Matt WardMission Inn Resort & Club
El Campeon Course
18th hole / 423 Yards / Par-4
Howey-in-The-Hills, FL
Architect: George O’Neil (1917) with enhancements
by Charles E. Clarke of Troon, Scotland (1926)
The 18th is called “Temptation” and there’s plenty of it when golfers steps on the tee. The hole moves slightly from left-to-right and water hugs the right side ever so tightly akin to a child clutching his mom’s leg on the first day of school. An aggressive line of attack off the tee can challenge as much as the water as you choose but the slightest misfire can inflict some serious scorecard pain.
The approach shot is confronted with large trees protruding in from the left. On the right side is a frontal bunker lurking for those who fail to hit enough club to carry it. Much is written about the penultimate hole at El Campeon and the 17th is indeed a striking hole. But, no round can be deemed complete and no round can be celebrated until you get through El Campeon’s top tier closer.
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Photo Courtesy: Bill Hornstein
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