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Sneak peek at tough nut that is Oakmont

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 05/25/2007 - 16:10

By TOM PATRI
Scripps Howard News Service
Monday, May 28, 2007

Had a big treat last week. My first day at my new job was a trip to Oakmont, site of the U.S. Open starting June 14, with our head professional Jim Kidd and our owner and founder Ken Bakst. We were hosted by an Oakmont member, Mark Studer. Mark is a wonderful guy, a USGA official, and a golf history buff as I am, which the day made it a blast.

If you have never had the pleasure/torture task to play an Open venue one month before the event, particularly Oakmont, one of the real beasts in the Open rotation, think twice. If you decide to accept, bring some pain killers, and don't bring any sharp objects.

I have played Oakmont a half dozen times. Bob Ford, Oakmont's head professional and one of the best in the country, is a dear friend, a mentor, and just a quality human being. Bob said the course this year may turn out to be one of the great tests in Open history. I agree.

Driving the ball in play will be an extreme challenge. Not only are the fairways narrow and firm, but they all seem to have a great deal of slope in the landing areas, making it very difficult to keep the ball in the short stuff. The rough, well, let's put it this way, don't bring any small children, you could lose them. The best you can do is barely hack it out sideways.

Then, of course, Oakmont's numerous bunkers are world famous. They are positioned perfectly to affect the only-so-slightly wayward shot. They are deep and penal.

Having fun yet? It has only begun, because Oakmont and its true defense against par is its putting surfaces. They are truly remarkable. Speed is slightly faster than lighting, and the movement and slopes are scary.

I guess you have the picture. The greatest players in the world will be pushed to the wall. If the weather is dry, and it stays firm, over par will win.

I'm gonna head out now and try to teach the average player to play a kinder, gentler game . By the way Oakmont, ate me for lunch. And I loved every second of it.

(Tom Patri's teaching academy is at Lely Resort in Naples, Fla. and he is at Friar's Head in New York until Dec. 1. Patri is one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America. His book "The Six Spoke Approach to Golf" is available at bookstores and online. He can be reached at tpatri@mindspring.com.)