A look at the 2013 U.S. Open Course for next week

115th U.S. Open
June 13-16, 2013
Merion Golf Course
Ardmore, Pennsylvania


A thin, sharply sloped fairway welcomes golfers to the par-4 16th hole

The course is considered short for a U.S. Open, but they have made it long where it hurts- the Par 3s and 5s. While the Par 4s are reasonable, three of the Par 3s are approximately 250+ yards with water and hazards lurking everywhere and the two Par 5s average 592 yards apiece.

The track is a 7,000 yard, Par 70 layout with insane rough that does not graduate. Golfers will go from fairway to a thick, wet, ball-swallowing turf in the span of a few inches. To complicate matters further, the greens are not only wicked fast but much smaller than Augusta's. Merion places a premium on accuracy and ball striking instead of length and driver is only necessary on two or three holes.

Experts are torn on how Merion will play this year. Many feel that with increased recent rain showers and the lack of wind in the Philadelphia area the course will yield near-record low scores for a major.

However, others feel that the massive Par 3s, tiny greens, denser rough and recently narrowed fairways will force enough bogeys to keep the winning score between 3-7 under par. A good write up on this topic can be read here.


The 628 yard par-5 4th hole is surrounded by bunkers and a creek