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very winter , the
E PGA Tour ’ s best flock to Riviera Country Club for the Genesis Invitational , and what awaits them is one of the best short par 4s in professional golf .
No . 10 at Riviera plays at 307 yards from the back . As of early June , the tour average drive was 298.4 yards , and PGA Tour driving distance leader Cameron Champ checked in with a 326.1-yard average .
So , 307 yards is nothing to these guys , right ? That couldn ’ t be further from the truth . Though the green is theoretically drivable , extreme accuracy is a must if one wants to have a legitimate eagle putt . The green is extremely narrow and is guarded by bunkers to the left , right and back . In short , it ’ s a hole that requires thoughtful shotmaking , not mere brute force , should you want to score . At the 2022 Genesis , No . 10 played to a 3.866 scoring average , and only 27 percent of players made birdie . ( And no one made eagle .)
While No . 10 at Riviera is a great famous short par 4 , there are plenty such treats to be found at courses across Virginia . Some examples follow . This list is not comprehensive by any stretch , but it is a representative sampling of tough , short par 4s that can be found at VSGA championship venues .
NO .
10 267 yards
At Winchester Country Club
The teeing areas on this downhill beauty sit tucked near the WCC clubhouse ,
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where patrons enjoying lunch or beverages on the patio comprise an impromptu gallery . The green sits enticingly below ready for players to attack it with a driver . The creek that dominates the early part of Winchester ’ s back nine runs left of the cart path , and a dense thicket of trees to the right will punish stray drives .
The green is guarded by large bunkers on the front left and front right . The smart play here for most ? Hit an iron off the tee to a comfortable number and try to get up and down for birdie . But temptation to drive a green on a par 4 is to often too much to pass up . And hey , sometimes luck plays in your favor . Just ask Winchester member Rob Holmes , who earlier this year made the first hole-inone on No . 10 in WCC ’ s 99-year history . And yes , he hit driver .
No . 10 at Winchester Country Club
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NO .
15 334 yards
At The Dominion Club
It ’ s listed as the No . 18 handicap hole at the Glen Allen club , and for good reason . If you play it as the design intends , you ’ ll often have a legit birdie chance . There ’ s plenty of fairway to the left , leaving the player only to have to clear a front-facing bunker to reach the green . Par is almost an expected score .
The VSGA has twice hosted its Multi-Format Team Championship at TDC , and let ’ s just say during those competitions that there weren ’ t very many divots in that fairway . Instead , most players directly attacked the green , a tricky proposition depending on wind conditions . To reach the green , one must clear
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CHRIS LANG |