Play Cypress Point's 16th Hole Online, Free
The 16th hole at Cypress Point Club is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular par 3s ever built. From a clifftop tee perched above the Pacific Ocean, you must carry your ball approximately 230 yards over crashing waves and jagged rocks to reach a green sitting on a narrow rocky headland. There is no layup. There is no bailout. The ball either makes the carry or it is swallowed by the Pacific. Now you can play a Cypress Point-inspired version of this legendary hole free in your browser, no downloads and no sign-ups.
Click here to play Cypress Point 16th now →
About the Hole
The 16th at Cypress Point is a par 3 of approximately 230 yards. The tee sits on a cliff high above the ocean, and the green occupies a rocky headland jutting out into the Pacific. Between the tee and the green there is nothing but ocean — waves crashing against rocks, spray rising into the wind, sea lions barking from the shore below. The carry is all or nothing. Miss the green and your ball is gone.
The green itself is not large, and it is defended by bunkers carved into the headland and surrounded by ice plant and rocky outcroppings. Lone Monterey cypress trees dot the landscape, twisted by decades of ocean wind into sculptural forms. The hole was designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1928, and it has been called the most beautiful and terrifying hole in golf ever since.
How Far Is the 16th Hole at Cypress Point?
The 16th at Cypress Point plays at approximately 230 yards from the back tees. That is a long carry under any circumstances, but what makes it truly daunting is the wind. The hole faces the open Pacific, and the prevailing ocean breeze is typically in your face. On a calm day, a well-struck 3-wood or hybrid will make the carry comfortably. Into the wind, even tour professionals have been forced to hit driver on a par 3 — and still come up short.
The original design included a safer route to the left, allowing players to lay up short and left of the ocean and play a pitch to the green. But almost nobody takes it. The temptation to go for the green over the water is overwhelming. This is the defining all-or-nothing shot in golf.
Why Is the Cypress Point 16th So Famous?
There is no hole in golf that combines visual drama, strategic terror, and natural beauty quite like the 16th at Cypress Point. Here is what makes it the most talked-about par 3 on earth:
- The ocean carry. The entire shot is over the Pacific Ocean. There is no fairway, no rough, no intermediate ground between the tee and the green. It is 230 yards of nothing but water and rocks. If the ball does not reach the headland, it is gone.
- The setting. The hole sits on the Monterey Peninsula coastline, with crashing waves, rocky outcroppings, barking sea lions, and gnarled Monterey cypress trees framing the view. It is regularly cited as the most beautiful hole in golf, and many consider it the most beautiful single view in all of sport.
- The wind. The Pacific wind is constant and unpredictable. A headwind can add 30 or 40 effective yards to the shot. A crosswind can push the ball into the cliffs. Club selection ranges from 3-iron on a calm day to driver in a gale.
- No bailout. Most great par 3s give you a safe miss somewhere — long, left, right. The 16th at Cypress Point offers no such luxury to the player going for the green. You commit to the carry or you do not. There is no in-between.
- Exclusivity. Cypress Point Club is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world. It is almost never televised, and virtually no one outside the membership gets to play it. This makes the 16th a hole that most golfers know by reputation alone, which only adds to its legend.
The History of Cypress Point
Cypress Point Club was designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie — the same architect who would later design Augusta National Golf Club with Bobby Jones — and it opened for play in 1928. The course is located on 17-Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula in California, weaving through sand dunes, forests of Monterey cypress and pine, and along dramatic Pacific Ocean cliffs.
MacKenzie considered Cypress Point his finest work. The routing moves from inland dunes holes to forest holes and then, on the back nine, explodes onto the coastline with the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes running along the cliffs above the Pacific. The 16th is the crown jewel — the hole that every golfer dreams of playing and almost none ever will.
From 1947 to 1990, Cypress Point was part of the rotation for the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (now the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), which gave television audiences a rare glimpse of the course. The tournament left Cypress Point in 1991 after the club declined to comply with PGA Tour membership policies, and the course has been almost entirely off-camera since. This has only deepened its mystique.
Famous Moments on the Cypress Point 16th
- Bing Crosby's ace. The entertainer and tournament host Bing Crosby made a hole-in-one on the 16th, one of the most celebrated aces in golf history given the sheer difficulty and drama of the hole.
- The Crosby Clambake. During the years the Bing Crosby Pro-Am visited Cypress Point, the 16th was always the signature moment of the broadcast. Watching tour professionals stand on the clifftop tee, stare at the ocean, and commit to a 230-yard carry made for some of the most dramatic television in golf.
- Henry Ransom's double eagle. In the 1953 Crosby, Henry Ransom reportedly holed out on the 16th for an ace — a feat that seems almost impossible given the distance and the ocean carry.
- Everyday heroics and disasters. Because Cypress Point is so private, most of the great stories from the 16th live in member lore rather than television archives. The club's caddie stories are legendary — tales of members hitting three, four, five balls into the Pacific before finally making the carry, or of first-time guests standing on the tee frozen with fear.
If the Pacific Ocean could not stop Bing Crosby, it should not stop you. Take on the Cypress Point 16th →
Features of Our Cypress Point 16th Simulator
- Pacific Ocean — modeled as a vast ocean carry between the clifftop tee and the headland green. Anything short is swallowed by the sea.
- Rocky headland green — a green perched on a promontory, surrounded by rocks and sand. Land it or lose it.
- Cliffs and rocks — the rugged coastline frames the hole, with jagged rocks and crashing surf below.
