As the suspense for the US Open builds, golfers are struggling to get the hang of Pinehurst No. 2’s nippy greens. They’ve resorted to sharing videos of their practice rounds that show balls straying far away from their intended path.
Preserved Links X has also joined the chorus of frustration, posting a video that illustrates the extreme conditions at Pinehurst No. 2 and sheds light on its notoriously challenging turtleback greens.
The clip demonstrates how even dropping the ball from shoulder height can cause it to roll downhill due to the breezy conditions. After more than 30 seconds, the ball rolled off the green entirely before finally coming to rest in the rough between the trees.
This tricky situation was accompanied by the caption: “We often debate speed, how fast is too fast? The U.S. Open sets the bar every year. Hit the wrong spot of the green at Pinehurst Number 2 and end up in the waste area 40+ yards away with the hardest shot in golf. Bring on the carnage.”
Sugarloaf Social Club chimed in with another Instagram video that depicted the challenging nature of Pinehurst No. 2’s greens. In this clip, you could see a golfer attempting a soft chip shot uphill onto the green to try and combat the unpredictable course. Despite what seemed like enough power and finesse for the approach shot, the ball rolled towards the green, hesitated, and then shockingly rolled back past the golfer, even further than its original spot. The golfer tried twice more, each time inching closer to the red flag, but frustratingly, each attempt ended with the ball rolling back downhill, almost to where it started.
This footage really showcased the brutal challenge of Pinehurst No. 2’s greens, proving that even the most well-planned shots can be thwarted by the course’s relentless design. It also echoed the sentiments of current U. S. Open champ Wyndham Clark, who had earlier remarked on the course’s difficulty, calling it “borderline.”
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The green on the par 5 16th hole at Pinehurst No 2
“They are extremely fast. If they get any firmer and faster, the greens, I mean, they’d be borderline,” Clark commented. “They already are borderline. As far as practicing, the biggest thing is where you leave yourself on the greens,” he added.
“Today, I went with my caddy, and we were really charting to certain pins. Not like you’re ever trying to miss the green, but we were airing toward the easier up and downs. You also have to play a lot of break on the ground. It’s really a lot of practice, and we’re going to focus on [the greens] a lot like we did today to get ready.”
The 2024 U. S. Open golf championship is set to take place from June 13 to 16 at the renowned Pinehurst No. 2. The previous year’s victor, Clark, clinched the tournament at the Los Angeles Country Club. Known for its demanding layout, the course stretches across 196 acres, including 61 acres of turf. Pinehurst boasts 41 acres of fairways, a significant increase from the pre-restoration 28 acres, and notably lacks any rough. The greens span an impressive 115,000 square feet, with a whopping 111 sand bunkers scattered across the course.
