Extreme 19 and Other Exotic Golf Shots

I just came across the illest golf hole I've ever seen in my life. (Peep the pic above, I'll explain) Its hard to get excited over a golf hole but I think this thing is cool enough to qualify. Its a bonus 19th hole called the "Extreme 19th" at a new course in South Africa called "Legends Golf and Safari Resort". I don't even golf but this course makes me want to. Each one of the 18 holes is designed by a different top pro golfer such as Vijay, Harrington, Retief, etc. Supposedly, well the brochure says anyway, that you will also see lions along the way at some point.

The Extreme 19th is a par 3 that you tee off from the top of a cliff that is 1400 feet above the green. Yea you read that right, 1400 feet above the green that you are shooting at. You take a chopper up to the cliff and oh yea, you also literally win a milli if you sink a hole in one on Extreme 19. Its so high that it takes a full 30 seconds for the ball to hit the ground. How remarkable is that? Jumping in a chopper after golfing next to lions all day, then launching balls off a cliff with the chance to win an M? Count me in bro. They really use this hole in a playoff situation during real tournaments too. I have two words for that. Bad and Ass.

It costs about 220 bucks to play all 19 holes but hey, that 220 includes the chopper ride up to the tee on 19. Honestly thats a friggin bargain. Check out the video below of Paddy Harrington and Raphael Jacquelin (Raphael is such a serious first name) actually playing the hole. And here is the link to the full article on Yahoo if you want more information.



And Im not sure if this was on Sportscenter or Bartool Sports or anything, but I haven't seen anything made of it yet. If you are unfamiliar with golf events (like me), the day before the Masters they do a par 3 tourney. Its a tradition thats been going on for a bunch of years now (not sure how many). Its a chill atmosphere with trick shots being attempted and a lot of the pros having their kids caddy for them, that type of thing. Here is a link to a quick youtube with highlights and explanation if you are interested.

I guess with the par 3, the thing that all the golfers talk about is the curse if you win. No one wants to actually win the par 3 because no one has ever won the par 3 then gone on to put on a green jacket Sunday afternoon. Most of them are superstitious so they'll start pinging balls lefty or something if they are in the lead.

Anyway, Vijay made an insane shot this year during the par 3 round. His group was trying to skip their balls across a long stretch of water and then make it up onto the green. Vijay skipped it across the water, and got the ball up onto the green. The thing went up, around, and actually aced into the cup. A really amazing hole in one. Here is the video below. Try to keep your eye on the ball. If you are amazed and want to see more, you can go here and get another angle that is more traditional (but still mediocre camera quality).



These videos got me in the mood to re-watch the best shot I've ever seen. Tiger's chip on 16 at the Master's in 2005. The pause that the ball took on the lip was impossible. It was a great call too by Verne Lundquist. "In your LIFE, have you seen anything like that?!" gives me the chills still (well almost). The only people who liked the shot as much or probably even more than Tiger was Phil Knight and the people at Nike. That swoosh got some serious face time.

See I don't golf personally (yet) and I'm not that big of a fan of the sport, but I am a fan of greatness so I sweat Tiger. Show me the worlds greatest at anything and I'm going to be into it. A lot of people are like that. Its the olympic corollary. We watch all these sports we don't normally watch because we want to catch a glimpse of greatness (cheesy but real maybe).

I love watching Tiger when hes right and dominating. I love the red shirt he wears when he has to close out leads on the final day of a tournament. I love how he has 4 green blazers from Augusta. I love how hes won 14 majors and 66 PGA events by age 33 and should keep dominating for another 15 years if his knees hold up. I even love the guy's damn gatorade flavors. Partly because they taste awesome and partly because the Tiger flavors are juiced up with extra electrolytes so they are the best hangover cures.



-Wolfie