Almost every avid golfer dreams of successfully tackling the toughest or most difficult golf courses once in a while. Stories of conquest on these "monster" courses hold the potential for instant credibility with your golf partners or even tales to be passed along to your grandchildren. Besides, simply testing your game against the most stringent challenges is enough to get an avid golfer’s heart beating faster. However, before you can prepare for and appreciate such a challenge, it helps to understand which layouts qualify for such status, why these courses are so tough, and perhaps a strategy that can help you conquer them.

Most of us are quick to assume that the courses the touring professionals play are also the most difficult challenges. Sometimes this is true, but more often than not, there are other courses that play more difficult on a day-to-day basis for most golfers. Perhaps you might assume that, among the ClubCorp family, the two superb layouts of Pinehurst Resort’s Pinehurst No.2 (The North Carolina site of two very successful U.S. Open Championships) and Firestone Country Club’s South Course (a longtime, annual PGA stop in Ohio) would be the toughest of the lot. According to the U.S. Golf Association, you would be wrong. Of course, for the week that these courses are specially prepared for such elite competition — when the fairways are narrowed, the rough grown, and the greens firmed up — they play really tough. That said, for the remainder of the year, these courses are groomed for member and guest play, and do not exact the same challenge. As a result, many a visitor and member can shoot a reasonably good score in relation to their normal game.

So how does the USGA define course difficulty for the average golfer? The consensus answer is the so-named "slope rating." The slope rating is the USGA’s way of altering a person’s handicap index, based on the difficulty of the course on which that person achieves the handicap. It is based upon the measurement of difficulty for most or average golfers — those who play "bogey golf." A course’s par is irrelevant; the challenge isn’t!

By way of background, in the early 1980s, it became apparent that the traditional course rating system was missing an important ingredient. It always has been well established that the more difficult the golf course is, the greater the discrepancy is between the scores of the better and less skilled players. On a course of average difficulty, the 16-handicapper is likely to play as close to his or her handicap as the 3-handicapper is. On a more difficult course, of say a 130 slope, the average player will likely shoot a score comparatively more disparate from his or her normal game. This increasing variance, when charted on a graph between the advanced and average golfers, shows a steeper sloping trend, increasing upward with difficulty — hence the term "slope." The "course rating" does not account for this important measure of difficulty; slope does. The additional statistic became part of golf’s lexicon. Both course rating and slope rating are typically noted on a golf course’s scorecard.

There is much on-site study that is invested in establishing a course’s slope rating. First, a team of USGA course raters will visit a golf course one or more times to examine the challenge. They will likely interview the course’s golf staff, take extensive measurements, and also play the layout. The overseeing regional golf association also will certify the resulting figure.

Years ago, course ratings were based almost solely upon length; the longer the course, the higher the rating. Now "effective distance" and obstacles also are factored into play. The rating team will evaluate each hole with an eye as to how both scratch players and bogey golfers will play it. For reference, the USGA defines a scratch golfer as a male amateur who hits his drives 250 yards on average and can reach a 470-yard hole in two shots, or a female golfer who hits her drives 210 yards and can reach a 400-yard hole in two, and scores to a zero handicap. A bogey golfer, in this use, is defined by the USGA as a male golfer with a handicap index of 17.5 to 22.4, who hits his drives 200 yards and can reach a 370-yard hole in two; and a female golfer with a handicap index of 21.5 to 26.4, who hits her drives 150 yards and can reach a 280-yard hole in two.

The team will review the challenges from the teeing area and then advance to those designated yardages of 200 and 250 yards distant, for example, in the men’s case of a par-4. There, they will analyze the landing areas. For example, is the area sloped or flat, narrow or wide, bunkered, guarded by trees or water, or other obstacles? Next, they will analyze the angle left to the target. What are the obstacles? Is there trouble to be carried or off to the sides or an elevation change? Is the target a small or large putting surface? How far is the approach? And so on. Once on the green, they will evaluate the contours and speeds to see if there are any further special challenges.

Effective distance is also an important consideration. Downhill shots will have yardage subtracted, while uphill ones will have yardage added, because they play differently in reality than a flat shot. If the grass is habitually long and wet or the air heavy with moisture, yardage is added because roll is reduced; while a course at a high altitude will have its effective yardage subtracted because the ball flies farther in the thin air. Even forced layups are taken into account, as the golfer is effectively restricted, making the hole play longer.

