The 18th hole at Birdsfoot Golf Club offers a fascinating risk-reward opportunity | The Elite 18

SOUTH BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) – Life is full of difficult decisions and playing the 18th hole at Birdsfoot Golf Club is no exception.

Located just 35 miles north of Pittsburgh, Birdsfoot Golf Club is one of the most beautiful public golf courses in all of Pennsylvania.

The charming links course offers breathtaking views and a challenging layout that will test every club in a player’s bag.

The 18th hole at Birdsfoot is a great closing hole that requires attention from start to finish and a difficult decision on the tee.

“You have to decide where you want to hit the ball when you tee off,” said Travis Lindsay, general manager of Birdsfoot Golf Club. “And you have to execute your shot with precision.”

The 18th hole at Birdsfoot can be played up to 425 yards and is called “The Dilemma” because you have to make a decision: whether to play right or left of the deep traps in the middle.

“There’s a bunker on the right side that protects the second half of the fairway,” Lindsay said. “There’s a little saddle there that you can jump through if you stick to the right side of the fairway and it’ll shoot you past all the trouble. There’s not a lot of trouble on the left side.”

When trying to score a point, the riskier shot is to aim for the right side of the fairway.

The approach shot downhill to the green presents a new challenge. The ideal target position is the front edge of the green, exactly in the middle of the approach shot.

Depending on the placement of the holes, some shots that land in the middle of the green may be directed to a left pin, where the putts also drop to the left edge of the green.

Birdsfoot Golf Club

Founded: 2002

Public or private: Public

Location: 225 Furnace Run Road, Freeport, PA 16229

Telephone number: 877-295-3656

Website: www.Birdsfoot.com

Course designer: Ault, Clark and Associates

Par: 72

Yardages, Course Rating and Slope Rating:

• Gold – 6,596 metres – 74.4/137
• Black – 6,703 yards – 72/134
• Blue – 5,599 metres – 69.2/132
• White – 5,611 yards – 66.4/112
• Red – 4,800 yards – 68.5/123