The BWD Tournament Hole of the Week: March 9 – 12, 2017. The 14th at Innisbrook Resort, Home of Valspar Championship.

Tournament: Valspar Championship – Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), Palm Harbor, FL
Hole: 14th – Par 5, 590 Yards
Architect(s): Larry Packard – 1971
Jerry Pate (renovation) – 2015

Architectural Summary:

The 14th hole at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course is a double dogleg par five measuring 590 yards. This final par five will play as a three shot hole for a large majority of the field due to its length and double dogleg layout. From the tee, competitors will look to play a right to left shaped shot over the crest of a hill to the first landing area, located just beyond the first dogleg playing to the left. The heavily tree-lined left side of the fairway will emphasize accuracy from players on the tee shot. Competitors will tend to favor the left-center of the fairway to set up their second shot which will require a fairway wood or long iron. Competitor’s second shot must navigate between the pond located to the right of the fairway as well as the continuing stand of trees lining the left. Should the second shot successfully find the fairway, a short wedge approach will be left to the elevated green. The putting surface is well protected by a sprawling bunker to the left as well as a smaller bunker to the right. The undulating green measures 36 yards deep by 20 yards wide and slopes back-to-front and left-to-right. Overall, the hole will emphasize accuracy as well as positioning in the fairway in order to score well.

Statistical Analysis:

The fourteenth hole has consistently played as one of the least difficult holes on the Copperhead course. In 2016, the hole played to a scoring average of 4.69 (nine eagles, 144 birdies, 248 pars, 21 bogeys, and 5 doubles).

Fun Facts:

  • The 2016 Valspar Championship was won by Charl Schwartzel following a playoff with Bill Haas. Schwartzel birdied the 14th hole in each round en route to his victory.
  • Golf course architect Larry Packard was known for his double-dogleg par 5s. The 14th hole at Innisbrook was considered to be Packard’s personal favorite and, as such, a sketch of the hole is present on the cover of a 2002 biography of Packard, titled “Double Doglegs and Other Hazards.”