The Longest Par 3 in the World, 900 Yards

Million dollars says you can’t get a hole-in-one
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe

The Legend Golf & Safari Resort (is there a better combination of activities?) is situated within the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the malaria-free Waterberg Region of the Limpopo Province of South Africa, where the Big Five roam free.

It is also home to the longest and most extreme par 3 in the world. Set high up on Hanglip Mountain and accessible only by helicopter, this par 3 hole is played from a vertical height of 430 meters (1,410 feet)! Did I mention it’s only accessible by helicopter?

Some additional notes:
- Four separate cameras and the latest tracking equipment allow golfers to follow and capture their tee shot and the flight of the ball
- The fairway is seeded with Cynodon grass and contoured to funnel the ball to the green below
- In celebration of the African Renaissance, the green has been shaped like the map of Africa
- Spotters are posted around the green to let you know where your ball lands
- the 900-yard (830 meter) 19th is used as a playoff hole for major tournaments
- Any hole-in-one will earn a lucky golfer one million US dollars

Note the shape of the green
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe

The 18-hole championship golf course is the longest golf course in South Africa and plays at 7,154 yards (6,534 meters) for daily play (can be extended to 8,473 yards for tournaments). Each hole was individually designed by a top professional golfer including: Immelman, Furyk, Weir, Rose, Singh, Villegas, Garcia, Choi, and Harrington.

For some great shots of the Legend Golf Course see here

Watch Padraig Harrington and Raphael Jacquelin tee off from the 19th in a recent tournament playoff!