Playing Erin Hills is an unforgettable golfing pilgrimage, a journey across a vast, glacier-carved landscape that challenges every part of your game. To score well here - or even just to survive with your sanity intact - you can't simply bash driver and hope for the best. This article will break down the essential strategies for navigating its fescue, embracing the walk, and tackling its bold greens and windswept bunkers, giving you a clear game plan to play with confidence.
First things first: Erin Hills is a walking-only facility, and it's a serious walk. We’re talking about six to seven miles over rolling, tumbling terrain. This isn’t a gentle stroll, it’s a hike. Treating your physical preparation as part of your game plan is essential.
The pictures don't lie. The golden fescue that frames every hole is beautiful, but it's the number one defense of Erin Hills. Your primary goal on every tee shot should be singular: stay out of it. The fairways are generous - often 50-60 yards wide - but their width is deceptive. Miss them, and you’re in a world of trouble.
It’s important to recognize that not all fescue is created equal. Your strategy for recovery depends entirely on the lie you find.
When you're in the deep stuff, forget your normal swing. This is all about survival. Find your ball, and pick a safe target back to the fairway, even if it’s sideways or slightly backward. Here’s the technique:
Erin Hills sits exposed on the rolling Wisconsin prairie, meaning wind is almost always a factor. Learning to control your trajectory is a game-changer here. A high, flighty ball is going to get knocked all over the place. A controlled, lower shot that penetrates the wind is your best friend.
When you need to keep one under the wind, here are a few simple adjustments:
Remember to work with the wind, not against it. If you have a crosswind, aim into it and let it drift the ball back toward your target. This is much more effective than trying to "hold" the ball against the wind, which often results in a double-cross or a wild miss.
Getting to the green at Erin Hills is only half the battle. The putting surfaces are massive, averaging over 6,500 square feet, and they are riddled with dramatic slopes, shelves, and fall-offs. Your short game and putting will be tested relentlessly.
The pin position on any given day should dictate your strategy for the entire hole. Before you even tee off, look for the flag.
You will face long putts at Erin Hills. It's unavoidable. Your goal on these 40, 50, and 60-foot putts is not to make them. It’s to two-putt. Prioritize speed over line. A putt that is perfectly on line but 10 feet short or long is still a very difficult second putt. A putt with the wrong line but perfect speed will leave you a simple tap-in. On your practice green, roll some long putts focusing only on how hard you hit the ball. This will serve you far better than trying to trace the perfect snake-like break.
The bunkers at Erin Hills are true hazards. They are natural, irregularly shaped, and feature windswept edges and uneven lies. Treat them with respect. Your priority should always be getting out in one shot. Don’t try to get cute by hitting a low-percentage shot at a tucked pin from a bad lie. Aim for the safest part of the green and live to fight another day.
You’ll also encounter a number of blind or semi-blind tee shots. This is where a caddie or a detailed yardage book is invaluable. Find the aiming point - like the distant "Holy Hill" church steeple on the 10th hole - pick your line, trust it, and make a committed swing. Hesitation caused by visual uncertainty is a recipe for a poor swing.
Some holes perfectly encapsulate the Erin Hills challenge. Here's what to look for on a few key spots:
Playing Erin Hills is about strategic thinking and disciplined an execution. A successful round comes from respecting the course's defenses - the walk, the fescue, and the wind - while playing intelligently around the bold green complexes. Plan each hole from the pin back to the tee and choose conservative targets to avoid the big numbers.
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