Oakmont advice

[John Mayhugh]

I'm one of the guys lucky enough to be playing in the outing at Oakmont on Monday.  I'm familiar with most of the course from reading & the recent US Open.  My main goal is to enjoy the total experience, but I'm wondering if there's any feature or shot in particular I should be sure NOT to miss.  Any advice from those that have played there?

[Bill_McBride]

If it's wet, DON'T hit tee shots into the rough.

DON'T hit your second shot behind the hole on #2.

DO enjoy the downhill approach shots to fall away greens on #1, #10 and #12.

DO pay attention to the caddy reading your putts; if you start it on line, the greens are so true you will make some.

DO practice putting on the back half of the huge #9 green, but try not to let one get away downhill, it might wind up among the group actually putting on #9!  (The greens are that fast!)

DO try to avoid the Church Pew bunkers on #3 and #4, but hopefully somebody in your group won't so you'll get to see but not experience that thrill!

Have a great day, John, it's a wonderful old course.

[Bill Brightly]

Try to stay above the hole so u dont miss the downhill putt experience.

[Powell Arms]

Try to stay above the hole so u dont miss the downhill putt experience.

just ram it in the back of the hole, right?

[igrowgrass]

Whatever the distance you have left to the green on #10, take three less clubs.

[cary lichtenstein]

I'm one of the guys lucky enough to be playing in the outing at Oakmont on Monday.  I'm familiar with most of the course from reading & the recent US Open.  My main goal is to enjoy the total experience, but I'm wondering if there's any feature or shot in particular I should be sure NOT to miss.  Any advice from those that have played there?

Putt out everything and let us know your score and your handicap afterwards.

[John Mayhugh]

Thanks for the advice so far.  

Cary, if I putt everything out we may run out of daylight, but I'm going to try.  

Bill B, I can assure you I'll have at least one putt from above the hole.  Won't even have to try!  I may hit a few lag putts on my hardwood floor just to get ready for that.

Bill M, we're set to start on #4.  Given that 3 will be our last hole of the day and assuming I won't have a great round going at that point, I may spend a little time worshipping in the church pews.

Sean, you mean don't fly it to the hole on 10??

[Adam_Messix]

The one thing that I always keep coming back to about Oakmont is the amount of internal fairway slope on many of the holes in the driving zone.  I have on occasion hit a drive that I thought would be in the fairway and see it roll into the rough.  The rough at Oakmont is to be avoided particularly if it's wet.  

The other big point is if you are in a fairway bunker, GET IT OUT even if that means going sideways.  They are very deep.  

[Jim Franklin]

Whatever the distance you have left to the green on #10, take three less clubs.

Sage advice. Adhere to this on #1 too.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Remember that bogey is a good score.

[wsmorrison]

Please try to take into account how many blind shots there were in the days of less technology (notice the white aiming poles behind a number of greens) and how many shots are blind today.

I would consider very carefully the design of the 12th hole.  In my mind, it rivals the 3rd at Philadelphia Country for one of the most interesting long par 5s in American golf.

Spend some time on the warm-up green (integrates with the 9th green) to get a feel for the speed.  I play on a course that has high green speeds all the time weather allows, but it was a big help none the less.

Some of those bunkers are deep and steep.  Just getting out is often the wise play.  It is easy to try and recover with the perfect shot but fail.  Take your medicine and go for bogey.

If you have a good caddie, listen to them.  Less club on 1 and 12 as well.  I hope it is firm and fast!  Enjoy.

[Pete_Pittock]

John,
  Look at Oakmont in the courses section of GCA, or dredge up George Pazin's great hole by hole discussions from May and June.
  The rough should be wet, they had about 3" of rain the last few days.
  Lucky me. I start on #8.

[John Kavanaugh]

Tell everyone in the group that if this round takes more than 5.5 hours you will be kicking some ass.

What is the over/under on the time?  I'm going with 6 hours and 12 minutes.

[Powell Arms]

The thread which summarizes George's hole-by-hole threads for Oakmont is here.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=28758;start=msg554161#msg554161

John Kavanaugh - before I take "under" on your bet, please note that you may want to make an adjustment based on a noon shotgun.

