Each year during the Players Championship spectators gather at the 17th hole of the TPC at Sawgrass to see who will sink or swim. With water awaiting a miss in any direction, the tee shot is indeed a scary one—especially if the wind is blowing.

The 17th at the Old Course at St. Andrews may be the only hole in the world that requires players to drive over a building in order to reach the fairway. Terror awaits at the green in the form of a devilish bunker from which even the best players may need several strokes to escape.

These and 98 other confounding, challenging holes—selected by noted golf writer Chris Millard as the toughest in the world—are the subject of this engaging, informative golf book. First-rate photography brings out the beauty to be found in these beasts. In putting together this authoritative list and explaining what makes each hole so difficult, Millard draws upon his own knowledge as well as statistical data and consultations with other experts. His choices will be spur discussion and debate among avid golfers for years to come.

Chris Millard is a veteran observer of the game of golf. A former editor at Golf World magazine and GOLF Magazine Properties, his work has also appeared in Golf Digest and The New York Times. In 2002, after serving as director of communications for Jack Nicklaus and Golden Bear International, he coauthored Nicklaus’ treatise on golf course design, Nicklaus By Design: Golf Course Strategy and Architecture. Mr. Millard lives in Atlanta.