Bellerive course promises challenges for world’s top players
As always, weather will affect the scoring -- Bellerive’s grounds crew dealt with the region’s third-coldest April on record followed by the hottest May -- but those who know the course best offer one warning for Bellerive newcomers: With a dense rough lining the fairways and sprawling bunkers surrounding multiple greens, you’d better hit it straight off the tee.
For the younger generation of golf stars who haven’t played Bellerive -- defending PGA champion Justin Thomas slipped in a practice round
notice about the course is the bunkers and the spacious greens.
“Our average greenside bunker shot is close to 25 yards,” Tucker said. “That’s just middle of the bunker to middle of the green. So there will be some bunker shots where the fellows are going to have 80- to 100-foot bunker shots just greenside. I don’t care who you are,
The bunkers are numerous and deep. On the par-4, 521-yard fourth hole, which is a par-5 for Bellerive members, eight bunkers are positioned between the tee box and the green, including three surrounding the green. Some of traps are deep enough to require tremendous trajectory to clear the
where the ball rolls in and stays level,” Tucker said. “If you’re in the front bunkers you can barely
a ball not only out of the bunker with some forward energy but you have to go straight up in the air. It makes it almost impossible.”
On the par-3, 237-yard 16th hole,
require a 150-foot blast to escape.
“The challenge is going to be around the greens,” said Carlos Arraya, the course’s director of grounds and agronomy, whose team has also modified the course’s mowing lines to make play more challenging. “The shots from the middle of the bunker to the center of the green are some of the longest in golf.”
On several holes, reaching the green is just half the battle. Some golfers might hit a dozen greens in regulation per round, Tucker said, but still face an average putt of 50 feet to the hole.
“You really have to drive it well to score well here,” Thomas said after playing his practice round. “The fairways aren’t overly narrow or wide. They’re just a good width, but they have some curve to them. Some of them are sloped, so you have to work it against the fairway. You really just need to have control of your ball off the tee, so that way you can come into the greens from the fairway and leave it in the right spots.”
Bellerive underwent a major renovation in 2005-06 and has
in preparation for the PGA. On the par-4 11th hole, a pond lies alongside the green that previously sat in front of the green. Depending on where the championship committee places the holes and stations the tees, the 11th could make an enticing chance for birdies. “That’ll be an exciting hole to watch,” Tucker said. “There will
hole location and tees are in the right spot.”
The par-3 sixth hole promises some drama, too. The shortest hole on the course at 213 yards is guarded by a pond and two bunkers. At the 1965 U.S. Open,
hole in tournament history with a stroke average over four.
“I hate to say it,” Tucker said, “but if fans are looking for some trauma and wayward play, that’s probably the hole where it will be exposed the most.”
By Tucker’s account, the best spots to watch the tournament unfold are along the back nine on holes 14-16, known as “the ridge,” where multiple grandstands will give fans a clear view of the action.
“The 14th hole is my favorite place to be on the golf course,” Tucker said. “The tee box is serene and quiet. It’s the farthest point away from all the noise of the event. It’s the last place where a player can gather his thoughts
“The 14th green, I’d tell all our spectators that the view overlooking the golf course, sitting up high perched on the ridge, is absolutely spectacular.”
With blazing temperatures putting stress on the greens the last few months, Bellerive closed the course to its members a few weeks ago so Arraya and his staff of 52 workers could prepare each
the tournament.
“We’re quite fortunate to have the membership here embrace championship golf,” Tucker said.
Now, after years of meticulous planning and preparation, Bellerive is almost ready for its close-up.
“So many people here have never experienced a championship of this magnitude, a modern major, a new major as I like to call it,” Arraya said. “Just to see the people’s faces when they get inside the gate is going to be something special.”