There are only a handful of golf courses in America that have more than a dozen good golf holes. Even on some of the world’s greatest golf courses, there is a lull… an unispired hole that is simply just average compared to the rest. That is the beauty of Seth Raynor designs, the templates are almost always guaranteed to give you a quality experience. These golf holes are a recipe for success and Fox Chapel does it just about as good as any other Seth Raynor design in America.
I was hired to photograph the golf course over the 4th of July in 2024 and here are the results.
Hole #1 - Away - Par 4 - 411 Yards
A simple name and a simple start to Fox Chapel. However, If you come out sloppy, you are gonna have to pay for it.
Hole #2 - Punch Bowl - Par 5 - 458 yards
The hits start punching on the 2nd hole at Fox Chapel. With only 2 par 5’s at Fox Chapel, you will have to wait until the 18th hole to get another par 5 scoring opportunity. A good drive will set up a fun second shot that could curl in there close for eagle.
Hole #3 - Eden - Par 3 -195 yards
Originating on the 11th hole at St Andrews, the Eden template is designed to test a medium length iron shot. The Eden’s defining characteristic is its deep protective bunkerings. The “Hill” on the left, “Strath” on the right, “Eden” behind the green and “Cockleshell” short and right.
Hole #4 - Road - Par 4 - 480 yards
Hailing from the 17th at St Andrews, the road hole is always a real ball buster. This particular version is on the easier side, but the length of the golf hole makes it a force to reckon with.
Hole #5 - Cape - Par 4 - 335 yards
The “cape” hole originates from the 14th hole at National Golf Links of America and is a CB Macdonald original creation. The short length of the cape hole at Fox Chapel makes this version one of the most fun. An iron off of the tee will put you in good position with a wedge into the green.
Hole #6 - Redan - Par 3 - 190 yards
The most popular golf template of all time delivers at Fox Chapel. The surface kicks hard and the slopes are severe. When it come to Raynor Redans, this is one of my favorites.
Hole #7 - Leven - Par 4 - 283 yards
There are a lot of fun golf holes at Fox Chapel and the Leven template is one of the most fun. This drivable par 4 provides one major obstacle for the driver looking to find the putting surface. The grassy knoll short right of the green will swallow up any golf ball that dares to fly untrue.
Hole #8 - Knoll - Par 4 - 474 yards
The 8th hole at Fox Chapel is serious business. You better bring two good golf shots if you want to have a look at birdie.
Hole #9 - Lion’s Mouth - Par 4 - 460 yards
I have often said that there are not enough Lion’s Mouth templates in golf. Fortunately, Fox Chapel received that message loud and clear. The result is an endlessly enjoyable green complex with a ton of different options for pins that make the approach shot new and fun on every visit.
Hole #10 - Springhouse - Par 4 - 402 yards
The back nine starts off with a solid par down the far edge of the property. The green provides the majority of the interest with several tiers and plenty of humps.
Hole #11 - Short - Par 3 - 181 yards
The short template is always a popular one and this short is no exception. The green presents as a visually intimidating golf shot, but the surface is large and a decent shot will yield a good birdie opportunity. Like other short templates there is a slight thumbprint design in the middle of the green.
Hole #12 - Farm House - Par 4 - 344 yards
The 12th hole is my favorite hole at Fox Chapel. The are several options off of the tee that will set up a short or medium approach to this spectacularly fun green. The view from above the green on the 13th tee is my favorite spot on the property.
Hole #13 - Corner - Par 4 - 422 yards
I almost feel bad for corner, it’s probably everyone’s least favorite hole on the golf course and they shoved it in the corner of the property. Surrounded by trees, it also has a slightly different feel than most of the other holes on the golf course. Pro tip: Beware the white fence.
Hole #14 - Rodgers Field - Par 4 - 453 yards
Straight away with out of bounds down the right hand side. The golf hole is demanding off of the tee, but once you have a solid drive in place, you can look to score.
Hole #15 - Maiden - Par 4 - 400 yards
With the clubhouse and several other holes in the background, Maiden is one of the most scenic holes at Fox Chapel. The wise golfer will exercise caution with hitting a drive too far and into the cross creek. The green has two tiers and a pin in the back plays much more difficult.
Hole #16 - Bottle - Par 4 - 475 yards
Bottle features some of the most spectacular fairway bunkering on any Seth Raynor golf course. The beastly bottle is gonna take two well placed golf shots if you want a look at birdie.
Hole #17 - Biarritz - Par 3 - 229 yards
The biarritz hole on any Seth Rayner golf course is always one of the most interesting holes on the golf course. The green at Fox Chapel is also one of the largest. It took me 101 steps to walk from the back to the front. This sunset was also a nice little treat.
Hole #18 - Glade Run - Par 5 - 570 yards
The finishing hole at Fox Chapel is all about creek navigation. You will want to stay left of the hazard with your tee shot. But don’t go into that fairway bunker if you want a clean shot at clearing the creek with your second shot. The finishing hole is a great opportunity to end your round with a satisfying birdie.
