What a view: The best 19th holes to watch golfers finish their rounds

I don't know about you, but my favorite post-round hangouts are where I can grab a drink and watch other groups finish up on 18.

These perches allow me to channel my inner Johnny Miller, critiquing every move from golfers coming home. Who limped in? Who made the clutch shot to close out the match? It's all on display. Some golfers hate being watched for fear of being heckled. Others embrace the challenge.

There are lots of great "19th holes" in golf, but only a handful offer this intimate view of the final hole I love, where spectators can feel like they're part of the action.

Here are some of the best I've found, where golf groups can gather to watch their buddies. If you have further suggestions, add them to the comments below:

You can't get closer to the action than the veranda of the main clubhouse at Pinehurst. This new bar and restaurant overlooks the 18th hole of Pinehurst No. 2. If you stare at the nearby statue of Payne Stewart long enough, maybe you can hear the roars from his par-saving putt to win the 1999 U.S. Open.

As much as I love the shrimp and grits at this restaurant inside the famous Wynn tower, it is the view from the patio that makes the meal. The finishing par 4 ends at a cascading waterfall that feeds a pond in front of the green. The reported shuttering of the golf course hasn't happened yet, so play it while you can.

I vividly recall the fear I felt looking at my approach shot to the 18th green at Caledonia a few years ago. Not only was I afraid of the marsh guarding the green, but also I saw all those spectators lounging on the verandah. Instead of stepping it up, I stunk it up, drowning my iron shot.

Porch at Caledonia

Yes, I know. Everybody gathers at the Tap Room inside the Lodge at Pebble Beach post-golf. But if you want a great view and a pretty good lunch, head to the patio at Stillwater overlooking Stillwater Cove and that famous par-5 finishing hole at Pebble Beach.

The views of Lake Tahoe and the snowcapped Sierras are so distracting that it's easy to forget about the golfers three-putting the tricky 18th green, the end of a risk-reward par 5 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. The menu ranges from the half-pound sirloin burger to taco truck tacos.

This rotunda bar serves up the 18th green and the Atlantic Ocean right outside. If you really want to get close to the action (the golf and the waves), take a drink out to the Adirondack chairs near the putting green. The sunsets pair well with the She Crab Soup.

As if the rolling Hill Country just outside downtown wasn't scenic enough, the patio overlooks the inspiring final hole, a perfectly landscaped 490-yard par 4 featuring an 80-foot downhill slope that finishes at the clubhouse and a waterfall-fed, rock-lined lake. The menu at Palmer Grille at La Cantera Golf Clubhas a southwestern flair.

If you can catch some good weather, the fire pits behind this luxurious hotel are ideal for hanging out and watching golf on the dramatic final par 4 that follows the ocean cliffs at Half Moon Bay. You can order food and drink from the Ocean Terrace restaurant. The only caveat is these spots tend to be filled with families and non-golfing guests, so getting a prime seat is tough.

The fire pits on the Old course at Half Moon Bay

There is no better place to catch a sunset on Lake Michigan. A bagpiper at dusk helps set the mood. Indoor seating also overlooks Arcadia Bluffs' final hole, a 439-yard par 4 that climbs 50 feet through the dunes to the clubhouse. The Lakeview Room is a more casual option. If you want to get close to the action, grab an Adirondack chair near the green.

The patio of this restaurant isn't right on top of the green of the famous 663-yard closing par 5 on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort like some of the other choices in this story, but the views of the ocean and mountains are still too good to pass up.

The best part about Tufted Puffin is its relaxed atmosphere, where you can savor a drink and watch your mates battle the 18th hole on the original course at Bandon Dunes. A warm welcome and warm fire greet any weather-battered, walking-weary souls.

Bandon Dunes

Scottsdale is loaded with 19th holes with great views of the closing hole, but it's hard not to go wrong with a table on the patio of the Dynamite Grille overlooking the final hole on the Pinnacle Course at Troon North. For another great one, head to TPC Scottsdale.