Artful brushstrokes distinguish
this elevated masterpiece
The National
this elevated masterpiece
The National
The National’s trademark is its dramatic elevation changes from tee to fairway, as well as on approach shots – some as much as 60 feet. The National offers unmatched shot-making opportunities and no two holes are alike.
- Yards 7,034
- Par 72
- Opening Year 1997
The National
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HOLE
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PAR
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YARDS
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-
HOLE
1
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
386
HOLE 1
TEES
- 1 - 386
- 2 - 365
- 3 - 313
- 4 - 313
- 5 - 278
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 1
Large bunkers on both sides of the dogleg-left tighten the landing area (since the tee shot carries farther down the hill, a fairway wood off the tee is the safer play). The green is well-protected by sand, as well as a swale that divides the putting area.
-
HOLE
2
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
384
HOLE 2
TEES
- 1 - 384
- 2 - 364
- 3 - 336
- 4 - 336
- 5 - 297
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 2
The smart play here is to drive short of the water that juts into the right side of the fairway, and avoid the bunkers on the left. The left half of the fairway is Position A, so the approach isn’t blocked by the tree that hangs over the right half of the green. Bunkers guard the front of the green and a false front bats down anything short.
-
HOLE
3
-
PAR
3
-
YARDS
187
HOLE 3
TEES
- 1 - 187
- 2 - 163
- 3 - 142
- 4 - 142
- 5 - 124
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 3
Knowledge of hole location is vital on this long green, which is almost 40 yards deep. The tee shot plays slightly uphill and anything going left may end up in the bowl that feeds shots into a collection area.
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HOLE
4
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
421
HOLE 4
TEES
- 1 - 421
- 2 - 397
- 3 - 372
- 4 - 320
- 5 - 320
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 4
Although one of the toughest par 4s on the course, justice comes from the relatively wide landing area. Two fairway bunkers on the right prove treacherous, as do the deep greenside bunkers. Grass bunkers left of the elevated green can be punishing, as well.
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HOLE
5
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PAR
3
-
YARDS
202
HOLE 5
TEES
- - 202
- - 184
- - 175
- - 152
- - 152
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 5
There is only one bunker on this long par 3, but it is large enough to cover the entire left side of the green. Right of the green is a fairway-cut collection area from which getting up and down is a challenge. The green slopes from back to front, particularly stopping shots to the shelf on the back right.
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HOLE
6
-
PAR
5
-
YARDS
553
HOLE 6
TEES
- 1 - 553
- 2 - 528
- 3 - 496
- 4 - 475
- 5 - 440
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 6
On this three-shot par 5, precision is needed for any chance at par or better. Although the fairway is wide for the drive, a collection of bunkers on both sides makes it appear that much narrower. More bunkers affect the lay-up shot, while a large, half-moon pond surrounds the green, swallowing shots hit short, long or left. The green is tough, too, with a three-tiered putting surface.
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HOLE
7
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
372
HOLE 7
TEES
- 1 - 372
- 2 - 348
- 3 - 339
- 4 - 339
- 5 - 295
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 7
The shortest of the par 4s, this dogleg left requires a drive hit short of the four fairway bunkers that sit at the right corner. The approach from the sloping fairway must contend with three more deep bunkers surrounding the green.
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HOLE
8
-
PAR
5
-
YARDS
497
HOLE 8
TEES
- 1 - 497
- 2 - 471
- 3 - 453
- 4 - 453
- 5 - 413
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 8
With a downhill drive that slips past the three fairway bunkers, there is a chance to go for the green in two. The fairway slopes away from the corner of the dogleg left, which may help the slightly wayward drive. The two-tiered green is 40 yards deep, making it receptive to an aggressive second shot, but bunkers on both short sides demand that any approach have enough air under it.
