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Hardest Hole on WGT?

• chrisironsbones 3,524 Posts

  Wed, Feb 23 2011 6:20 AM

  Personaly, i feel Oakmont 9 is the hardest hole on WGT, most of the time due to the green i have to play my approach short, then use a wedge to get close on my 3rd shot, so i avoid the awkward steep bumpy slope to the left of the hole. Always a struggle just to break par.

  But does any one consistantly birdie this hole?  And if so (you must be a genius) have you any tips?

• Steelers75 239 Posts

  Wed, Feb 23 2011 8:26 AM

  BolloxinBruges was kind enough to publish some of his notes from Oakmont.  If it worked for him why not everyone else, right?

  Put your second shot in the bunker short of the pin.  Punching out of the bunker with full backspin is the trick to this hole.  I've made par many many time this way as the ball usually stops within 1 yrd of the hole.  I've also birdied this hole by punching 1-2 yrds past the hole and having the ball roll back.  Granted, with the variables of wind and ball type it takes practice.  It does work quite well.

  Best of luck!

  -Steel

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Wed, Feb 23 2011 8:30 AM

  WGTIcon (during Iconian's tenure) also published some killer notes here. Play for par. I did see an op in AS birdie it by getting on the green to the left of the bunker and chipping in but saw it as extremely lucky. You're talking 3 putt territory when you miss and wind up on the top shelf there. Is it worth it?

  For me BPB 8 owns me. I've given up trying to allow for the wind there and steer the shot by missing (which is hard as hell with the i15s and a guess on the deviation.). I can't recall ever dinging a shot that acted like it should have in the wind there when the pin is up. KIA 5 ranks a close second.  :-(

• Lmorgan007 408 Posts

  Thu, Apr 5 2012 4:56 AM

  Oakmont's 9th hole gets my vote

• JaLaBar 1,254 Posts

  Thu, Apr 5 2012 9:56 AM

  Of course, on some courses it depends on hole placement.  The three courses with what I consider the three hardest holes (OAK#9, BPB#15, STA#17) have different pin placements, and some are much harder than others.

  Prior to getting to the top clubs, I would have said BPB#15 every time.  That hole killed many a good round.  I was able to occasionally par the other two, but never BPB#15.  I once 3 putted from 5' on the front hole location.  But, once acquiring the higher loft, longer top-end clubs, BPB#15 became much less difficult.  And the same really applies for STA#17, though it becomes much, much harder once you move to the Legend tees.  So, now I have to agree with what seems to be the majority.  Oakmont #9 is the hardest hole here.

  Funny, there aren't any holes on Congress or RSG that bother me that much.  Congress #4 can be rough, especially from the tips, and that par 4 on the back 9 of RSG, I forget the number, with the triangle green, but none of their holes meet the standard of the above 3.  Nor does Kiawah #4, which I consider the hardest hole on Kiawah.

  Oakmont #9 stands alone.