Best First Green in American Championship Golf

[Matt_Ward]

I simply marvel at the special qualities that are the hallmark of the 1st green at WF West. The putting surface has a number of internal contours and different sections that call upon the ultimate examination for those starting there round.

I would also add the 1st at Augusta National and the 1st at Oakmont would also be a main contender. There maybe others but unless someone can name one that is more complete than the 1st at Winged Foot / West I will certainly stand by and wait for any poster who can offer a better alternative.

[Dan Kelly]

Matt --

Could you be specific? What are the "special qualities" of that 1st green at WFW that makes it the ultimate test?

Dan

[Matt_Ward]

Dan:

Good question ...

For starters -- there are a wide variety of solid pin placements. Sometimes holes are relegated to only one or two key placements at best. Not here.

In addition, there is plenty of room but never enough for a sloppy approach. The further you go into the green the more the contours will wreak havoc -- especially when the pin is cut towards the front.

The '74 tale of Nicklaus putting it nearly off the green after hitting the target in regulation only adds to its overall lore.

I would place Augsta's and Oakmont's high on my list but the 1st at WF / West forces you to pay particular attention no matter whether you hit it with your second shot in regulation or your third as you battle to save par.

Dan -- one other thing -- the green is pushed up as others are at the West but the opening in front is quite generous for a run-up shot should someone go that route. I can only hope the folks at NBC and particularly Johnny Miller will speak about the green because it is a real gem indeed.

[Tom_Doak]

Matt:

If they hosted championships, Crystal Downs' first green would kick Winged Foot West's first green back into the also-rans.

[Mike_Young]

Matt:

If they hosted championships, Crystal Downs' first green would kick Winged Foot West's first green back into the also-rans.

ditto

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom Doak,

Ah, but would it kick NGLA's ?  

Dan Kelly,

Don't you read or watch TV ?

The coverage on this year's U.S. Open has been extensive.

Are you preparing for winter after a brief golf season in Minnesota ?

[Glenn Spencer]

I don't know if you would call it championship or not, but the first green at Moraine is the scariest I have ever played. I don't even think about making 4,5 or whatever until my ball is in the hole.

[James Bennett]

I wish I'd seen Winged Foot West, and Crystal Downs but I didn't/couldn't/too far away etc etc.

Best first green that I have seen - Plainfield.  A relatively 'simple' green, apart from the 7 feet of elevation change from front left to back right.  I played to a front left pin - that was interesting.  Playing to the back right pin would be challenging.

The caddie at Plainfield explained that Mr Ross had set a strong test that started at the start - you ebtter be ready for the first few holes at Plainfield as there is no warm-up hole.

They have played 'Championships' at Plainfield, just not the mens US Open.

James B

[Bill Shotzbarger]

The caddie at Plainfield explained that Mr Ross had set a strong test that started at the start - you ebtter be ready for the first few holes at Plainfield as there is no warm-up hole.

James B

The first green at my Ross course (Torresdale Frankford in Philly) is the same way. It slopes severely from back to front and is one of the hardest on the course to two-putt, especially from above the hole. I've always thought that Ross did this to immediately warn the golfer about being past the pin on the back to front greens we have.

[Dan Kelly]

Dan Kelly,

Don't you read or watch TV ?

The coverage on this year's U.S. Open has been extensive.

In fact, I both read and watch TV, on occasion.

I haven't seen, on TV, Matt Ward's views of the 1st green at WFW, and I haven't read his views of the special qualities of the 1st green at WFW in any of the pre-Open articles.

And, of course, it was his views I was soliciting!

Are you preparing for winter after a brief golf season in Minnesota ?

We are always preparing for winter in Minnesota.

[ForkaB]

We are always preparing for winter in Minnesota.

Dan

Is it so bad that you prepare for winter even in winter itself?!  If so, here's another vote for global warming......

Rich

[Patrick_Mucci]

Dan Kelly,

The entire media universe has been discussing the 1st green including Brad Klein and others on this site.

Are you sure you haven't been watching the cartoon network and reading the funny papers ?

