No. 1, 393 yards, par 4: A gentle introduction to the U.S. Open, the opening hole is the second-shortest par 4 on the course and a good birdie chance. Most players will hit an iron off the tee to a tight fairway that has a bunker 271 yards down the right side. Any approach to the middle of the green will leave a 20-foot putt.
No. 2, 226 yards, par 3: The longest par 3 is uphill to a
long, well-bunkered green that slopes to the back. The best shot will land in the fairway short of the green and bounce to the green.
No. 3, 478 yards, par 4: The longest par 4 borders The
National Golf Links of America on the left. New tee has added 25 yards, making it more difficult to reach the bottom of the hill and bringing a bunker on the right side into play. Those who reach the bottom of the hill have a short iron into the flattest green on the course.
No. 4, 435 yards, par 4: Plays into the prevailing southeast wind. Gentle dogleg to the right with two bunkers in play down the right side. The green is elevated and undulating, and anyone who misses faces a difficult up-and-down.
No. 5, 537 yards, par 5: Can be reached by anyone who finds the fairway, but the crowned green is tough to hold. The chipping areas around the green are mown so tightly, so pitch shots will have to be precise. Two bunkers guard the front of the green. Still, this should be the easiest birdie chance.
No. 6, 474 yards, par 4: Blind tee shot with a crook in the landing area, and four bunkers waiting to catch a shot that travels 270 yards and is not aimed properly. Most players will face a middle iron over the only water hazard on the course. A bunker guards the left side of this tricky green.
No. 7, 189 yards, par 3: The famous "Redan" hole plays into the prevailing wind to a green that slopes from the front right to the back left. Missing to the right when the hole location is right is likely to lead to bogey or worse. Most shots that hit the green will collect to the back left of the green.
No. 8, 398 yards, par 4: Some 30 yards have been added to this hole, although it is still short. The landing area is partially blind, and most players will hit fairway metal or irons as they try to squeeze it between six bunkers left and the tall fescue to the right. Large green, with toughest hole locations to the right.
No. 9, 443 yards, par 4: The hole plays much longer than the yardage because of a dramatic elevation change between the landing area and the green. Fairway slopes to the left, making it tough to find a level lie for the approach. Above the green offers a spectacular view of the entire course and the Great Peconic Bay.
No. 10, 412 yards, par 4: A severe slope about 250 yards out from the tee dictates strategy. Any shot left at the top of the slope will leave a short iron. A big drive will leave a wedge from a downhill lie to an elevated green, which slopes from back to front.
No. 11, 158 yards, par 3: Some call this the shortest par 5 in golf. Only 158 yards, but it plays uphill to a small green. When the wind blows, it can be tough to leave the ball below the hole. Anything long could catch a steep slope and end up well beyond the green. Par is a good score here.
No. 12, 468 yards, par 4: The prevailing wind is at the
players' back on an elevated tee, and the fairway is receptive. Despite the length, it should be no more than a short iron into a flat green devoid of bunkers, allowing for a good birdie chance.
No. 13, 370 yards, par 4: Another elevated tee, but the fairway is narrow and has a bunker 287 yards off the tee. Because the green also is elevated, players rarely can see the bottom of the flagstick. The green is crowned, so many shots will roll off and leave players with a bunker shot or tough chip. Another short
hole where par is a good score.
No. 14, 443 yards, par 4: This plays from an elevated tee to a tight fairway, and the right side is even more narrow than in 1995. Any shot to the right rough will make it almost impossible to reach the green, which sits in a saddle at the top of a slope. The green falls away to the back, which could lead to plenty of action from
the chipping area behind the green.
No. 15, 403 yards, par 4: Most players will opt for a fairway metal or an iron off the tee on this downhill, dogleg to the right. Only a 225-yard shot is required to clear three bunkers down the right side. The green is reasonably flat, protected by six bunkers. Hitting the fairway will leave a short iron to the green. Missing
the fairway spells trouble.
No. 16, 540 yards, par 5: Not long by today's standards, but the wind could make this par 5 unreachable even for big hitters. The key shot is the third to a small, narrow green that slopes from back to front and is well-guarded by five bunkers. There is a chipping area in front and to the right of the green. Phil Mickelson played this hole in 6 over par in 1995 and finished four shots out of the lead.
No. 17, 179 yards, par 3: This hole is seven yards shorter than the '95 U.S. Open. The green is flat, but there is a large bunker to the right and three smaller bunkers left. When the hole location is front left, anything in the left bunkers makes par a challenge.
No. 18, 450 yards, par 4: A stout finishing hole, made
legendary by the 4-wood Corey Pavin hit from 238 yards to clinch par and a victory in 1995. Tee shots should favor the right side, as a bunker is 260 yards down the left side. Second shot to an elevated green. Players would be better off coming up short and chipping uphill than going long and dealing with a slithery slope.
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