In all, the course is rated in 10 categories: topography; ease or difficulty of hitting the fairway; probability of hitting the green from the fairway landing area; difficulty of bunkers and probability of hitting into them; probability of hitting out-of-bounds; how much water will come into play; how trees affect play; speed and contouring of the greens; and the psychological effect of all these things. This same process follows on both the par-3s and par-5s until all the holes are completed from every set of tees, for play under normal conditions, and for both the scratch and bogey golfers, both men and women. A bogey and scratch rating are then established. Far more work goes into a course slope rating than meets the eye.

There are courses with slopes ranging from 55 to 155, with 113 considered to be a course of average challenge. Interestingly enough, from the back tees, Pinehurst No. 2 has a rating of 137 and Firestone’s South Course, a 128. This would indicate, as expected, that both are much tougher than average. That said, there are many other ClubCorp courses that rank more challenging from the tips. It follows that any course with a slope rating of 140 is a real "bear," in the stratosphere of America’s toughest golf courses. And, indeed, that is correct. Slope ratings can change, as courses are regularly re-rated for accuracy and to also include any renovations or changes that occur. For instance, the addition of yardage or bunkers or the loss of trees could influence a slope rating.

Regardless, it’s doubtful anyone will argue that the layouts on the accompanying list test you all the way down to your golf soul. Here is a sampling of some of the toughest of the bunch.

PINEHURST NO. 7 (149), PINEHURST RESORT, Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
The clean, crisp appearance of rolling pine-lined fairways punctuated by imposing white bunkering camouflages the complete examination that is Pinehurst No. 7. Topping our list as the highest-rated slope, architect Rees Jones still has managed to design a layout that is a favorite among Pinehurst Country Club members and resort guests. From the tips, this course is plenty long at 7,216 yards. Wait a second — most of the approach shots are to elevated greens, which make it play even longer. These elevated greens with smooth, fast, and true putting surfaces require a deft touch for greenside recoveries.

GROVE, ORCHARD, LAKES COURSES (three nine-hole layouts that combine for either a 148 or 147 rating), TREESDALE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania.
The greater Pittsburgh area of western Pennsylvania is ripe with great, challenging courses, like Oakmont and Laurel Valley, and Treesdale Golf & Country Club stands among the toughest. The neat attraction here is that there are 27 holes with no weak or unattractive nines. You can play any combination here and not feel cheated, but always challenged. Elevation changes contribute both to the challenge and the scenery. Heavy brush and thick woods spell "lost balls" to any wayward strikes. There is a wealth of bunkers, creeks, and ponds to contend with, and some of those greens are treacherous as well.

NORTH COURSE (147), COTO DE CAZA GOLF & RACQUET CLUB, Coto de Caza, California.
If Treesdale has 27 frightening holes, Coto de Caza has 36. The North Course is the older, longer at 7,162 yards, and slightly more difficult of the two layouts. If the rolling terrain and lengthy shots don’t test you, the diabolical undulating greens designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. certainly will. The challenge starts immediately with the 601-yard first hole, a beastly dogleg to the right that is perhaps the most difficult starting 3-shotter in America. As is repeated 17 more times, getting to the greens is only half the battle; two-putting the slick terraced surfaces will test even the surest professional. Finally, errant shots at the North Course spell "penalty," so a complete arsenal is required.

DYE COURSE (147), STONEBRIDGE RANCH COUNTRY CLUB, McKinney, Texas.
Stonebridge Ranch’s Dye Course, a regular host to important regional competitions, is everything you can imagine it might be as one of the toughest tests in the Lone Star State. Situated on open links-like terrain, the course is littered with deep pot bunkers and unforgiving long fescue rough. Water pinches play in spots and the greens can be treacherous. If that is not enough, the length stretches to a hefty 7,257 yards. Finally, there is an ever-present Texas wind that would make even a much shorter version a real challenge. Play from the rear tees translates into one of the toughest tests you may ever encounter, almost brutal.

DIAMANTE (144), Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
Diamante is one of the best, most beautiful, and challenging courses in Arkansas and beyond — one of America’s most underrated layouts. Pine-lined fairways interspersed with dogwood, live oak, and maple frame each hole over the rolling terrain forming a most attractive setting. Head golf professional Scott Shelby points out the challenge in the way the course is built on a grand scale with large bunkers, large greens, large fairways, and a lot of length. Its whopping 7,560 yards from the tips play even longer because of the soft, springy zoysia fairways. With wide-playing avenues, but narrow fairways surrounded by thick Bermuda rough, the course lulls the golfer to sleep. Hilly, uneven lies make for approach shots that are anything but routine, and the greens are likewise very undulating. You must hit the correct sector if you expect to two-putt. Accordingly, those really on their games can hit many greens in regulation, but walk away well over par because they did not find the proper portion of the putting surface. It all goes together for a complete examination of every part of your game — a test fit for a pro.