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HOLE
9
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
452
HOLE 9
TEES
- 1 - 452
- 2 - 422
- 3 - 388
- 4 - 309
- 5 - 309
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 9
There is a wide landing area – but no chance at hitting the green in regulation, should the tee shot find the long fairway bunker on the left. Some help comes from a large, receptive green, but bunkers on the right and front left of the green stand guard.
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HOLE
10
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
418
HOLE 10
TEES
- 1 - 418
- 2 - 397
- 3 - 380
- 4 - 357
- 5 - 330
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 10
The tee shot plays slightly downhill to a landing area that gets wider the farther the drive travels. The hole doglegs slightly to the left and plays to a large green.
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HOLE
11
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PAR
4
-
YARDS
378
HOLE 11
TEES
- 1 - 378
- 2 - 353
- 3 - 331
- 4 - 331
- 5 - 278
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 11
Lake Oconee creeps in on the left side, but shouldn’t come into play on the tee shot – unlike the two fairway bunkers that are more of a factor. The hole is short enough that a well-placed fairway wood might be the best option off the tee. The second shot can require an extra club, or more if the hole is cut in the back.
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HOLE
12
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PAR
3
-
YARDS
191
HOLE 12
TEES
- 1 - 191
- 2 - 168
- 3 - 147
- 4 - 147
- 5 - 129
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 12
The lake serves as the backdrop of this eye-catching par 3. But a breeze coming off the water also can play tricks with the tee shot, making the front bunker more dangerous.
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HOLE
13
-
PAR
5
-
YARDS
563
HOLE 13
TEES
- 1 - 563
- 2 - 517
- 3 - 466
- 4 - 466
- 5 - 411
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 13
It’s three shots to reach the dance floor, given the hole’s length and the creek that cuts in front of the green. The lay-up must stay short of the fairway bunker, while the approach is all uphill carry to a turtleback green.
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HOLE
14
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
400
HOLE 14
TEES
- 1 - 400
- 2 - 378
- 3 - 356
- 4 - 323
- 5 - 277
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 14
This hole doglegs slightly left, with most tee shots pulled that direction by the right-to-left sloping fairway. Cutting the corner is an aggressive option, but may leave a shin-high lie for the second shot, making it tricky to be accurate with a short iron.
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HOLE
15
-
PAR
5
-
YARDS
502
HOLE 15
TEES
- 1 - 502
- 2 - 480
- 3 - 461
- 4 - 440
- 5 - 392
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 15
A well-struck drive opens up the option of getting home in two on this hole, which is straight out in front of you, all the way. The shot to the green cuts slightly left of the fairway. The real test comes from the putting surface, defined by extreme undulations.
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HOLE
16
-
PAR
3
-
YARDS
170
HOLE 16
TEES
- 1 - 170
- 2 - 165
- 3 - 148
- 4 - 148
- 5 - 120
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 16
Wind is an issue on this medium-length par 3, usually blowing from the right. A collection area sitting left of the green awaits shots caught in the prevailing breeze.
-
HOLE
17
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
449
HOLE 17
TEES
- 1 - 449
- 2 - 420
- 3 - 395
- 4 - 373
- 5 - 335
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 17
This is the first of two exceptionally difficult closing par 4s. Despite a relatively large landing area, a deep fairway bunker sits on the right-center portion of the fairway, defending the dogleg to the right. A mid- to long-iron is difficult to hold on the narrow green.
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HOLE
18
-
PAR
4
-
YARDS
462
HOLE 18
TEES
- 1 - 462
- 2 - 413
- 3 - 374
- 4 - 336
- 5 - 336
Ryan Frisch
Head Golf Professional
HOLE 18
This finisher comes equipped with a slightly hidden landing area. There no surprise on the approach: the pond in front of the green is in plain sight, and the shot to the green must carry the water, as well as steer clear of the two greenside bunkers.
Awards &
Designations
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Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play 2023 -
Golf Digest's Best in State 2024 -
Golfweek's Top 200 Resort Courses in the US 2023
