| Ryder Cup, hole by hole |
A hole-by-hole look at The Country Club, the 7,033-yard, par-71
course where the 33rd Ryder Cup matches will be played Sept. 24-26 |
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| No. 1, 450 yards, par 4 |
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A long and tough opening hole that will require a long to medium iron approach into a medium-sized green that was redesigned for the 1988 U.S. Open. Out-of-bounds left could come into play. Par could be enough to go 1-up.
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| No. 2, 190 yards, par 3 |
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This hole will play longer than 190 yards because of the elevated green. The green is partially blind, relatively small and well-bunkered.
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| No. 3, 451 yards, par 4 |
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One of the most difficult holes on the course. The tee shot must be down the left side to avoid a blind approach over a high mound to a small green. Any approach that goes long could wind up on the road behind the green -- or in the lateral water hazard beyond the road.
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| No. 4, 335 yards, par 4 |
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Most players will hit an iron off the tee for position, giving them a wedge to a newly designed, small green. The bombers might go for this green in best-ball matches, but trouble lurks on the left. This should be a birdie hole from the fairway.
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| No. 5, 432 yards, par 4 |
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A blind tee shot because of the high mound between the tee and the fairway. Approach requires a medium iron into a generous green that slopes from right to left.
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| No. 6, 310 yards, par 4 |
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Another great hole for best-ball matches. Some players may try to drive the green, but the safe strategy is to play an iron off the tee and a sand wedge into an elevated green. Another hole where birdie may be required for a halve.
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| No. 7, 197 yards, par 3 |
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The toughest of the par-3s. The green is elevated, narrow and well-contoured. Club selection will be essential.
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| No. 8, 378 yards, par 4 |
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Another birdie possibility as long as the tee shot does not stray left into the trees. Most will leave the driver in the bag on this hole and still have a short iron into the green. Drive must be kept down the right side to avoid trees that overhang on the left.
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| No. 9, 513 yards, par 5 |
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Deep woods run down the left side of the fairway, but players who want to reach this green in two will want to hit their drives down the left side. The green is elevated, relatively small, and surrounded by rough and bunkers, making a long shot to it extremely demanding.
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| No. 10, 447 yards, par 4 |
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The first step in a murderous stretch of holes. A long, straight drive is essential because the green is small and is best reached with a short iron.
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| No. 11, 450 yards, par 4 |
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Regarded as the toughest hole on the course, requiring a good drive and a well-struck medium iron at best. Drive should be down the right side, and a pond protects the front of the smallish green. Arnold Palmer drove into a tree stump
and made 7 here in the play-off of the 1963 U.S. Open.
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| No. 12, 486 yards, par 4 |
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Another hole that requires a long drive that should be positioned down the right side for the best angle into an elevated, blind green. Par could win the hole. Francis Ouimet made a 4 in the 1913 U.S. Open and gained a stroke on Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.
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| No. 13, 436 yards, par 4 |
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This will play shorter because it is downhill off the tee, but it's still no bargain. Players will probably hit an iron or fairway metal off the tee to avoid a downhill lie or a ball that drifts right into a pond. The ideal drive will leave them on a plateau about 175 yards from the green.
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| No. 14, 534 yards, par 5 |
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Another par-5 that can be reached in two. While it is longer than No. 9, this will probably play easier because the tee shot is not as demanding and the green, while elevated, is open in the front.
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| No. 15, 432 yards, par 4 |
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Fairly straightforward hole with a large green. Still, it is well-bunkered and reputed for having tough hole locations.
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| No. 16, 186 yards, par 3 |
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The easiest of the par-3s, but it still requires a well-played medium iron to keep bogey out of the picture. Club selection key, because anything over the green could come to rest against a boundary fence.
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| No. 17, 370 yards, par 4 |
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The only par-4 on the back nine that is under 400 yards and the last good opportunity to win the hole with a birdie. A iron or fairway metal to the elbow of this dogleg left will leave a wedge to the green.
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| No. 18, 436 yards, par 4 |
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The tee has been pushed back about 15 yards. Drive must be in the fairway for any realistic hope of reaching the green in two. The green is elevated and guarded by a deep bunker. Curtis Strange got up-and-down from the bunker to
force a playoff with Nick Faldo in the '88 U.S. Open.
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