PGA Championship Hole-By-Hole Preview

Golf Betting Lines

07/28/2010 - Haven, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - HOLE ONE - Par 4 - 408 yards: Bending from right to left, the opening hole on the Straits Course gives the player his first glimpse of mighty Lake Michigan, not to mention the myriad bunkers strewn across the course. Hitting to the right-center fairway, avoiding the dunes and bunkers, will leave the best angle of approach to a well-guarded green. The 31-yard-long putting surface is fairly benign, but missing right and long will leave a difficult up-and- down from a shaved chipping area. Oh, and by the way, the hole can be stretched to 491 yards.

HOLE TWO - Par 5 - 593 yards: The third longest hole on the course, the par-five second is a robust 593-yard monster, nicknamed Cross Country. By now, the player has figured out that missing fairways on the Straits Course will prove to be hazardous to your score. With bunkers running up and down both sides of the landing area, you'll need to be spot on with your tee ball. This three-shot hole requires an adept layup, especially the closer you get to the hole, as the fairway narrows dramatically. Your third will be slightly uphill to a narrow green with deep bunkers below the hole to the left and a runoff swale to the right.

HOLE THREE - Par 3 - 181 yards: The first of four outstanding par threes that run alongside Lake Michigan, the third is all carry over sand and dunes to one of the longest and most undulating greens on the course. Miss left and you'll end up swimming with the fishes. When the wind is up and the pin is back-left, watch out.

HOLE FOUR - Par 4 - 493 yards: Rated as the hardest hole on the course, the fourth is a par four that can play as short as 348 yards and as long as 500. Hanging above the lake, you'll need to bust a drive down the right-center, avoiding the disaster that looms below. A long iron or fairway metal will be required to reach a slightly elevated green that stands perched above the water. Make par here and you're better than most.

HOLE FIVE - Par 5 - 598 yards: Aptly called the Snake, the fifth, which moves inland, wraps around water and dunes as it plays west towards Kohler, then north to Green Bay and west again. A big tee shot can set up a possible chance to get home in two, but very risky, as water fronts the putting surface. Laying up is no bargain either, as the landing area is quite narrow, with water left and dunes right. If successful, just a wedge will remain to the long and narrow green. Very tempting, but use your head.

HOLE SIX - Par 4 - 355 yards: One of only three par fours under 400 yards, the sixth is a dogleg right that requires pinpoint accuracy. Three-metal is a nice play off the tee, but be wary of the pot bunker on the left side of the fairway. Any shot missed to the right off the tee will result in a difficult lie in either sand or scrub and trust me, the scrub is horrible. Your second will be just a wedge to a very undulating and narrow green that runs left to right. Miss short and you'll end up in one of several deep pot bunkers.

HOLE SEVEN - Par 3 - 221 yards: Back along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, the seventh is a beautifully framed par three that reaches 221 yards. There's no crime in bailing out left, as playing from the beach is no picnic. A dozen or so bunkers protect the left side of the green, which is 42 paces in length. A back-right pin with the wind howling makes this one of the most feared holes on the course.

HOLE EIGHT - Par 4 - 507 yards: With the waves crashing along the shoreline, you'll have a hard time staying focused on the task at hand, carrying a couple of hundred yards of sand and waste area to reach the landing area on the 507-yard eighth. Several dozen bunkers dot the landscape on this par four, that has been lengthened some 45 yards, not to mention the severe drop-off towards the water on the right. Playing slightly downhill towards the green, a mid-iron should suffice, depending of course on the pin placement of this whopping 47-yard-long putting surface. The tiered green runs from front to back and may be difficult to hold when the pin is back.

HOLE NINE - Par 4 - 449 yards: The closing hole on the front nine heads back towards the clubhouse and requires a tee ball struck towards the left side of the fairway, as it will kick towards the right. Too far down the right might leave a blocked second shot due to a tall tree at the 100- yard mark. Just a short iron should remain for your downhill approach to another well-guarded green. Sand dunes and bunkers on the left, and Seven Mile Creek on the right, make for an intimidating target.

HOLE TEN - Par 4 - 361 yards: Playing uphill from tee to green, an aggressive play with driver should be the club of choice on the short, par-four 10th. A deep fairway bunker looms larger than life in the center of the landing area, but with driver in hand, you should be able to clear disaster. The club to the green is quite severe and might require a little extra zest to reach the plateau. Only 28 paces in length, the putting surface is quite slick from back to front and any shot short of the green will run back down the fairway.

