2008 US PGA Championship Golf Course
The Last 9 Holes
When the South Course of Oakland Hills was formally opened in 1918, it already enjoyed a certain degree of prestige. After all, the course was designed by the foremost golf course architect of his day - Donald Ross and had engaged US Open champion Walter Hagen as its first professional.
Oakland Hills' South Course is now world-renowned and is consistently picked among the top ten tests of golf in the United States and, indeed, the world. Its reputation is well earned.
Read the basic descriptions of the last nine holes at Oakland Hills to get an idea of the challenges faced by top players at the 2008 US PGA Championship. More detailed information provided by Oakland Hill's golf director of 20 years can be found on the US PGA Championship website .
Hole 10 - Par 4 - 462 Yards
A tee shot from the elevated tenth tee using a 3-wood should avoid the four bunkers and the steep slope, leading to the rough, beyond them. The second shot is uphill past bunkers left and right and the green slopes severely downhill to the right hand bunker.
Hole 11 - Par 4 - 423 Yards
The most picturesque hole has an elevated tee to a valley below. A large hill 265 yards away separates the fairway into two landing areas with deep bunkers on the right.
Hole 12 - Par 5 - 593 Yards
The longest hole of the course. To get to the green in two, players must favour the left side of the fairway. Three deep bunkers in front of the green and a steep ridge in the putting surface make the most difficult hole location front right.
Hole 13 - Par 3 - 191 Yards
This short hold offers many challenges. The tee and green are both slightly elevated with the tee being higher than the green. The green contours have a distinct hollow in the front about four feet below the upper surface.
Hole 14 - Par 4 - 501 Yards
The first of five difficult finishing holes, this long par 4 is without a single fairway bunker. The fairway has been narrowed to 25 yards from tee to green and has trees either side. With front bunkers on both front left and right terraces, the most difficult hole location is front right.
Hole 15 - Par 4 - 401 Yards
A severe dogleg from right to left with trees on the left. Two bunkers are located in the centre of the fairway. The green is inverted and saucer-shaped with five bunkers – three on the left and two on the right.
Hole 16 - Par 4 - 406 Yards
A dogleg right and the signature hole at Oakland Hills. The Fairway has water on the right and trees to the left. A wide and shallow green has a ridge running front to back and water along the front and right side with three rear bunkers.
Hole 17 - Par 3 - 238 Yards
A par-3 hole with a green that is 30 feet above the tee and surrounded by deep bunkers on all sides. The green has severe slopes with a ridge running from front right to back centre. A hole location on the back right makes for one of the most challenging tee shots in championship golf.
Hole 18 - Par 4 - 498 Yards
The 18th is hailed as the most difficult hole in the history of Championship golf at Oakland Hills. Two bunkers have been added making a total of 7 protecting this dogleg right and the fairway slopes right to left. The green is the shallowest on the course and protected by four bunkers. A large mound through the centre splits the green into two small targets with the left being the most difficult.
More on the first 9 holes of Oakland Hills golf course. How do you think the changes impact on the 2008 US PGA Championship?
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