[laryb]

Forget pitch and putt - this tee-off point on top of a 1,410 ft. mountain in South Africa is the hardest golf shot in the world, and more than $1 million awaits the player who can score a hole in one.

Players must take a helicopter to the top to play the longest and highest par three on the planet.

Taking the shot also requires courage. A player needs to teeter terrifyingly close to the edge of the mammoth hillside.

Indeed, the Extreme 19th Hole is so high the ball takes almost 30 seconds to reach the ground.

Channel Nine cricket commentator Mark Nicholas recently joined an elite list to have the shot in just three swings.
"It was awesome, riveting and phenomenal," he said, "it's like the end of the world when you get up there and it's an awful lot of fun.
It's such an adrenaline rush taking the helicopter up and then rushing back down."

The hole is based at the Legends Golf and Safari Resort, within the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in South Africa 's Northeastern Limpopo Province . The other 18 holes were designed by world golfing legends including Trevor Immelman, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Australia 's Robert Allenby.

A round of golf - including a buggy and lunch - will set you back R450 ($70).

The Extreme 19th costs is $1060 per foursome, which includes the helicopter ride, souvenir cap, glove, and a DVD of you playing the hole. So far, no one has even come close pocketing the million-dollar prize, but Harrington became the first golfer to conquer the hole within par.

Harrington said, "This is the type of innovation and excitement we need to get more people playing golf.
There aren't many new innovative ways to play the game but this is certainly one of the best.
I think this hole is awesome.
I love the whole experience, the helicopter, the views, the drama and having the green the shape of Africa . And now I've got bragging rights over all the other professionals who have played this hole and not managed to make a three.

[ajbrown]

Can you imagine the ball marks

Here is Padraig's par

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUUDf_55KQ[/ame]

[Tom Hannon]

Does any of the courses in TV have a hole like this??

[quidam65]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Can you imagine the ball marks

Can you imagine the number of lost balls you could retrieve?

[bestmickey]

Wow. I'm a newbie to golf and would need more than the luck of the Irish to make a hole-in-one anywhere, but this may go on my bucket list!

[The Great Fumar]

WOW ....THANKS YARB

I've played lots of gorgeous elevated holes but nothing as beautiful as that....
Does anyone know how much an airline ticket to South Africa is....

Afraid of heights Fumar

[jebartle]

A couple of courses in NC have a similar look (not quite as Deeeeep), Maggie Valley, Lake Hickory....Makes you want to have those old Looooong spikes in your shoes...giggle

[laryb]

I played a par 3 hole at Sunday River in Maine that was similar to this one, but on a MUCH smaller scale. Also had one there that was a par 4 that was fun. Sunday River is a ski resort that also is a golf course off season. Anyone play there?