Willowbrook Country Club's 12th hole offers thought-provoking tee shot | The Elite 18
The 12th hole at Willowbrook Country Club is one of the best in the Pittsburgh area and it's one that has golfers thinking from the moment they step onto the tee box.
Westmoreland County isn't short of great golf courses and Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo is one of them.
The 12th hole at Willowbrook plays around 180 yards and is a well-guarded par 3 that keeps golfers' minds going.
"It's a great hole," said Willowbrook Country Club head golf professional Brian Dunaway. "It's a good test."
Approach shots into the green need to have enough distance to make sure they don't come back off of a false front.
"You've got to at least play to the middle yardage," Dunaway said.
The green is surrounded by bunkers on the left and right sides with a penalty area on the left and water for shots that come up short.
Clearing the front right bunker is important, but you don't want to have too much club or you'll clear the green, too.
Whether you're deep or short of the pin, there are no easy putts on the 12th green.
Dunaway says you don't see too many low scores on the 12th hole as many golfers tend to play too much break on the slick putting surface.
The Elite 18
- 3 Lakes Golf Course's 17th hole offers challenge during tough finishing stretch
- Pheasant Ridge's 4th hole is a challenging par 3 with a treacherous two-tiered green
- Wildwood Golf Club's 16th hole offers troublesome tee shot
- Chartiers Country Club's redesigned 15th hole offers more demanding test
- Diamond Run's 15th hole is part of a 4-hole stretch that mixes challenge with scenery
- Oakmont Country Club's 17th hole provides the ultimate risk-reward opportunity
Willowbrook Country Club
Founded: 1956
Public or Private: Private
Location: 181 Grossheim Road, Apollo, PA 15613
Phone Number: 724-727-3441
Website: https://www.willowbrookcc.org/
Par: 72
Yardages, Course Rating, and Slope Rating:
- Black - 6,686 yards - 73.1/137
- Blue - 6,431 yards - 72.0/134
- White - 6,030 yards - 70.0/132
- Gold - 5,393 yards - 66.7/122
- Red - 5,165 yards - 71.3/123