Erin Hills (1, 2 and 3 pictures)

[Dan Moore]

Jason didn't pull out his camera until the fourth so here are couple of shots of 1, 2 and 3 to fill in his series.

1 from the tee.  Lots of room right of the bunker set into the ridge.  2nd shot landing zone is on top of ridge above and right of the bunkers.  Green visible to left of the tree.  Marshy area all along the left is very close to the green site.  


Landing zone for 2nd shot on top of the ridge.  Plenty of room.  1st tee located by the red canopy.  


2 from behind green to the right.  Fairway winds between the hill on the right and left.  2nd tee is behind hill on the right in the photo about 50 yards back into the marsh along the 1st hole.  


2 green from right.  Photos do not show how small and raised this green is.  Tough green to hit with plenty of recovery options.  Very neat hole.  Championship tee for 3rd on top of hill in background of this shot about 70 yards left of the blue tees.


View of the 3rd from 20 yds left of blue tee.  Line of of championship tees is even farther left.  


3 from behind.  Blue tee located between the two trees atop the hill in distance.  Championship tee on hill to far right.  

[Eric_Terhorst]

Dan,

Thanks for the pics.  1 and 2 are hard to forget but your pic of 3 helps me recall that hole.

What club did you play into the second shot landing zone on #1?

[Phil McDade]

Dan:

Thoughts on No. 1? It has come under criticism by some here on GCA due to its tee shot's "Bog"-like appearance; a recent thread wondered if the hole might also work as a par 4, with a presumably blind tee shot over the ridge. I presume that takes out the risk-reward nature of cutting the dogleg and taking on the big tree.

[Jason Blasberg]

Jason didn't pull out his camera until the fourth so here are couple of shots of 1, 2 and 3 to fill in his series.

1 from the tee.  Lots of room right of the bunker set into the ridge.  2nd shot landing zone is on top of ridge above and right of the bunkers.  Green visible to left of the tree.  Marshy area all along the left is very close to the green site.  

I blocked my tee shot right, hacked out about 40 yards but still had a go at the green by hooking a 3 wood around to the right of the left tree which was directly inbetween me and the green.  

Has anyone played the hole from down the inside left of the fairway and if so, can it be reached in two by going to the left of the tree and playing a heroic carry over the marsh?

I must think a long hitter can do that and if so it's likely the most under appreciated aspect of the entire golf course (since many here criticize #1 and that tree).

 

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am on the fense about 2. It is the kind of hole I should like. I feel unless one really bombs a drive the high percentage of blind 2nd shots to such a tiny green makes one think the hole is pushing it a bit.

[Dan Moore]

Tiger,

I think its much easier to carry the hill on the left to get the open straight in shot at the green than one might think.  You even might get the advantage of a little turbo boost. A couple of the guys I was with did it with plenty of room to spare and were inside 100 yds as a result.   I agree the blind second at an angle to the narrowest of greens is really tough, but the options and some tricky, yet fun up and downs win out in my mind.  

Jason,  

No one I was with or watched tried to go for the green in two from the lower fairway.  A few attacked the narrow area beyond the tree for a easy wedge in.  I was in the left rough both days so all I could do was get a long iron or hybrid over the ridge to a safe area.  

It seems like there is a little drainage problem between the first tee and fairway.  Once they get that fixed and landscaped the hole will look a lot better.