Holes 1-6 | 7-12 | 13-18

No.1  R FOUR  404 YARDS

Donald Ross liked to start his courses out with a hole that isn't overly taxing but keeps you on your toes. The opener at No. 2 is exactly that -- generally straight and short enough that players can use a fairway wood to keep the ball in play. Those who fail to do so and instead find the right rough will have to clear a bunker about 20 yards in front of the green. Out of bounds runs down the left.

No.2  R FOUR  447 YARDS

Now things begin to get a little more difficult. As this par four doglegs slightly to the right, the target for the tee shot is to the left-center of the fairway -- but that brings the four bunkers left of the fairway into play (not to mention the out of bounds beyond them). There are several good hole locations on this green, in particular the one front-left, as an approach that comes up slightly short will roll back off the green, and an approach hit a bit too long may well continue right off the putting surface. It is a very demanding target.

No.3  R FOUR  335 YARDS

Donald Ross liked to give players plenty of room off the tee -- but to maintain the challenge of this short par four for the U.S. Open field, the fairway has been narrowed to a razor-thin 24 yards. Players will either lay up in front of the bunker right of the fairway, and away from the pair of bunkers to the left, or go for broke and clear all the sand. Some players may even try to drive the green. The chosen strategy will depend on wind direction and speed, hole location, and the player's standing in the Championship. The steep back-to-front slope of the green is typical Donald Ross, in that it encourages bold iron play. Out of bounds runs down the left for the third consecutive hole.

No.4  R FIVE  566 YARDS

The first par five on the course is a good birdie opportunity. The drive is hit from an elevated tee to a ribbon of fairway that slopes up and slightly to the left. Those who do not try to reach the green in two can lay up on a flat area between two bunkers, some 50-60 yards from the green. Even those who hit the putting surface in three will have a chance to make birdie. Not only will they be hitting their approaches with short irons, but they'll have a better chance of one-putting as the fourth green has a bit less of a "crown" than many others on the No. 2 course

No.5  R FOUR  482 YARDS

Now the field really has its work cut out for it. A new tee has lengthened this hole to 482 yards -- 32 yards longer than it was when the Tour Championship was last played here, in 1992. In other words, the toughest hole on the golf course just got even tougher. Ross considered the approach to this green the most difficult shot on the entire course, as it has to be hit with a long iron, ball above your feet, to a green that runs from right to left. Anything arriving too hot, in other words, will bounce into sand or the primary rough, and make par a virtual impossibility. A player who leaves this hole at level par for his round will be doing well.

No.6  R THREE  222 YARDS

The first par three on the course is difficult enough at 222 (slightly uphill) yards -- but it usually is played into the prevailing wind as well. There are two ways to play it. One is the "modern" way, in which you hit a tee shot long and high enough to hold the green on the fly. The other is the way Donald Ross intended the hole to be played, by hitting a lower shot just short of the green and having a slight downslope in front of the green kick the ball up and onto the putting surface.

Holes 1-6 | 7-12 | 13-18