Hole #3 - Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, PA - 428 yards Par 4

Anyone who is reading this has most likely heard of the Church Pew bunker at Oakmont (there are actually two of them, but the famous one lies between the third and fourth holes).  But the third hole at Oakmont is not the best third hole in the world solely because of the Church Pew bunker.  When I first played this hole, I was blown away by the elevation changes and cant of the fairway.  From the tee, the hole plays straight away with the fairway rising and falling over hills like a piece of linguine draped over and across three baked potatoes.  The entire fairway cants to the left, toward the Church Pew bunker, which, in combination with the bunker, makes you aim right.  The problem is, if you go too far right, you will be in one of a series of extremely deep and penal bunkers in their own right.  As a result, missing this fairway leaves almost no chance at hitting the green in regulation.  If by chance you were lucky enough to hit a straight drive, you are still left with a mid to long iron off of a side-hill lie up to the green which sits at least 20-30 feet above the landing zone of the fairway.  If your approach is too short, it will roll back 30-40 yards in the fairway.  If it is too long, it will roll over the green by 20 yards into a chipping area.  Of course an up and down from either location is not likely given the severity of the Oakmont greens.  However, as an act of kindness, if you are able to find the green, the middle third of the green is relatively flat and will yield an opportunity for birdie or par.  Add to all of the above the fact that this hole includes one of the most famous man-made hazards in the game of golf and it is easy to see why it is the best third hole in the world... In my opinion.

Next Best: Royal County Down, Merion (East), Augusta National, Olympic, Pasatiempo, Fenway, Pine Valley, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not played: None