HOLE ELEVEN - Par 5 - 618 yards: From short to long, the 11th is the Grande Dame at the Straits and garners the name "Sand Box." Try adding up the bunkers up and around this par five and you'll lose count. The drop-off to the right can spell doom, so play down the left side and make this a true three-shot hole. Although it narrows towards the green, a layup down the right will leave around 100 yards in. Slightly uphill to an elevated putting surface, you'll need to be quite accurate, as the green is just 23 paces and surrounded by a shaved swale. As if the length of the hole wasn't hard enough.

HOLE TWELVE - Par 3 - 143 yards: Back along the water, the par-three 12th is the shortest and probably the most difficult to attack, despite the length of the green. Just 143 yards, the greenskeeper can make mice out of men on this gem. With the multi-tiered putting surface perched above the water, the man in charge can be really cruel with a back-right pin, where there's just a few yards of space. A drop-off of 40 feet to Lake Michigan will snare plenty of balls that are just off line, so play to the fat of the green and trust your putter.

HOLE THIRTEEN - Par 4 - 404 yards: One of the few modest holes on the course, the 13th is just 404 yards and bends to the right towards the green. Plenty of fairway and rough to the left, so if you must bail out that's the play, as another severe drop to the right will end up in the sandy dunes or worse, "The Lake." A short iron should be the club of choice to the downhill green that sits incredibly close to the water. The narrow putting surface features several humps and bumps as it cants to the right. At second glance, not that easy, is it?

HOLE FOURTEEN - Par 4 - 373 yards: The sharp, dogleg-left 14th requires brain not brawn in an attempt to conquer. Fairway metal or long iron off the tee should set up a very short iron approach to the slightly elevated green. Miss left off the tee and you'll have a sandy, blind approach, while a right mistake can leave an awkward lie off the dunes. The putting surface is long and undulating as it slopes from back to front. This hole can be had, but you need to be precise.

HOLE FIFTEEN - Par 4 - 518 yards: The 15th starts a final stretch to the clubhouse of spectacular proportions. Maxing out at 518 yards, this par four -- yes, par four -- is very awkward to the eye, as you must adjust your line of sight to the fairway towards the left. Even with a mammoth blast, you'll need a fairway metal or more to reach the green. Sand surrounds most of the S-shaped landing area, so pick your line and go with...you know. There's nothing to be ashamed of making a bogey, at least that's what I keep telling myself. When Vijay Singh captured the 2004 PGA Championship, he made two pars and two bogeys, as the hole proved to be the most difficult for the week, averaging 4.35 shots.

HOLE SIXTEEN - Par 5 - 569 yards: The final par five with a real chance to yield a birdie, the 16th is a reachable 569-yarder that finishes overlooking Lake Michigan. An ample fairway for mere mortals, the landing area tightens for the big hitters in their attempt to get home in two. With sand dunes and the dropoff towards the water lurking left, you would be wise to hit the fairway. Your second shot plays slightly uphill to the green or if you're laying up, a tight finger of a fairway. The putting surface is long and elevated, making your approach difficult to get close.

HOLE SEVENTEEN - Par 3 - 223 yards: Difficult, demanding, intimidating and downright beautiful, that's what's in store as you stand on the tee of the 17th. The longest and most difficult of the par threes, this sensational one-shotter requires cojones! Hugging the Lake Michigan coastline, you'll need to bust anywhere from a long iron to a driver depending upon the conditions. The 30-40 foot dropoff is enough to shake any player's confidence. The putting surface is large enough where you can bail to the right, but a back-left pin can be daunting. How tough is the 17th? During the 2004 PGA Championship, the hole played to a scoring average of 3.1438 with just 20 birdies in four rounds. Although he tied for 68th, Robert Gamez aced the hole they call "Pinched Nerve" in round two with a five-iron.

