2012 US Open at Olympic Club Discussion Thread

[Mr3Wiggle]

That's a great sight.  Good pics of each approach.  Aerial illustrations.  Flyovers.  There's even something about playing a virtual round.  Darn Flash, I'll have to wait till I get home.

[zipazoid]

One of the unique traits of Olympic are fairways that slope the opposite of the hole shape. For example, a dogleg left with a left-to-right sloping fairway & vice versa.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Not sure what you're seeing, but just aim at the tree on the right side, and the ball will ricochet onto the green.  Easy peasy.

Edit: the 17th looks pretty interesting.  Short-ish par 5, but the fairway slopes left-to-right, and the tee box has been moved to the left.  So that sounds like it calls for a draw?  But does left-to-right slope mean it slopes up from left-to-right or down from left-to-right?

Brandon

Looks like the trick to 17 is lots of slope.  And it also usually plays into a headwind.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

One of the unique traits of Olympic are fairways that slope the opposite of the hole shape. For example, a dogleg left with a left-to-right sloping fairway & vice versa.

No "speed slots" there.  Very tricky.  That combined with 6 inch rough is going to make for some really embarrassing numbers.

[brocks]

That 18th hole isn't driveable. Look at the approach to the green:

I didn't say you or I could do it. [VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGErdxFu4C0[/VIDEO] [VIDEO]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QOqyAw7oU[/VIDEO] (at 1:25)

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by brocks

I didn't say you or I could do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGErdxFu4C0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QOqyAw7oU

(at 1:25)

I'm sure some of those guys have the length to do it.  I'll be very surprised if one of them tries.  Seems like an easy bogey or double bogey if you miss that green and land in the 6 inch rough.  Even if you are close in 1.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

No "speed slots" there.  Very tricky.  That combined with 6 inch rough is going to make for some really embarrassing numbers.

Right. I remember the last time the Open was there in 1998 the pros specifically bitching about #17. You couldn't keep a drive in the fairway due to the slope - they'd land it on the left edge & it would kick sharply to the right & settle in the right rough. You gotta hit it right-to-left & run it 'up' the slope & hope it doesn't roll out to the right rough.

[Hoganwoods]

I personally didn't like the easy setup last year. I like it when if you finish -1 you win.

[Zwick]

It really would surprise me if the winning score would be under par, especially after last year's scores. But they have to walk the fine line between "hard, but fair" and "omg, omg, crazy hard". Really hope they get it right.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by Hoganwoods

I personally didn't like the easy setup last year. I like it when if you finish -1 you win.

I think Congressional is a crap course.  I'm from Maryland too, so I'm not just hating.  One of the worst setups I've ever seen was the one Els won there.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by Zwick

It really would surprise me if the winning score would be under par, especially after last year's scores. But they have to walk the fine line between "hard, but fair" and "omg, omg, crazy hard". Really hope they get it right.

It's shaping up to be insanely difficult.

6 inch rough

Longest par 5 in US Open history

Arguably the toughest opening 6 holes in major golf history

If those fairways and greens are playing really firm, I think even par is a winning number.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by Zwick

It really would surprise me if the winning score would be under par, especially after last year's scores. But they have to walk the fine line between "hard, but fair" and "omg, omg, crazy hard". Really hope they get it right.

Don't hold your breath -

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by brocks

I didn't say you or I could do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGErdxFu4C0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QOqyAw7oU

(at 1:25)

@ 1:19

Worst.  Fist.  Pump.  Ever.

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Don't hold your breath -

Appropriately titled video.  Wow.

Brandon

[turtleback]

So if the fairways tilt opposite to the direction of the hole does that making being able to shape your tee shots in either direction more critical?

Making #1 a par 5 doesn't really make it a tougher hole, just changes expectations.  When it was a par 5 presumably everyone played it in such a way as to minimize their score  As a par 4 they need the mental discipline to do the same thing.  Nothing has changed except a number on the scorecard.   As a par 5 some guys would have hit an iron off the tee, hit a perfect lay-up, and tried to pitch and putt for their 4.  Will they have the mental discipline to do that when it is labeled a par 4?  That is the question.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by turtleback

So if the fairways tilt opposite to the direction of the hole does that making being able to shape your tee shots in either direction more critical?

Making #1 a par 5 doesn't really make it a tougher hole, just changes expectations.  When it was a par 5 presumably everyone played it in such a way as to minimize their score  As a par 4 they need the mental discipline to do the same thing.  Nothing has changed except a number on the scorecard.   As a par 5 some guys would have hit an iron off the tee, hit a perfect lay-up, and tried to pitch and putt for their 4.  Will they have the mental discipline to do that when it is labeled a par 4?  That is the question.

For me, the slopes not matching the doglegs would make the holes play longer.  I love a good hard dog leg left with a fairway sloping right to left.  Hitting a hard draw there gets you a ton of roll and makes me feel like the fairway is a lot wider.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Here's a decent write up I just saw on the place:

"The yardage at 7154 and par 70 may seem short but Davis agrees with many that the course will play longer because of the proxmity to the Pacific Ocean which includes heavy air and prevailing winds off the ocean. Davis likes the Olympic Club because it requires players to work the ball in both right and left directions event with tee shots. Several holes feature dog-legs where the slope of the fairway is opposite to the dog-leg. The 4th hole dog-legs to the left, but the fairway slopes to the right and number 5 is a dog-leg right and the slope is to the left."

http://www.hookedongolf.com/blog.php?blog_id=321

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

For me, the slopes not matching the doglegs would make the holes play longer.  I love a good hard dog leg left with a fairway sloping right to left.  Hitting a hard draw there gets you a ton of roll and makes me feel like the fairway is a lot wider.

That makes me think of 15 at Augusta.  Or is it 13?

It sounds like this hole is the opposite of that, which I wouldn't even know how to play.  I'm guessing the ideal play is something high that lands softly.  But my driver shot is kinda low and rolls out a lot.  The more it rolls, the more likely to end up in the rough, right?

Brandon

[Aquaguru]

I think Stricker may have a good shot at this one.  You don't need to be too long, but you must be extremely accurate.  Of course if Tiger plays his irons like he did at Memorial he also has a good shot.