I tackled The Monster head-on. I faced it from the sand, the sea, the air, and the grass. I experienced all it had to offer and lived to tell the tale – barely.
I’m Ryan, nice to meet you. I have a 22 handicap in golf, which means I’m not great, more like average. The average male handicap is around 13-14, so I’m about 8-9 strokes above that. I recently shot an 87 at Mallard Creek, breaking 90 for the first time in years.
Now, let’s talk about The Monster. It’s the 16th hole on The South Course at Firestone Country Club, where the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship will be held. This beast of a hole measures a whopping 667 yards. A winding fairway with sand traps and trees leads to an approach shot over water – a true challenge even for professional golfers.
I had the opportunity to play The Monster as part of Media Day for the upcoming tournament. Playing the tips, right where the pros would tee off, I knew I was in for a tough round. The course was in excellent condition, ready to test my skills.
On this particular day, I felt good about my game. I shot a 97 overall, hitting some great shots along the way. But when I reached the 16th tee, I knew I was in for a challenge. With the wind against me, I struggled to keep my slice in check.
Despite landing in the rough off the tee, I managed to recover and get back on track. But a mis-hit approach shot left me tangled in the trees once again. The Monster was living up to its name, testing my every shot.
In the end, I realized that facing The Monster was not for the faint of heart. It required precision, strategy, and a bit of luck. As I walked off the 16th green, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer difficulty of this hole – a true test of skill for any golfer.
