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Oakmont #9

Sat, Mar 31 2012 6:58 PM (21 replies)

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CerinoDevoti

3,232 Posts

Fri, Feb 17 2012 3:59 PM

Whenever I play the 9th at Oakmont I can't help but wonder if they changed the course and it was originally the 18th. It's such a hard par it's almost cruel to have another 9 holes to play afterward.

TesLa33

109 Posts

Fri, Feb 17 2012 4:03 PM

TarheelsRule:

I had a friend who was with the USGA and I asked him why is it that the par 5's are generally some of the lower handicap holes while a difficult par 3 might still be listed as the 16th handicap. His reply was that the theory is based on an 18 handicap player and the lightly hood of one good shot ( on a par 3 ) was much easier for that level player than 3 good shots on a par 5.

That's ironic because statistics show that par 5s are most often birdied while par 3's are most often less birdied. Regardless the hole in question plays as a long par 4 here on WGT not a par 5 and the green is extremely undulating and unpredictable.

Yet I can see the logic on an 18 handicapper if the main issue is luck. lol

LeonDelBosque

1,551 Posts

Fri, Feb 17 2012 5:24 PM

TarheelsRule:

I had a friend who was with the USGA and I asked him why is it that the par 5's are generally some of the lower handicap holes while a difficult par 3 might still be listed as the 16th handicap. His reply was that the theory is based on an 18 handicap player and the lightly hood of one good shot ( on a par 3 ) was much easier for that level player than 3 good shots on a par 5.

That's basically my understanding too, although I think it mostly has to do with giving strokes to players with higher handicaps... it gives them more of a mathematical advantage compared to a par 4. Bogey golfers also tend to score better on par 3s... there's less trouble to get into because of fewer shots.

alosso

21,070 Posts

Sat, Feb 18 2012 2:08 AM

Look at the WGT description of OAK #9:

This very difficult, blind, uphill driving hole has a severe ditch left and severe pot bunkers right. This pivotal hole, which plays as a par 5 for the members, played as a long par 4 for the U.S. Open. The huge, severely undulating green also serves as the practice putting green

As a par 5, it certainly plays a lot easier (only 477 yds = 430 m from the tips), and the HCP numbering will be based on that situation (pros don't have course ratings).