Every good course should have its own version of Amen Corner

When it comes to Amen Corners, nobody does it better than Augusta National.

I realized that earlier this spring as I watched the Masters golf tournament unfold and witnessed that wonderfully wicked run of holes – 11 through 13 – knocking the starch out of the knees of one contender after another.

There was the 490-yard, par-4 11th, forcing the world’s best golfers to sweat over a mid-iron approach to a green protected on the left by a small pond.

And the notorious 155-yard par-3 12th, with it’s swirling winds, leaving nearly every player in the field scratching his head over what club to hit in hopes of landing somewhere between Rae’s Creek and the three menacing bunkers in back of the green.

And, finally, the birdie-friendly 510-yard, par-5 13th that plays to a small green protected in front by a tributary to Rae’s Creek and in the rear by four sand traps.

It was enough to make me think that every good golf course needs its own Amen Corner, a stretch of three consecutive holes that challenges every aspect of your game and makes you hold on tight and hope as you try to navigate your way through the tangle of trouble it presents.

Granted, Augusta has set the bar unrealistically high, especially for the municipal courses I normally play. But as I sat down and, for the first time, contemplated the best three-hole stretches of golf in our region, I realized we are blessed with some delicious, diverse and demanding Amen Corners of our own.

Following, in descending order, is my personal list of favorites, keeping in mind my considerable limitations, which preclude some deserving stretches of holes that are too tough for me to tame – even on a good day.

5. The Fairways (holes 11-12-13)

I like the idea of starting any stretch of difficult holes with at least a smidgen of hope, and the 11th, which plays a mere 327 yards over a reedy marsh, provides more than that. I’ve dumped more than a few balls in water or long grass, however, after succumbing to the insane temptation of trying to reach the green off the tee.

The 12th, which bends hard right around a massive pond, was once a ridiculously easy par 5. But the new tee box that was installed several years back has made it a legitimate 501-yard hole that offers nearly every option imaginable off the tee. Eagle is not out of the question here, but neither is an eight or nine.

And the 172-yard 13th, which plays over water to a peninsula green, remains one of standard by which all other par 3s in the region are measured – especially when it plays into the prevailing West Plains wind.

4. Hangman Valley (10-11-12)

The 10th, a 549-yard par-5 that plays across Hangman Creek, continues to rank among my favorite golf holes. Because of the angle of the creek, which winds in front of the tee and down the entire right side of the fairway, you must decide how much of it you want to cut off with your tee shot. And anyone playing it too safe is likely to end up in the troublesome stand of trees that guard the left side of the landing area.

The 193-yard 11th, with its man-made pond and cascading stream front-left of the putting surface, ranks among the most visually intriguing par 3s around. And it can be a bit of a pain, as well, especially if you fan your tee shot right.

The 423-yard, par-4 12th plays uphill and doglegs slightly to the right. A drive down the left side of the fairways opens up the green and provides a decent chance at birdie.

About the only thing wrong with Hangman’s Amen Corner is that it leads directly to the 449-yard, par-4 13th, which means this is a poor time to quit praying.

3. MeadowWood (16-17-18)

Surprisingly, this is the only finishing stretch of holes on my list, which means if you play them poorly, you are left with no chance for atonement. And these three holes, which kick off with the torturously long, 606-yard 16th, give you ample opportunity to play poorly.

No. 16 ranks among the best par 5s in the region and demands two solid shots just to reach the corner and get a look at the elevated, 1½-tiered green perched precariously on a hillside. Get on the wrong level here, and you can be putting past last call.

The uphill par-3 17th, which can play anyway from 115 to 165 yards depending on your choice of tee boxes, isn’t one of my favorite holes, but it’s one that usually produces plenty of conversation fodder for the 19th hole. And the downhill, 413-yard par-4 finishing hole offers not only the most spectacular view on the course, but a wide range of scoring options, as well.

I still hate the fact, however, that the pricey homes that were built along the right side of the 18th fairway forced the county to reconfigure the tee boxes and weaken what was once a magnificent finishing hole.

2. The Creek at Qualchan (10-11-12)

No. 10, a 379-yard par 4 that doglegs right up a gradual incline, is the weakest of the three holes. It still offers interesting challenges and a series of options – including that of trying to reach the green off the tee by driving over the stand of tall trees to the right of the fairway. The green also tilts wildly from front to back – a breeding ground for three-putts.

The 210-yard, par-3 11th plays downhill to a wide, shallow green, which is protected on the left by a pond and to the rear by a trio of bunkers resembling those behind the 12th green at Augusta National.

The par-4 12th is another absolute gem, playing slightly uphill and down a tree-lined and strategically bunkered fairway to another tricky green that is also nicely bunkered. The out-of-bounds right creeps in quickly, leaving straight and long as about the only kind of tee shot that works on this monster.

1. Indian Canyon (12-13-14)

Aside from the fact that the 536-yard, par-5 12th and the nasty 438-yard, par-4 14th both play from right to left, I consider this to be the best three-hole stretch in the county.

The 12th is a tempting birdie hole that can put an “other” on your scorecard faster than Nick Price can draw back his 5-iron. I know, I know. Big hitters kill this hole, but it’s everything an average golfer can handle, and the risk-reward factor on the second shot can drive you crazy.

The 13th, which plays 178 yards over a visually intimidating gully, features a crazily-tilted green that demands a pin-point tee shot, especially when the pin is tucked behind the massive bunker that guards the front-right of the putting surface.

And the 14th, with its ravine-like fairway that curls left around a dense stand of pine trees, is simply one of the best – and most demanding – par 4s in the region, waiting to take back the stroke you might have saved on No. 12.