J. Choi. is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. Since turning pro in 1994, he has won a total of eighteen professional golf tournaments worldwide, including eight on the PGA Tour, making him Asia's most successful golfer. His...
and Retief Goosen
Retief Goosen
Retief Goosen is a South African professional golfer who has been in the top ten in the Official World Golf Rankings for over 250 weeks between 2001 and 2007. His main achievements have been two U.S...
. As of April 2009, the cost to play the hole was listed at R
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
6700 (741 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
), and there is a prize of over USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
for the first golfer to score a hole in one
Hole in one
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one is when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with one shot. This is most possible on a par 3 hole. Longer hitters have accomplished this feat on shorter par 4 holes...
on the Extreme 19th.
As of June 3, 2011, no one had scored a hole-in-one, but two golfers had managed a birdie, including professional cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
Franklyn Stephenson
Franklyn Stephenson
Franklyn DaCosta Stephenson, born at Saint James, Barbados on 8 April 1959, is a former cricketer who had a first-class career for teams in four continents...
, who was the first to do so. Of professional golfers to try the hole, Pádraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington
Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:...
was the first ever to score par. American actor Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
has also scored par on the hole, and professional golfers Raphaël Jacquelin
Raphaël Jacquelin
Raphaël Jacquelin is a French professional golfer.Jacquelin was born in Lyon. He turned professional in 1995, after winning the French Amateur Championship.Jacquelin began his professional career on the Challenge Tour...
, Justin Rose
Justin Rose
Justin Peter Rose is a South African-born English professional golfer who plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour while keeping his membership on the European Tour...
, Sergio García
Sergio García
Sergio García Fernández is a Spanish professional golfer who plays on both the United States PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings...
and K. J. Choi
Choi Kyung-Ju
Choi Kyung-Ju , also known as K. J. Choi. is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. Since turning pro in 1994, he has won a total of eighteen professional golf tournaments worldwide, including eight on the PGA Tour, making him Asia's most successful golfer. His...
have all carded bogeys.
Facts & Figures
- Vertical Height – 430m
- Horizontal distance from foot of mountain to back of green – 400m
- Horizontal distance from foot of mountain to start of fairway – 280m
- The vertical drop from the start of fairway to the front of the green is 21m.