Oakmont's #12

[Ryan Farrow]

I never should have brought driver to the 17th tee---that was plain dumb.

Those thoughts were also running though my mind when I too shanked my drive right on 17. Did you end up in Big Mouth?


It sounds like you guys really had a blast. I would imagine some people would have a miserable time navigating through all those deep bunkers.

I was surprised that the course was so much fun to play but then again it was my first experience with firm and fast and I had no problem getting out of the bunkers or rolling the ball.

[wsmorrison]

Ryan,

I've rarely been on a course that isn't fun to play.  With Oakmont's outstanding architecture, look, maintenance practices, grasses, etc it is unique and wonderful...just like its bookend on the eastern side of the state.  I cannot fathom why people wouldn't want to play Oakmont everyday.  I wouldn't play from the back tees everytime out but there are plenty of tee locations that make the course playable for everyone.  I happened to drive the ball extremely well that day (save for the couple of hiccups that Tom was so kind to point out) but made 3 birdies and lots of pars to make up for the miscues.  Firm and fast through the green, firm greens with high speed make for a lot of fun.  I think when people play there and play poorly, they blame the course and not themselves.  Make no mistake--it is a hard course and demands very accurate tee shots but it is also a blast to play with great greens and fun recoveries around the greens.  The almost complete lack of trees within the course opens up lots of terrific views, with great play of light late in the day and unimpeded wind.  This course, like its cross state sister, is a model for outstanding design integrated with proper maintenance practices.

[Ryan Farrow]

There is no doubt for me that Oakmont looks a lot more brutal then it plays. I was hitting some quality shots and driving the ball extremely well though.

The fairways do provide plenty of room and the course plays a lot shorter than the yardage book. For example I had a 9 iron into 15 which was playing something like 440 + yards. And I usually drive the ball about 240-250 with no roll. All the fun is in the options though, for the first time I was able to run the ball onto greens or use a slope to knock an approach shot close. I have really grown tired of approach less greens and soggy fairways. But there are still a good variety of holes like 5,6,11, and 13 that force a well executed and accurate shot. The greens on the other hand speak for themselves. Did you guys find them to be overly fast? I played later in the day so they slowed down a little but I luckily found myself with quite a few up hillers.

It was nice to finally enjoy a round (or half) on a brilliantly designed golf course.

[TEPaul]

Ryan:

In my opinion, the greens of Oakmont speed-wise are a little mysterious. The other day they played fast, and probably really fast for most people, but our host said they were probably only around 10 1/2, and I believe him (he ought to know ).

But I think the deal with Oakmont's greens, unlike most every other golf course, is they are a real 10 1/2---the kind of real 10 1/2 which 98% of the world's golfers would swear are about 13 or more.  

But at the "real" 10 1/2 when Oakmont runs it, with uphill putts you still have to rap harder than one might think, flat putts are OK but some of the sidehill and downhill putts you really need to be super, extra careful with or they can get way, way away from you in a heartbeat.

"Ball Creep", you know?

Personally, as I've always heard, Oakmont's greenspeed plays a cheap trick on you because some of the putts on the practice putting green can basically scare you to death BEFORE you go out on the golf course.

[Ryan Farrow]

As far as the actual green speeds go I can not comment on that  

But as you mentioned they are tricky. I was overly cautious with my first putt on #10 which was uphill, I gave it a little tap but it went nowhere and led to a 3 putt. You really need to give them a good roll or you will come up very short every time. When the green is flat the speeds are IMO perfect. I don't like the trickling downhill putts as much but surprisingly didn’t let any of them get away. Most of the down hillers were only in the 5-6 ft. range so I got off the hook this time.



Does and entire thread dedicated #12 make it your favorite hole on the course? What are the best par 3’s, 4’s, or 5’s in your opinion.

Also what did you guys think of #9? When the pin is tucked in the front right corner its one of my favorite holes on the course

[TEPaul]

"Does an entire thread dedicated #12 make it your favorite hole on the course?"

I didn't exactly think of it that way when I wrote the thread but now that you ask, I guess it does, and why not? That hole just has so much neat stuff going on from tee to hole out. There are just so many things one can apparently do option-wise and strategically why wouldn't it be my favorite? And I can find nothing wrong with it at all.

Matter of fact, maybe I should just say it's probably one of the very best and most interesting and challenging par 5s I've ever seen anywhere.

I don't believe there is a single weak or even remotely mundane hole on Oakmont and probably not a single one that's even that easy to par, particularly now that they're playing #9 as a par 4.

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