FOR OAKMONT # 9...2 Things...A shift in thinking...and learn a couple of basic shots.
SHIFT IN THINKING
Green In Regulation is a False Prophet and BIRDIE is a Mythical Fallacy. Divorce your usual thinking from thinking that these are goals to achieve on this hole - or you will be 3 and 4 putting.
Treat these holes as many of us treat BPB #5 and BPB # 15 - PLAY FOR PAR. (Yes, occasional Birdies HAVE AND DO occur on those holes...and they will here also....but they will come primarily from off the green.
GIR is generally a goal we strive for as it leads to a consistent game and lower scores. BIRDIEs also fall in line with that same general concept.
ON OAKMONT # 9 HOWEVER, these two concepts are like the $100 you see lying on the sidewalk - and just as you reach for it, the invisible string yanks it 10 feet away. And again. and again. How many times will you reach for it before you get the message that it won't happen? Same thing with the idea of a BIRDIE here. Landing the second shot on the Green on this hole most usually leads to a miserable ultimate outcome (i.e. a 5 6 or 7 for the hole). FORGET IT. FOCUS ON PAR for now.
BOTTOM LINE: For this hole, forget the conventional wisdom regarding Green In Regulation as your 3rd shot is much more resourcefully used as described in A below.
SHOTS TO LEARN
A. The short wedge shot for the 3rd shot - this means your second shot is a LAYUP to the fairway JUST SHORT of the ROUGH or Bunker OR EVEN into the ROUGH or Bunker if you are comfortable playing from there (this is what I do).
IF YOU CAN BECOME REASONABLY CONSISTENT** WITH THIS SHOT, YOU WILL STOP BOGEYING THIS HOLE AND YOU WILL HAVE A MORE CONSISTENT PAR.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE FROM MY REPLAYS:
# 9 - LEARN THIS SHOT TO MAKE PAR HERE
http://www.wgt.com/gameclient.aspx?view=showReplay&JSON={%20"GUID"%20:%20"e61acf27-1780-428f-9ec2-9d8c003949fe",%20"Brand"%20:%20"undefined"%20}
B. Fairly often, a less-than-perfect execution of A above, will leave the ball 6-8 feet RIGHT OR LEFT of the Hole. You will see this putt often. Yes, I realize it is right up against a steep-breaking hump located just uphill from the cup. YES I realize the way the putting grid "beads" are moving appears IMPOSSIBLE....BUT....This putt CAN be made with some PRACTICE. The two putts 6-8 feet RIGHT or LEFT of the cup are somewhat SIMILAR but not necessarily identical due to variations in the green. LEARN to play your putt against that hard break just uphill from the cup - it can actually HELP YOU ROLL THE BALL IN WITH SOME PRACTICE.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE FROM MY REPLAYS:
# 9 - LEARN THIS PUTT TO MAKE PAR HERE
http://www.wgt.com/gameclient.aspx?view=showReplay&JSON={%20"GUID"%20:%20"5b2674f0-2bf9-4867-8f05-9d940145a17f",%20"Brand"%20:%20"undefined"%20}
If you can put together a game where you can execute these shots consistently your round totals will start to come down.
A WORD ON GEAR...Everyone has different GEAR...but the basics apply universally - whatever your gear of choice is, you can learn to make shots like these. Everyone will have different "adjustments" or preferences they prefer (i.e. some intentionally like to strike the ball just off the centerline, some like to backspin and so forth) - FOR YOUR GEAR AND YOUR PLAY STYLE, THESE SHOTS CAN BE LEARNED - but only through PRACTICE can you figure them out for yourself. There is no universal magic answer.
I have not given away any State Secrets here - because the key overall will still be PRACTICE and honing these shots to a REASONABLY CONSISTENT** outcome each time.
So once again it all comes down to some practice and feel.
(** Why is REASONABLY CONSISTENT with two **s following it? Because NO ONE is perfect. I miss these shots occasionally and mis-hit them. We all will....but I will take 3 out of 4 on these ANY DAY.)
PLAY ON, AtlantaCoaster