- Cypress trees — lone, wind-sculpted Monterey cypress trees dot the landscape, echoing the iconic silhouettes of the real course.
- Bunkers — sand traps guard the green on the headland, punishing shots that make the carry but miss the putting surface.
- Real shot physics — control your power, angle, and flight. A weak shot drops into the ocean. A perfect strike reaches the headland and holds the green.
How to Play
Drag backward from the ball in the direction opposite where you want to send it — like pulling back a slingshot. The farther you drag, the more power you apply. A trajectory arc previews your shot while you aim, so you can fine-tune direction and distance before releasing. The game works the same way on desktop (click and drag with the mouse) and on mobile (touch and drag with your finger).
On the 16th at Cypress Point, you need to commit to a full swing. This is not a hole for half measures. Pick your line, trust your aim, and send it over the Pacific. If you hold back, the ocean will punish you.
Strategy Tips for the Cypress Point 16th
- Commit to the carry. This is the single most important rule. A timid swing that comes up short is in the ocean. You must generate enough power to clear the water and reach the headland.
- Aim for the center of the green. The green is surrounded by trouble — bunkers, rocks, and drop-offs. The middle of the green is the largest target and the safest play.
- Do not overcook it. While you need full power, a shot that flies too long or too far right can bounce off the back of the headland into rocks or worse. There is a sweet spot between too much and not enough.
- Respect the wind. The ocean wind is relentless. If it is in your face, you need more club. If it is behind you, dial it back. Read the conditions before you swing.
- Accept the outcome. This hole is all or nothing. Sometimes the ocean wins. Make your best swing and accept whatever happens. That is the spirit of Cypress Point.
Alister MacKenzie: The Architect
Dr. Alister MacKenzie was a British golf course architect who became one of the most influential designers in the history of the game. Born in Yorkshire, England in 1870, MacKenzie served as a surgeon in the Boer War before turning to golf course design. His two most famous courses — Cypress Point Club (1928) and Augusta National Golf Club (1933) — are consistently ranked among the greatest in the world.
MacKenzie believed that golf holes should present options and strategic choices rather than brute-force challenges. The 16th at Cypress Point is a perfect expression of this philosophy: the hole technically offers a safe layup route to the left, but the heroic carry over the ocean is so visually compelling that almost every golfer attempts it. MacKenzie understood that the best golf holes tempt you into greatness — or disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play the Cypress Point 16th hole online for free?
Yes. This page hosts a free, browser-based version of the famous Cypress Point 16th hole. There is no download, no sign-up, and no payment required. Click the Play button at the top of this page to start.
Is this the official Cypress Point Club golf game?
No. Let's Golf Online is an independent fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cypress Point Club, the PGA Tour, or any other golf organization. The real-world course reference is used descriptively to identify the hole we have recreated. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
What is the Cypress Point 16th?
The 16th hole at Cypress Point Club is a par 3 of approximately 230 yards that requires a forced carry over the Pacific Ocean. The tee sits on a cliff and the green occupies a rocky headland across an inlet. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful and dramatic holes in all of golf.
Why is the 16th hole at Cypress Point so difficult?
Three reasons: the 230-yard carry is entirely over ocean with no bailout, the Pacific wind is constant and unpredictable, and the green on the headland is not large and is guarded by bunkers and rocky terrain. A miss in any direction is catastrophic.
Do I need to download anything to play?
No. The game runs entirely in your browser. It works on desktop, tablet, and mobile phones. Any modern browser will work — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge.
What other holes can I play?
The full game includes 9 iconic real-world holes: Augusta 12th (Golden Bell), TPC Sawgrass 17th (Island Green), Pebble Beach 7th, St Andrews 17th (Road Hole), Royal Troon 8th (Postage Stamp), Royal County Down 4th, Banff Springs 4th (Devil's Cauldron), and North Berwick 15th (Redan) — plus a 9-hole fantasy course that regenerates every time you play. Visit the main page to play the full course list.
How far is the 16th hole at Cypress Point?
The 16th hole at Cypress Point plays at approximately 230 yards from the back tees. The entire distance is a forced carry over the Pacific Ocean. In headwinds, the effective playing distance can be significantly longer.
Who designed Cypress Point?
Cypress Point Club was designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the legendary British golf course architect who also designed Augusta National Golf Club. The course opened in 1928 on the Monterey Peninsula in California. MacKenzie considered it his finest work.
Can the public play Cypress Point?
No. Cypress Point Club is one of the most exclusive private golf clubs in the world. Membership is extremely limited and the course is not open to the public. It is rarely televised, which adds to its mystique. This free online recreation is one of the only ways to experience the famous 16th hole.
What was the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Cypress Point?
The Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (now the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) was a PGA Tour event that included Cypress Point in its course rotation from 1947 to 1990. During those years, the 16th hole was the signature moment of the television broadcast. The tournament left Cypress Point in 1991, and the course has been almost entirely off-camera since.
What club do pros hit on the Cypress Point 16th?
On a calm day, most professionals hit a 3-iron or hybrid. Into the prevailing Pacific headwind, it can require a 3-wood or even a driver for a 230-yard par 3. Club selection on this hole is more variable than almost any other par 3 in championship golf.
Is there a free Cypress Point golf simulator I can play in my browser?
Yes. This page is exactly that — a free, Cypress Point-inspired recreation of the 16th hole that runs in your browser. No download, no account, no payment. Click the Play button at the top of this page to start. For more holes, the main game at letsgolf.online also includes Augusta National's 12th hole, TPC Sawgrass's 17th island green, and a 9-hole fantasy mode.