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Will Oakmont be reduced from a par 71 to par 70? It seems to be the trend, especially with changing the "weak" par 5's to par 4's. I know Oakmont has one of those "weak" par 5' (the 9th). I wonder if they are converting the 9th to a par 4 (hence the conversion). I believe the 9th hole is only about 485 yards.

If not, I see the winning score being under par at Oakmont.

I'm pretty sure it'll be reduced back down. Its seems to be a USGA tradition the ;ast few years

70

http://www.usga.org/news/2007/march/site_previews.html

I truely don't think it matters. We had a really good thread going on this topic about 6 months ago. My thoughts are all that matters is the score. Did player A shoot 71, 72 or 73. Truly who cares what par is???? The thread was interesting because we got into far fetched issues like should par be eliminated???? Now this won't happen. Par is a good and easy way to show how players who are on different spots on the course are scoring relative to each other.

But whether a 500 yard hole is called a par 4 or par 5. Do any of us really care?

brianf

I am sure they will reduce it to 70. I also hear they are going to have a very long (270ish) par 3

Number 8 has always been in the 265 area.

brianf

The 9th hole was a par 5, 485 yards, and it is now a par 4, 477 yards according to the recent edition of Golf Digest.

I figured they would reduce number 9 (a very birdieable par 5) to a par 4.

Going to play in the 280-290 range for the Open.

I wonder if pros play a hole differently if it's a par 4 or a par 5. For example, they might choose to lay up if it were a par 5 but since it plays as a par 4, would they go for it? Maybe they're so long that it doesn't really matter.

At aboput 500 yards, it will just force them to control a longer iron coming into the green, it makes par a good score in that getting on in regulation and 2 putting for par rather than getting on in 2 and two putting for birdie.