The BWD Tournament Hole of the Week: March 1 – 4, 2018. The 17th at Club de Golf Chapultepec, Home of WGC-Mexico Championship.

Tournament: WGC-Mexico Championship – Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico
Hole: 17th – Par 3, 172 Yards
Architect(s): Willie Smith and Alex Smith – 1921
Percy Clifford (redesign) – 1972

Architectural Summary:

The penultimate hole for the WGC-Mexico Championship is a medium-length par three test playing to a green guarded by a lake and two bunkers. From the tee, competitors will play through a narrow chute of trees over one of Club de Golf Chapultepec’s two water hazards. A short-iron will likely be the club of choice for a majority of competitors as the high altitude decreases distances by up to 15 percent. The sizable green is further protected by two bunkers at the front-left and rear-right portions in addition to the lake that runs along the front and left of the putting surface. Competitors finding the rear-right bunker will face a difficult sand save back toward the lake as the green slopes towards the lake, while the pot bunker on the left between the lake and green will leave a more routine uphill recovery shot. Finding the correct quadrant will be emphasized in order to leave a reasonable length putt for a chance at birdie. The green itself measures 15 yards deep by 33 yards wide and features two tiers separated by a ridge bifurcating the middle of the putting surface. Aside from the ridge, the green features relatively subtle undulations and slopes from back-to-front and right-to-left towards the lake.

Statistical Analysis:

During the 2017 WGC-Mexico Championship, the 17th hole played to a scoring average of 3.07 (29 Birdies, 231 Pars, 38 Bogeys, 5 Doubles, and 1 “Other”).

Fun Facts:

  • The Club de Golf Chapultepec clubhouse sits 7,780 feet above sea level, which is an altitude that is 50 percent higher than Denver, Colorado. Due to the elevation, the course had the highest average tee shot distance on the PGA Tour last year with 317.47.
  • The 17th hole features a second green to the right of the putting surface used this week that is in play for member play. The penultimate hole is one of three holes at Club de Golf Chapultepec that have two greens – the others are hole one and eleven.