HOLE EIGHTEEN - Par 4 - 500 yards: What's in a name? How about the closing hole on the Straits Course being called "Dyeabolical." At 500 yards from the back tee, your only hope is for the wind to be at your back. Another big drive is needed just to reach the fairway to have any shot at getting home in regulation. Sandy brush and dunes are in full view down the left side, so play out toward the right, elevated fairway. If you fail to accomplish this task, you have an option of playing left to a new landing area or right to an adjacent fairway (I went left). A long iron or fairway metal will remain to a humongous green that sits down in a bowl fronting the clubhouse. With a forced carry over sand, scrub and Seven Mile Creek, you might want to take an extra stick to better your chances. Both DiMarco and Leonard had chances to win in 2004 on the final hole, but both missed putts, while Singh parred the last in regulation and in the playoff for the title.

FINAL WORD: I look back at my experience at Whistling Straits and get goose bumps. Playing two of the best courses in the country, on Lake Michigan with spectacular views, being treated like a movie star and walking where some of the greats of the game have crossed, is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

First of all, we have to start with The American Club, a three-story, three wing resort with guest rooms and suites totaling 237 and more than 21,000 square feet of conference space. The brilliant red brick throughout the buildings and the slate roofs give this Tudor-style structure its wonderful character. The dining is first-cabin, including the Immigrant Restaurant, a AAA Four Diamond Award establishment for 17 straight years.

But the real jewels of Kohler are the two phenomenal courses at Whistling Straits. Some have called the Straits Course as "Ireland on steroids." I have yet to travel to The Emerald Isle, but if it's anything like the Straits and Irish courses, than I'm in for a real treat.

Most people talk about the final holes at a course being some of the best on the layout, but with the Straits, the entire venue is as good as it gets. The walking-only course on the shore of Lake Michigan is, in a word, a masterpiece.

Framed by massive sand dunes and bluffs, the Straits Course offers views of the lake on all 18 holes, with eight holes snug up against the great body of water. The greens are massive at 7,500 square feet and with more than 500 bunkers and even more sand dunes, you're in for the ride of your life.

Caddies are required on the Straits and with the course stretching to almost 7,700 yards, you'll walk approximately 5 miles. Now don't get discouraged, there are five sets of tees starting at 5,400 yards, so choose the correct color and you'll have the time of your life.

The Irish Course is a wonderful complement to the Straits. Not as long as its partner, the Irish also boasts five sets of tees, ranging from 5,100 to 7,200 yards and yes, plenty of sand. Almost 2,000 trees were planted on the course, and although Lake Michigan is in view on five holes, it never comes into play. The Irish does feature plenty of water hazards, in fact, four streams snake through the course, not to mention a 10 1/2 acre lake on 16 and 17.

"The challenge for me was to create a second 18-hole course at Whistling Straits that would be comparable to the first course, not just a complement but of equal stature," said Dye.

Walking is preferred on the Irish, however carts are available for those who like cart-path only. Golf is a traditional game, so trust me when I tell you, take a caddie on both courses, you'll be glad you did. The greens are not as large as the Straits at 7,000 square feet, however the 13th hole boasts a whopping 14,500 square foot putting surface.

The caddie program at Whistling Straits is something special. Each incredibly knowledgeable about the courses, yardage, greens and after a couple of holes, your game. What I really enjoyed was the fact that our caddie was right on with the reading of the greens, the history of the courses and his genuine honesty and kindness. Just ask for Brian Everatz the next time you venture to Kohler, trust me, he'll only add to the experience.

Most clubhouses nowadays are these massive 21st-century structures that look out of place, but not at Whistling Straits. Modestly designed, the clubhouse fits the landscape to a "T". A farmhouse if you will, stationed above the 9th and 18th holes of the Straits Course, with remarkable views of Lake Michigan.

The two-story structure features a full-stocked pro shop for both men and women, a dining facility with sumptuous fare (the Kobe Sliders are amazing), a second floor bar and lounge and a complete locker room. Let's not forget the five fireplaces strewn about and the rich dark, inviting colors that give the clubhouse its wonderful charm.

Although not as expensive as Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits is a pricey ticket. At $330 for greens fees, another $60 for the caddie, not to mention tip and a few sundries in the pro shop, you're looking at $500 for a round of golf. So what? It's worth every penny and then some.

Bring your friends, bring the wives, heck, go by yourself, you'll be glad you did. This one is a must destination for all parties concerned.

I will always remember walking 36 holes with my buddy Dave one glorious, August day at Whistling Straits. One of my finest days on a golf course, ever!

Aces, pars or bogeys, send your thoughts to psokol@sportsnetwork.com.