Begin the Erin Hills experience by playing down left center for a beneficial kick off one of the natural fairway moguls. When going for green in two, aim for the bunkers short and right of green. Otherwise, your second shot is uphill played over the right-hand fairway bunker using an extra club into a generous upper fairway. From there, you can play a true links approach, letting the ball bounce towards the small green.
In order to view the flag, your tee shot must be hit at least 200 yards down the left side of fairway. From there, it's just a pitch shot over a ridge to a tiny green, just 2,600 square feet, formed from a natural knob. For the bold, carry your tee shot over the fairway bunkers for a chance at an eagle putt.
From left-hand tees, it's carry-what-you-dare over the corner of the tamarack wetlands by aiming at the bunker on the far right hillside. From right-hand tees, favor right center of fairway, as terrain will kick shots down to fairway bunkers left. The green has distinct levels, low on the right, high on the front left, higher still on the back left. The safe approach is short or right.
Fairway slopes downhill left and plays fast. The green is well bunkered and narrow. Club selection is paramount with short being gobbled by bunkers and long falling off quickly into waste area. One of the most demanding approaches at Erin Hills.
Now you see it, now you don't. Part of the green is visible from every tee, but not from many portions of fairway. A tee shot that ends up left of the center fairway bunker will ensure a view of the green for approach. If you are right off the tee into the kettle hole, aim your next shot over top left edge of bunker for correct line to green.
The saddle-shaped green may seem clearly defined from the tee, but you're only seeing a third of it. The remainder of green is over the horizon, sloping to the rear. The prevailing wind may push shots long and left, but there are no hazards in that area.
Take a wider stance, as this hole typically plays into prevailing winds. Aim your tee shot over the bell formerly used on the Dell hole. There are few level lies for your second shot, which is all about positioning for approach. The elevated hilltop green, which is a high plateau left, flowing down to a lower section right, is one of the most dramatic on the course.
There is little to be gained by trying to cut the corner of this dogleg left, for the hillside beyond the horizon is deep rough. Length off tee is key. If you can't carry to top of hill, the smart option is to lay up on your second shot, allowing terrain to roll ball down into a valley, setting up a short uphill approach to the dune-top green.
This hole demands precision. The crescent green looks much bigger than it plays, for a deep swale in right center of the putting surface will sweep shots off into bunkers on right, while prevailing winds can push shots into bunkers left. Forget the pin position and aim for left center of green.
This plateau fairway is plenty wide. The safe line off tee is up left side to avoid two hidden kettle holes on the right. If tee shot is played down the right side, the ball can kick down the back of the plateau, gaining another 50 yards. The green runs narrow from front left to back right. Make sure to look to the west from the green to view the “Heart of Erin.”
The goal from every tee is to land on or carry the spine of fairway on right. From there, the green is fully visible. Tee shots to the left may find a lower section of fairway, but only the flag is visible from there.
Try to land your drive atop the plateau, letting the far slope roll the ball downhill for extra distance. Shots to the tiny natural saddle green should favor the left, as hillside left will feed balls onto the putting surface.
At first glance, it looks like a big, deep green with plenty of bailout right, yet the green is a plateau, so recovery shots from the right will be difficult. In addition, there is a deep swale in the left center of the green that will push balls left into the big bunker. Don’t ignore the very nasty little pot bunker front left. Safe play is back center of green.
This hole looks and plays a little differently from every tee. A drive between right and center fairway bunkers can cut yardage off if you then go for the elevated green in two. Take note of the broad false front. The more conventional three-shot route down left side brings big bunkers on left into play, as well as wetland kettle holes and a high glacial ridge. Play third shots to back left of green, as it flows downhill from there.
It's decision time. If downwind, take a crack at the perched green if you feel confident of carrying the tall fescues. If you’re playing safe, lie back to avoid fairway bunkers leaving a short approach to the elevated green site. Your work is not done when reaching the green, as the putting surface is small and undulated.
This can be our most forgiving par three as the green, fashioned from a natural kettle, may gather some offline shots. However, hidden bunkers from the tee will capture many others that are not so lucky. There is a hidden pot hole short of the surface, narrow bunkers left, deep bunkers short right, a deep bunker back right, and a ridge that bisects the putting surface, creating two distinct levels.
A partial drumlin may block views of green from the left sections of fairway, so tee shot should be played as close to the sentinel oak on the right as you dare. The approach should favor left side of green to avoid deep collection areas on the right. Blind shots over the drumlin could well bounce onto green. The putting surface is receptive and relatively flat. Once on, you'll have a welcomed opportunity at rolling in a putt.
The experience concludes with one last test of discipline and shot-making. If playing away from the left bunker off tee, be aware that more bunkers lie in wait to the right. Keep your second shot short or right of center target bunker, as the fairway slopes left into deep rough. Play approach to right center of peninsula-like green, as front and left edges drop off quickly.