My favourite Par 4s’: All Square Ambassador Julien Tizot

All Square ambassador Julien Tizot has shared with us his all-time favourite par 4s. Travelling across the globe in his role as Senior Partner at Forepont Capital Partners, Julien has played over 140 golf courses in 22 countries and a third of All Square’s Top 100.

As well as being a scratch golfer and golf course architecture buff, Julien is also a keen photographer and takes his digital SLR camera and drone to the golf course. Along with his insight and memories of playing some of the world’s greatest courses, Julien also shares with us his incredible photography, capturing the drama and beauty of his favourite par 4s.

Out of all the great golf courses you have played, how did you choose your best par 4s?

It could be the history of the golf course, the design, the incredible views or just a general vibe, but all these holes are fantastic in their own way.

1) Hole 14, 384 yards: West Cliffs Golf Links – Obidos, Portugal

It was a foggy morning so I was happy when the manager accepted to reschedule me in the afternoon. Hole 14 at West Cliffs is an elevated tee, looking down towards the Atlantic Ocean with a hazard in the middle of the fairway. It’s fantastic, both visually and strategically. A pure joy to play and a true birdie opportunity… but watch out for double bogeys!

2) Hole 13, 421 yards: PGA Catalunya Resort, Stadium Course – Girona, Spain

I played here in my 1^st All Square competition and it was the first time I met the AS team. It’s also the course where I became a single digit handicapper thanks to a final downhill putt under the scrutiny of All Square co-founder Patrick Rahme. The 13^th on the Stadium Course is unbelievable, with a lake, an island green and the mountains in the background. Glad I went back to shoot a picture at sunset!

3) Hole 8, 459 yards: Majlis at Emirates Golf Club – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The 8th hole of the Majlis course is over 200 yards from the tee just to make the fairway. For once, I was just happy to land in the enormous hazard and almost holed out from there! This is a memorable hole with the dramatic Dubai skyline in the background.

4) Hole 2, 362 yards: Streamsong, Black Course – Fort Meade, US

A flat tee shot and an uphill 2^nd shot to a large green with limited depth that is surrounded by huge sandy waste areas. It’s a natural, beautiful hole with a windmill in the background that gives an extra je ne sais quoi to the black course.

5) Hole 8, 427 yards: Pebble Beach – California, US

I played Pebble Beach just before it hosted the AT&T Pro-Am in February. It’s probably a hybrid off the tee and then a 6 iron over the ocean to a tight green. Jack Nicklaus said this was ‘the best 2-shot hole in all of golf’. You climb up to your ball and the views are amazing.

6) Hole 18, 411 yards: Bethpage Black – New York, US

I was a 12 handicapper when I played Bethpage Black. It’s one of the most daunting closing holes in golf. It looks straightforward, but there are massive bunkers left, right and around the green. It’s deceptively simple and a brilliant closing hole. I came back years later to just snap some pictures.

7) Hole 4, 300 yards: Barnbougle Golf Club, The Dunes – Tasmania, Australia

This Tom Doak design is a masterpiece. You can drive to the green or lay up with a short iron. I did the latter and made birdie! The green is protected by two huge bunkers and a couple of wallabies, with the Tasmanian Sea in the background. The dunes is wild!

8) Hole 13, 441 yards: Trump National Golf Links, Ferry Point – New York, US

I travel to New York every month for work, and the view from the 13^th hole at Trump National is the best of the Manhattan skyline you can get. There’s a tricky hazard in the middle of the fairway as well, giving this hole an extra touch of strategy, but who cares when you have the sun setting behind the best skyline in the world.

9) Hole 10, 475 yards: Sunningdale Golf Club, Old Course – Berkshire, England

The Old Course is one of the best heathland courses. The tee is the highest point on the property and you can see downhill to the bunkers on the left and right and the beautiful forest. It’s a very good hole, and the halfway house awaits for you!

10) Hole 16, 353 yards: Kauri Cliffs – Matauri Bay, New Zealand

The back nine at Kauri Cliffs is second to none. A drive from the tee leaves a short wedge to the green. It’s a great risk and reward hole with the beautiful bay in the background.

11) Hole 6, 424 yards: Lahinch Golf Club – County Clare, Ireland

This hole at Lahinch Golf Club looks unassuming from the tee box, where you’ll probably take a 3 wood. But there’s one of the nastiest bunkers ever in the middle of the fairway (at the bottom of a gigantic ditch!) I like holes where you have to think, and this is one. This is pure links with the green perched on the edge of the sea!

12) Hole 8, 407 yards: Morfontaine Golf Club – Morfontaine, France

You have to be aggressive yet accurate from the tee, with heath to go over and a huge dogleg left uphill, or you won’t make the green in 2. The second shot is downhill with massive bunkers to avoid. It’s a brilliant and strategic hole at probably my favourite course. From the green you can see the 8^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th flags aligned. Brilliant.

13) Hole 7, 394 yards: Kawana Fuji – Ito-City, Japan

The fairway splits in two and there’s severe penalties around the green. It’s a risk and reward hole that makes you think. It also has fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. I just loved it!

14) Hole 15, 382 yards: Jack’s Point – Queenstown, New Zealand

I birdied this hole! The tee box is in the middle of farmland which is fun. It’s a great hole at a beautiful course. You drive over a stone wall and there’s huge bunkers if you are too risk averse and decide to have a “short carry”. Even from the middle of the fairway, the par is not a done deal as the green is perched and surrounded by massive bunkers.

15) Hole 9, 427 yards: Royal County Down – Newcastle, Northern Ireland

The Championship Links is one of my favourite courses. Driving from the tee is a blind shot over a mound. I crushed my driver then still had 200 yards to go. It’s a brilliant hole with a view of the mountains and the iconic hotel in the background.

16) Hole 11, 427 yards: Ballybunion, Old Course – County Kerry, Ireland

A wonderful hole at Ballybunion with water on the right and a unique fairway with different step-like levels. It’s a world renowned hole and it’s as good as advertised.

17) Hole 5, 374 yards: Royal Portrush, Dunluce links – County Antrim, Northern Ireland

My first golf trip and first time using a drone was at Royal Portrush! This hole is amazing. There’s a huge swale to the side of the green and a big drop off over the back which is out of bounds. You can see Dunluce Castle and the dramatic cliffs in the distance. Don’t get too pumped with your putt as you may end up putting OB!

18) Hole 17, 374 yards: St Andrews, Old Course – St Andrews, Scotland

The world famous ‘Road Hole’ at St. Andrews. I blasted a 3 wood off the tee, landing short to the right of the green and 2 putted for a solid par before embracing the view. It has everything: the road bunker, stone wall, narrow green… and the view of the clubhouse. Incredible.

Connect with Julien Tizot on All Square: https://www.allsquaregolf.com/golf-users/julien-tizot

Find out more about Julien Tizot: https://blog.allsquaregolf.com/interview-julien-tizot-france/