When you consider hazards on a golf course, water and thick tough often come to thoughts first. At Oakmont Nation Membership, web site of this week’s U.S. Open, it’s not the water that’s wrecking scorecards. It’s the bunkers. Particularly, the notorious Church Pew bunkers. These are positioned between holes 3 and 4, and so they come into play on each holes. Shot Scope discovered some information on simply how punishing these bunkers are and it might shock you.
The numbers don’t lie
Based on Shot Scope information:
On gap 3, gamers who find yourself within the Church Pew bunker lose a mean of 1.25 strokes, greater than double the typical bunker penalty.
On gap 4, they lose 0.61 strokes once they discover the pews.
Evaluate that to a typical bunker, the place amateurs lose round 0.5 strokes. That’s an enormous distinction and a very good cause to concern this hazard.
So what makes these bunkers worse than ordinary?
Each U.S. Open course has one thing that stands out about it. Except for the truth that the Church Pew bunkers at Oakmont are huge (and are available into play on two holes), there’s extra to those that makes them troublesome to cope with.
Right here’s why the Church Pews are in a category of their very own:
They’re large. The primary bunker stretches over 100 yards and impacts a number of holes. You’ll be able to’t simply goal away from it; it’s all the time in play.
The ridges aren’t simply visible. These grass “pews” break up the sand and go away gamers with awkward lies, uneven stances and blocked-out views.
Escape isn’t assured. Most gamers are hitting one thing between a wedge and an 8-iron to get out. Should you catch it a bit of fats or get too grasping, you’re nonetheless in there.
Are bunkers probably the most harmful hazard at your private home course?
Some bunkers find yourself being a greater spot to overlook a shot than thick tough or a water hazard. Nonetheless, not all bunkers are created equal. The Church Pew bunkers are a fantastic instance of what separates a “manageable” bunker from a spherical killer.
At your private home course, be sure to are analyzing the bunker earlier than you set collectively your plan to flee.
Flat bunker with room to swing? You may nonetheless go for the inexperienced.
Deep bunker with a lip or sloped lie? Take your medication. Simply get out.
The Church Pew bunkers remind us that ego kills extra scores than execution. Making an attempt to drag off the miracle shot from a troublesome bunker may look heroic however the smarter play is commonly sideways, particularly if the lie is unhealthy or the lip is excessive.
Last thought
The professionals at Oakmont know what they’re up in opposition to however once you see what number of photographs they’re dropping in these bunkers, it comes as a shock. The info proves it. Some bunkers need to be prevented in any respect prices.
The publish Why Oakmont’s Church Pew Bunkers Are The Course’s Most Harmful Hazard appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
