US Open 2016 Oakmont Country Club: Hole 1
The par-4 first at Oakmont Country Club is a wicked opener
A guide to the first hole at Oakmont Country Club ahead of the 2016 US Open
US Open 2016 Oakmont Country Club: Hole 1
Hole 1 - Par 4 - 482 yards
A lot of courses tend to start with a nice, simple opener to get golfers on their way but Oakmont Country Club's first hole is far from that.
At 482 yards it's a long one, where even after a good drive most players will be hitting mid-to-long irons into the green.
Hitting a good drive here is a premium as there are bunkers littered either side of the fairway meaning if you slightly pull it left or push it right, you'll probably be in the sand.
It doesn't get any easier from there. The approach plays blind for all-but the longest of hitters.
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The green sits at the bottom of a pronounced hill, sloping away from you and only the most precise shots will hold the putting surface.
One thing you notice with this green is that there are no bunkers surrounding it - quite rare for Oakmont.
However, plenty will see their golf ball run off the green where from there it's an uphill chip and no simple up-and-down.
Expect to see plenty in the sand off the tee where very few will find the green. A par here will likely gain half a shot on the field.
A wonderful opening test.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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