[John Kavanaugh]

The thread which summarizes George's hole-by-hole threads for Oakmont is here.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=28758;start=msg554161#msg554161

John Kavanaugh - before I take "under" on your bet, please note that you may want to make an adjustment based on a noon shotgun.

Thanks...I see sunset is around 6:24 pm...I'm saying that they will escort people off the course as darkness approaches for safety reasons.  Revised time 6 hours 24 minutes.

I think an over/under of 5 hours 30 minutes would get some action.

[George Pazin]

The good news is that is should stop raining today, and by Monday will be as firm or firmer than pretty much any northeastern course in the US.

And the rough on #8 doesn't usually come into play unless you're too long (which is tough to do) or as far left as I often am (golf-wise, needless to say).

My 3 favorite shots: 1) approach to the 3rd green 2) approach to the 12th green and 3) approach to the 2nd green.

The 6th green looks impossibly canted, and the 8th impossibly small from so far away (it's actually pretty good size). Note from the tee how the bunker on #8 appears to front the green, and then note the 50 or so yards of approach area - very cool.

The view from the 12th tee is unbelievable. Then look back and see where the big boys played from - wow. Ask the caddy to point out the special back tee.

Other than that, I'd simply suggest you periodically stop, look around and take mental snapshots.

BTW, I posted dinner plans for Sunday on the other thread.

[John Kavanaugh]

Will they have marshalls to make sure everyone in the outing does not try the Tiger bunker shot on 17?  What are other memorable shots people will try?

[Jason Connor]

Whatever the distance you have left to the green on #10, take three less clubs.

Good advice. Learn which greens slope away from you when you're in the fairway.  2 and 10 come to mind.  And be sure to play short and run it up.

Also get a good caddie if you can.  He saved me 10 strokes.  And I shot 98 (putting 'em all out with a member) as a 15 handicap.


I remember my one trip to Oakmont fondly (Nov 1, 2001, a lovely fall day).  

My caddie had been the guy to carry the score placard thing in the '94 playoff.  And he's caddied for Juli Inkster in '92.  Great guy.

He told me how #10 frequently plays the toughest hole on the PGA Tour in years the U.S. Open comes through Oakmont.  I followed his advice and made a 4.  I had an 8-footer for a 3 but it just wouldn't fall.  My best memory from the round.

[Kyle Henderson]

My advice: Improve all aspects of your game, unlock all of your hidden golf potential, aim to score 10 strokes above normal, try not to sprain your face from smiling too widely or wildly, share all of the best/pertinent anecdotes with us after the experience (if you would be so kind).


Enjoy!

[Powell Arms]

The thread which summarizes George's hole-by-hole threads for Oakmont is here.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=28758;start=msg554161#msg554161

John Kavanaugh - before I take "under" on your bet, please note that you may want to make an adjustment based on a noon shotgun.

Thanks...I see sunset is around 6:24 pm...I'm saying that they will escort people off the course as darkness approaches for safety reasons.  Revised time 6 hours 24 minutes.

I think an over/under of 5 hours 30 minutes would get some action.

over, but I doubt that it will dimish the day's enjoyment

[John Kavanaugh]

I think it is going to be a great day but I also think it is poor planning to be teeing off at noon. People paying $500 bucks will revolt when they are told to vacate the course with one hole to play.

[Powell Arms]

I think it is going to be a great day but I also think it is poor planning to be teeing off at noon. People paying $500 bucks will revolt when they are told to vacate the course with one hole to play.

I figure they'll just invite us back on Tuesday to finish.

[Powell Arms]

In all seriousness, the Western PA Golf Association has done an excellent job to date of setting this up, communicating and answering questions.  

I am sure that the chamber of commerce weather was special ordered and that sunset will be delayed until our 18 is complete.  5:37 round.

[Mark_Fine]

If you study Oakmont carefully as you go around, you will see where George Crump got many of his ideas for Pine Valley  

[Pete_Pittock]

How much ammunition should I pack?

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