At the 2023 John Deere Classic, Sepp Straka delivered an impressive performance, notching five birdies and an eagle on the front nine at TPC Deere Run, carding a 7-under 28. Following a par-putt on the 10th, Straka added another four consecutive birdies. While his stellar play made the course appear deceptively easy, the reality is quite different.

The TPC Deere Run course in Illinois is a par-71, 7,289-yard layout that features scenic natural beauty, including rolling terrain along the Rock River, oak trees, ponds, and ravines. The course’s highlight is its challenging mix of holes: three par-5s, four par-3s, and eleven par-4s that the 2024 John Deere Classic will be played on. Particularly notable is the par-4 15th, which ended Straka’s birdie streak.

The par-4 15th, the Coaltown, headlines the challenge at the John Deere Classic

“Probably the toughest hole on the back nine,” admits the course on its official website, referring to the long and narrow green of the 15th, surrounded by sand and trees. Known as ‘The Coaltown,’ this 484-yard, par-4 hole is dedicated to the immigrants who worked at the Silvis Coal Mines.

Coming to another challenge that the layout provides, the par-4, 14th, also known as the Deere Run, is the “ultimate risk/reward hole.” There is a high risk of the ball veering left after driving, landing in the “valley of sin” which is “a tightly-mowed area that will leave you with a blind shot to a small, well-protected green.” This hole is dedicated to Bob Wright, a copywriter for the Gardner Agency, known for the famous tagline “Nothing Runs Like A Deere.”

While the 15th is considered the toughest on the back nine, all the par-3s, including Stone House (No. 3), Timber Ridge (No. 7), Master Stroke (No. 12), and Mother Earth (No. 16), are known for their difficulty due to their longer-than-average lengths.

The par-5 holes, meanwhile, are the longest on the course, with Colonel Davenport (No. 2), Cor-Ten (No. 10), and Stadium (No. 17) all ranging between 550-600 yards. However, the “signature hole” of the John Deere Classic is the par-3, No. 16.

The Signature Hole at the TPC Deere Run

This 158-yard, par-3 hole sits 40 feet above the Rock River, bordered on the left and surrounded by a deep ravine in the front and a large bunker to the right, making it an extremely challenging hole despite its short length. Straka, in the 2023 John Deere Classic, failed to make a birdie on this hole over four days, managing only par-putts each time.

The 2024 John Deere Classic will kick off on Thursday, July 4, and conclude on Sunday, July 7, at TPC Deere Run. Golfers, including the defending champion, will face the challenges of this D.A. Weibring-designed course, renowned for its risk-reward layout. The anticipation is high as players aim to conquer the greens and take home the title.