It’s easy to get too far in the weeds on some architectural concepts, but risk-reward holes are rather simple. They present golfers choices and ask them to make decisions about how to play the hole based on a calculation of what tactic might give them the most realistic chance of making a low score.

Players are making such decisions this week on the driveable par-4 15th at TPC River Highlands during the Travelers Championship. Many players choose to attack the green for a chance at eagle, but tightly mown runoff areas make getting up-and-down to the tiered green difficult. Water penalizes the left miss. Eagles, birdies and bogeys are all in play, making it one of the more exciting holes on the PGA Tour.

Risk-reward holes combine the challenge and decision-making that are the soul of the game, and though TPC River Highlands is private, there are plenty of similarly excellent holes at courses open for public play. Check out our collection of the 15 best risk-reward holes at courses everybody can play.