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Help - Oakmont still a mystery

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Tue, Apr 17 2012 1:24 PM (2 replies)
  • DarkenRahl
    2,115 Posts
    Tue, Apr 17 2012 12:57 PM

    Is it just me or are the greens here wildly inconsistent in terms of speed, especially on how up/downhill affects the roll? I'm playing ranked rounds on TM Tournament greens and I swear uphill putts are like putting through mud on one hole and totally ignore the hill on the next.  Then downhill putts roll 8 feet past or stop like I played a wedge with half backspin.  

    I've been practicing on this one, it just irks me that on this one course I struggle on every hole.  I am more comfortable putting from more than 10 feet here than from 5, not that I am going to make either putt.  Is this all in my head or is there a magic formula that only works at Oakmont that someone would be willing to share?

  • skccvb
    799 Posts
    Tue, Apr 17 2012 1:21 PM

    There is no magic formula except to learn (takes quite a while) where to place the ball on approach. Above the hole is almost never a good idea here. But directly below can be a bad spot as well (example - hole #1- want to be pin high or a bit short, left of hole on approach). The huge breaks from the wrong spots can be intimidating. Honestly, the putts are really not that much harder than say Kiawah on certain holes (where missing a putt inside 2 feet is not uncommon). The more you play it, the easier it gets. At one point I played it maybe 100 practice rounds in a row and after that, it's just another tough course, no different than BPB for example. 

    Having said that, when you do get it right, the birdies start flowing. I personally have never shot better than 30 there, but for Oakmont, that ain't bad. The other key of course is to hit fairways and greens, as the rough can be horrible. And again, avoid being above the hole on the holes where it can mean bogey instead of birdie (like #2). 

    Somewhere on here, someone did a hole by hole course management treatise for all the courses. Maybe that would be helpful - someone else might have the link and post it...of course you can play this and make your own notes...

  • cycle1979
    1,555 Posts
    Tue, Apr 17 2012 1:24 PM

    Do you read the green from the cup camera angle and use the wedge to read?  Some putts look one direction behind the golfer but when you change the camera angle and the club to the wedge it breaks the other direction.

    The behind the cup camera angle seems to be the most consistent. 

    As far as speed... keep an eye out on the green speeds but there shouldn't be much difference unless you have HEAVY winds.

    Lastly, be careful where you approach to.  Find the spots with the least break and uphill if possible.  There are easier putt locations on every hole and there are locations that are very difficult.  The more you play you will learn were you need to hit your approaches.

    I'm no expert but I hope this helps....

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