HONORS COURSE (144), OAK POINTE COUNTRY CLUB, Brighton, Michigan.
At 6,514 yards, you would not think that the Honors Course at Oak Pointe would be that tough, but it certainly is. Director of golf Tony Re suggests that the Honors plays more like 7,000 yards because of the elevation changes and some forced layups. That is where the fun begins, as this is a wetlands course that features water or out-of-bounds from start to finish. That makes driving a premium — to which Tony adds that he does a great business in golf balls. To achieve a slope this high, more challenges exist. The greensites are anything but ordinary round shapes. There are elbows, oblong, and L-shaped greens. What that means is that the player must hit the correct distance to reach the desired portion of the green or be in some sort of recovery mode. Finally, over the years, settling of the surfaces has made the putting surfaces difficult to read and putt. Oak Pointe is a complete challenge with no letup.

PASADERA COUNTRY CLUB (144), Monterey, California.
Located just a few miles inland from the famed Monterey Peninsula and usually enjoying much sunnier weather is Pasadera. This beautiful club boasts an exhilarating Jack Nicklaus Signature layout that is seamlessly integrated into the natural topography of existing hills, canyons, and oak groves. Water hazards, strategic oaks, and natural-looking bunkers combine with elevation changes and slick treacherous greens for an exceptionally demanding challenge. There are few other back-to-back holes with the "wow" factor that the 14th and 15th holes at Pasadera offer. The 209-yard 14th plays from one precipice to another over a 100-foot valley. With views of the Pacific to the west and the wind, a par here will be remembered for life. Next, you encounter one of the longest par-4s anywhere, 562 yards. Even the less-than-powerful drives seem to stay airborne forever from this immensely elevated tee. While the downhill hole obviously plays much shorter, the tee ball had better find the fairway or you are in for a big number, and the approach shot and putting surface is just as impressive. Even for low-handicappers, head professional Scott Ferreira recommends avoiding the rear tees during a first visit. Good advice. Pasadera is much more of a test than its 6,801 yards would suggest. By way of comparison, the feared Olympic Club’s Lake Course comes in short of Pasadera with a 138 slope rating!

RIVER CREEK CLUB (141), Leesburg, Virginia.
This attractive layout is aptly named as the course borders the Potomac River that comes into play on five holes, and mingles with Goose Creek for two more. Director of golf Randy Bell describes his course’s challenge as "balanced." First, it is long at more than 7,000 yards and the bent grass fairways give up little roll. Secondly, thick penal rough, water, and out-of-bounds place a premium on driving accuracy. Finally, the putting surfaces have interesting contours, which not only make them a challenge to putt, but also a test to chip and pitch to, especially if you hit the ball to the wrong side of the hole. Finally, the finishing stretch, from the 15th hole in, is as challenging as you will find anywhere, and is a stern hurdle when trying to finish off a good round.

So what is the best strategy to tackle these tough courses? First, leave your ego at home. If you play to higher than a 3 handicap, do not play from the rear tees. These courses still "slope out" at very difficult ratings from the more forward tees, meaning you will still enjoy the challenge. Secondly, playing courses this difficult is not the time to take chances or be aggressive with your course strategy. Your best bet is to aim for and try to hit the most inviting parts of each fairway and green. Typically, the hazards on these courses spell scorecard disaster. Just swing slowly and smoothly within yourself, and concentrate on one safe shot at a time. Focus on your target area and block out the hazards. Do not let the visuals or your playing partners intimidate you. Just positively concentrate on the shot at hand. Actually that may be good advice for playing any course, but it is particularly relevant for taking on these "monsters." Interestingly enough, employing that same strategy in playing the three nines at the second most difficult facility, Treesdale, I shot my best scores in more than a year. Go figure! That strategy really helped me, and it should help you too.

So if you want to test your game, crave a severe challenge with lots of trouble, and don’t mind risking a bruised ego, playing these ClubCorp layouts will allow you to take on the toughest in America — and possibly create a story to tell your grandchildren.

Bob Fagan is a former golf professional and executive director of the Northern California PGA. An avid golfer, he has played more than 1,800 golf courses in the United States.