They make up some of the most iconic holes in all of golf. When a course has one, it is usually referred to as their signature hole. They challenge even the best golfers by requiring pinpoint accuracy. And, they are often the most aesthetically pleasing designs in golf.
I’m talking about island greens, of course. Some of the most awe-inspiring and memorable holes in the world.
But, sometimes these holes or courses aren’t always the most accessible. After all, there aren’t any true island greens in the Nanaimo area.
But what if we told you that you could take on an island green here anyways? Good news, you can find eight courses with island greens right here at Prime Golf at the Nanaimo North Town Centre!
Want to learn more? Here are the eight courses from around the world available on our Trackman simulators!
1) Club de Golf le Mirage (Carolina Course)
Just because this island green has a bigger landing pad, doesn’t make it any easier. Extreme hole placements can make a nearly impossible approach shot while it is said the wind is a major factor on this hole.
You will also have to watch your roll, make sure to stick the landing. The border of the green is unforgiving with a sloped edge into rocks and the water.
2) Devil’s Island
This fictional course featured on Trackman has a wild island green that is almsot divided into three sections. It is extremely shallow making it imperative that you stick your tee shot, preferably in the section with the pin. If you miss those tiny landing areas, you will be treated to a second pond on the island green guarding the front.
3) Gloria Golf Resort (New Course)
If the island green wasn’t enough, this seventeenth hole par three adds a couple of large bunkers surrounding the triangle shaped green to make for double hazards off of the tee.
The entire playing field of this hole is water from the moment you leave the tee box. The only land on the way is far off to the sides. There is no room for error in your tee shot here.
4) Palmerstown Golf Course
The tenth hole at Palmerstown wasn’t always an island green. This somewhat recent redesign from 2020 surrounded the green by water, creating a signature hole for the course beloved by those who play it. The hole itself still remains most of its grass along the way to the hole, and with a larger landing surface it may be one of the easier targets on this list.
5) PGA West Stadium Course
The signature hole on the Stadium Course is this seventeenth hole featuring an island green lined with a rocky outside edge making accuracy a must.
A long par three, this hole features a difficult to aim tee shot headed towards a green entirely bordered by small boulders. Once again, leaving little to no room for error as your shot will bounce unpredictable unless you stick a precise landing on the green.
6) PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course
The longest hole on this list is the 15th at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. A par five nicknamed Long Island, for good reason, stretching 572 yards from the back tees. This hole is a test for even the best golfer’s distance and accuracy.
A long tee shot is a must on this course as you clear a massive bunker right off the tee. Luckily, you can play the right side of the hole and get fairly close to the green from the fairway with a well-placed second shot lay-up. Playing from that angle, however, is tricky with a bunker running the width of the green from that direction, and another smaller one in behind.
7) Suvarna Jakarta GC (Green Course)
If the pin placement on the ninth hole of this course is on the left side, you’ve gotten lucky. A much wider and forgiving landing zone than the right side, separated by a ridge and protected by a front bunker and water all around.
There is at least a small buffer zone of some rough around the green on this hole, but that will only help a little bit.
8) Valhalla Golf Club
Don’t let the length of this hole fool you, the island green on this short par four is no joke. It is elevated significantly from the surrounding water and is blocked on one side by a large tree and a collection of bunkers in the landing zone for your drive.
It may have a large landing zone, but the elevation change will fool golfers into playing it short and ending up in the water.
Think it’s time to stop on by and play at one of these courses? Book your bay today!