2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Tenth Hole At Winged Foot
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The “3-iron into some guy’s bedroom” (Hogan) at 190 yards will play 214 this time around, so 3-irons are unlikely even with the added length to offset better absorption of Vitamin D fueling linebackers-turned-golfers.
What is so charming about Winged Foot’s 10th when, on paper, it’s seemingly pretty simple?
There is the aesthetic factor, for starters. As Tom Nieporte, the club’s long time pro once said, “it’s like a painted picture, every time you play it”.
The hole is undeniably beautiful, simple and crying out to be painted. Most of the best holes sit on a landscape in ways that are attractive to an artist.
There is also the 10th’s location in the round. Buried elsewhere on the West Course it would undoubtedly be a much-talked about par-3. But put it in front of the clubhouse and the 10th takes on a different majesty, particularly since so few clubhouses in the world are accented by views of a par-3.
Then there is the cross bunker short of the green, somehow not filled in by a committee trying to appease less-skilled golfers or citing maintenance budgets, even though A.W. Tillinghast was just such a culprit during his PGA of America Tour. Such bunkers help create painting-worthy holes and disturb depth-perception.
The green provides a charming combination of elements. It’s elevated 8-10 feet above the surrounding ground, is steeply pitched and is somewhat pear-shaped, the opposite presentation of the preceding hole. Recoveries from the bunkers are rare and the overall effect is a green playing smaller than it appears. So think Postage Stamp, only 80 yards longer.
As with the other Winged Foot holes we’ve looked at so far, the restoration of putting surface space and hole location options adds so much character. I particularly love the 10th’s “infinity” look of the rear putting surface area peeling over the back. The effect from the tee, at least in this flyover, is to make an already intimidating shot look tougher. This, even though the addition of putting surface on the back slope could be used to a player’s advantage during this year’s rescheduled tournament.
