Ever stood on a par-3 tee aiming at a green that seems to be running away from you, sloping hard from front to back and tilted sideways like a ramp? If you have, you’ve likely faced one of golf's most classic and challenging strategic tests: the Redan hole. This article will break down exactly what a Redan is, where it comes from, and most importantly, give you a clear game plan to play it smarter and avoid the high numbers it’s designed to create.
In simple terms, a Redan is a par-3 where the green is set at a diagonal angle to the tee box and slopes significantly away from the player. For a right-handed golfer, the standard “Redan” features a green that runs from front-right down to back-left. The entire putting surface is canted, falling away from the tee and also from right to left.
While the direction can be flipped (creating a “Reverse Redan”), most Redan holes share a few signature features that make them so recognizable - and so challenging.
Here’s the anatomy of a classic Redan:
Think of it as trying to land a ball on a ramp that's also tilted sideways. You can't just throw it at the target, you have to use the slopes to get it there.
The Redan isn't just a style of hole, it's one of the most famous "template holes" in the history of golf course architecture. The original design is the 15th at North Berwick West Links in Scotland, a masterclass in challenging the golfer's mind as much as their swing.
The concept was made famous in the United States by the legendary architect C.B. Macdonald. After studying the great courses of Great Britain, Macdonald brought back several "template" ideas to incorporate into his own designs. He loved how the Redan tested a golfer's strategy and execution, and he famously built his own iconic versions. The 4th hole at his National Golf Links of America is a perfect recreation of the original, while his 7th at Chicago Golf Club is a brilliant "Reverse Redan" (sloping front-left to back-right).
Today, you can find a form of the Redan at celebrated courses across the country, from Friar’s Head to Somerset Hills. Each one has its own nuances, but they all share the same strategic DNA: use the ground, not the air, to get your ball close.
Because of its deceptive design, walking up to a Redan without a clear strategy often leads to a quick bogey or worse. The secret is to stop thinking about flying the ball to the pin and start thinking about the correct landing spot. It requires a bit of bravery because the "right" shot will almost always feel "wrong."
On a Redan, the pin position dictates your entire strategy. Don’t just get a yardage, identify which part of the green the pin is on.
This is often called the "sucker pin." It sits on the small, high shelf of the green and tempts you to take a direct line at it. A slight pull ends up in the deep bunker, while a miss short or right can kick away aggressively. The smart play is to aim for the absolute center of the green, taking one less club, and let it feed down. It may leave you a longer, uphill putt, which is far better than a bunker shot or a lost ball.
This is where the classic Redan strategy truly shines. Your target is not the pin. Your target is the high front-right portion of the green. Aim there, and trust the architecture. A well-struck shot will land on the shoulder and funnel down toward the hole. You commit to a spot that might be 15-20 yards from the flag, knowing the slope will do the work.
This is the toughest pin placement on the hole. The architect is daring you to carry the deep front bunker to get to it. You must resist this temptation! The correct play is exactly the same as for a middle-pin: aim for the high front-right portion of the green. This is the hardest mental test because you are aiming far away from your target. But a correctly chosen club will land on the slope and ride the wave all the way to the back a portion of the green. You’re using the entire length and width of the putting surface to get your ball close. Taking on that pin directly is a hero shot with very little chance of success.
One of the biggest mistakes golfers make is picking a club based on the flag's yardage. On a Redan, you need to choose a club based on the landing spot and the subsequent release.
The hardest part of playing a Redan is trusting the unintuitive play. Aiming well away from where you want the ball to finish feels unnatural. This mental discipline is what separates a smart golfer from one who falls into the architect's trap. Accept that your target is a patch of turf on the front-right ledge. Forget the flag. Commit to that line and that club, and let the course do the rest. The satisfaction of watching your ball take the slope and coast down toward the hole is one of golf’s great feelings.
Recognizing the common pitfalls is half the battle. Watch out for these mental errors:
The Redan hole asks a simple question: are you willing to think your way around the course, or are you just going to hit at the target? It's a beautiful piece of design that rewards strategy, patience, and commitment over pure power. By learning to recognize its features and play to the intended landing zones, you can turn a hole that baffles most golfers into one where you have a clear and confident advantage.
Making smart, strategic plays on template holes like the Redan is exactly where I can support you. If you’re ever trying to decipher a tricky design, I’m built to eliminate the guesswork. With Caddie AI, you can get a simple and effective game plan right on the tee. I analyze the layout and conditions to recommend the right target and club, giving you the clarity and confidence to commit to the smart shot every time.
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