[Dan Kelly]

Dan Kelly,

The entire media universe has been discussing the 1st green including Brad Klein and others on this site.

Are you sure you haven't been watching the cartoon network and reading the funny papers ?

1. Where would I have found Matt Ward's views?

2. No. I've mostly been reading that inane Michelle Wie thread!

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Matt, you nailed 3 pretty strong opening greens. WFW is one great course with incredible green complexes.

[Matt_Ward]

Tom D:

And if the queen had b*lls she'd be the king. The thread is on courses that do host major championships here in the States -- not the ones that will never.

James B:

I too am a big fan of Plainfield -- but hosting the US Amateur and the Women's Open is not a men's major.

Tiger B:

I can't think of any opening hole that regularly hosts majors here in the States that's remotely close. Don't be surprised to see many of the key figures this weekend 3-jack the hole to start the round in a poor fashion.

[Tom_Doak]

Matt:

That is a very clever way of saying you've never been to Crystal Downs.

Why limit the discussion to twenty courses?

[Matt_Ward]

Sorry to bust your bubble Tom -- I have played Crystal Downs and while I am a huge fan of what is there -- I defined this thread in a particular fashion because I well know that people would throw forward outstanding candidates from those facilities that have never hosted a major -- Crystal being one of them.

Like I said -- WF / West takes the cake in my mind -- the opening green is truly the way to understand what lies ahead when playing there.

[Don Scott]

Tom D:

Good question.

So then, what is the best first green in American golf?

[Tom_Doak]

Matt:  My bubble is pretty big, it would take a lot more than that to burst it.    But thanks for trying.

Don:

There are different ways to define "best" depending on your tastes.  I think Crystal Downs is probably the fiercest opening green in golf, especially coming at the end of a long par-4 that often plays into the wind.  That's why I brought it up even though it didn't fit Matt's defintion.  If you miss the green anywhere but short and left of center, it's a good result just to get your next shot to stay on the green anywhere, and then you've still got a difficult two-putt for bogey.

Pat Mucci referenced the first green at National and it's certainly an eye-opener; with certain hole locations it may be the most severe opening green in golf.  But you are going to be about 150 yards closer to it with your tee shot than at Crystal Downs.  We'll have to get Patrick to Crystal Downs someday to see what he thinks of their relative merits, since Matt won't comment on non-championship greens.

I'll have to think through some of the other possibilities.  The first green at Prairie Dunes is not a good place to be above the hole, as I recall.  And the first green at Pine Valley is really not a good place to miss to either side.

[Matt_Ward]

Tom:

Hold the phone good buddy -- I never said I won't comment on non-major 1st green sites. However, please note the tag line for THIS thread.

If there's desire to start another thread with that in mind please feel free to kick one off.

Like I said -- WF / West is still numero uno for me in major championship settings.

[Don Scott]

Tom,

I was thinking the same exact thing. For a right to left player, the first at Pine Valley does not really inspire confidence, yet don't you agree that being left of center is the best angle in. And isn't that the beauty of that green; that the green doesn't fit/match the tee shot?

[Tom_Doak]

It is duly noted on the USGA's web site that in round 1, the field averaged 2.10 putts per golfer on the first green ... about 0.3 higher than on any of the other greens.  If that holds up for four rounds, then it ought to get some kind of award, though it will be presented by a player with gritted teeth.

[Jordan Wall]

Matt:

If they hosted championships, Crystal Downs' first green would kick Winged Foot West's first green back into the also-rans.

What about that first green at Friars Head??

[Matt_Ward]

Jordan:

I know you're young and a very avid golfer -- but just check out the title of this thread. Has Friar's Head had a major event thus far and I am not aware of it serving in the host role?

I'm simply speaking about courses that have hosted majors in the USA.

[wsmorrison]

The entire exercise of determining a "best" is a waste of time.  Why don't we spend more effort talking about ones we highly regard and why we regard them instead of a circle jerk on what is best?  The ranker must rank I guess.

Should a first green be the hardest from a design perspective?  I'd like to hear the ideas (if there is one) of architects that contribute to our site (thankfully).  

I'll contribute something after I take my boys for haircuts.