No. 2 Strategy: Paul Jett Offers Guide On Playing Open Course

BY HOWARD WARD: Golf Writer, The Pilot

It was never exactly an extreme makeover anyway, but the Pinehurst No. 2 Course has recovered nicely from the cosmetic surgery performed by U.S. Open Doctor Rees Jones.

The famed course is ready for her date with golf’s leading men in June.

David Fay, executive director of the United States Golf Association, visited Pinehurst twice in recent weeks and offered no suggestions for improvements or changes.

“He played the course, and if anything, he was impressed with the changes,” said Paul Jett, superintendent of the No. 2 course.

That’s no surprise to Jett, who was in charge of preparations for the 1999 Open and has been baby-sitting the course as the 2005 Open nears.

“There are no construction scars,” he said of the new tee locations on several holes that have added almost 200 yards in length. “The tees look as if they’ve been there all along.”

As expected, the one thing Jett has no control over is his biggest concern — the weather.

“Right now we’re just trying to grow Bermuda,” he said. “This has been a cooler than normal spring and the grass just hasn’t come in the way we had hoped. We’re hoping sunny days and warm weather will get us to where we want to be. If we can get a month of this weather, we’ll be all right.”

It’s not the fairway grass that has Jett concerned.

“It’s really the rough that we’re worried about,” he said. “The fairways will be fine in about a month, but we’re looking at growing three inches of rough. Last time, we were able to grow it during the last three weeks before the championship, but we’re a little anxious about it this time.

“We’re still a month out, though, so there’s time. We’ll get it there one way or another.”

Jett has little concern regarding the reaction of USGA officials. In fact, the USGA admitted that the course was just fine the way it played in 1999.

“There were some USGA people here the first of May, and we’ve got some feedback from them,” he said.

Tom Meeks, director of championships and the man responsible for setting up the course, played, along with Mike Davis, who is scheduled to replace Meeks at the end of this year.

Jett, a near scratch golfer in his own right, gives some friendly advice. Here’s the way he would recommend playing the course:

• No. 1, par-4, 403 yards — “Favor the right half of the fairway with the tee shot because of the way the green is angled and have a short iron in.”
• No. 2, par-4, 437 yards — “Favor the left half of the fairway. Any approach shot to the middle of the green is good.”
• No. 3, par-4, 327 yards — “An interesting hole. There may be a lot of guys trying to drive the green. The other way is to use a fairway wood or a 2-iron and have a wedge shot in.”
• No. 4, par-5, 565 yards — “Lengthening this hole has brought the fairway bunkers back into play. Some of the longer players will be able to reach in two shots. Played as the easiest hole in 1999, and I don’t see it playing any differently this time.”
• No. 5, par-4, 483 yards — “From the easiest hole to the hardest. Favor the left side of the fairway because the shape helps turn the approach shot to the green. It’s one of the few greens that you can miss long and not be in trouble, but don’t miss it left.”
• No. 6, par-3, 194 yards — “Just aim at the middle of the green, and if you happen to make the putt, great. If not, take two putts and be happy.”
• No. 7, par-4, 400 yards — “Use a fairway wood or long iron off the tee because there’s no advantage in hitting it long. The farther out you hit it, the narrower the fairway. The right bunker will catch a lot of play.”
• No. 8, par-4, 489 yards — “One of the par-5s that have been converted to par-4s for the Open. You probably won’t have a level lie in the fairway and you can’t afford to get cute with the second shot. Can’t miss anywhere other than short on this hole.”
• No. 9, par-3, 175 yards — “Of the par-3s, this is the easiest. There will be three hole locations on the top level of the green and one on the bottom. It’s not a tough shot to the top level and this is the best chance to make birdie on a par-3.”
• No. 10, par-5, 607 yards — “This is a three-shot hole for 98 percent of the field, but the third shot should be 100 yards or less so it’s not that tough a shot in.”
• No. 11, par-4, 477 yards — “If the golfers do notice any of the changes, it will be on this hole because of the new tee. It’s a slight dogleg right with a middle-iron approach, depending on the hole location. Hit to the middle of the green and take a shot at that 20-foot putt.”
• No. 12, par-4, 484 yards — “If the wind is coming from the Southwest as it predominantly does, it will play downwind and you may not want to use driver. There are two bunkers in the landing area on the right, and you can’t miss this green long.”
• No. 13, par-4 378 yards — “You stand on the tee here thinking birdie. But it’s one of the narrower fairways and getting it in the fairway is a must. It plays a half-club longer than you think, and most of the time you have to go by feel because you can’t see the bottom of the flag stick. Long is OK, but short is no good.”
• No. 14, par-4, 471 yards — “The new tee has brought the left fairway bunker into play. It’s half a club longer than in 1999. A difficult second shot and long or right is no good.”
• No. 15, par-3, 187 yards — “Smallest green on the course. Hit for the middle, and you won’t have much more than a 20-foot putt. Missing on either side is no bargain.”
• No. 16, par 4, 489 yards — “The other par-5 that’s playing as a par-4. The hardest hole in 1999 and don’t see it being different this time. Approach shots will be from 180 to 200 yards, and the first 20 feet of the greens you can consider as a false front. A hard up and down from the bunker.”
• No. 17, par-3, 187 yards — “A 6-, 7- or 8-iron shot. Middle of the green is very good. The front bunker is no good.”
• No. 18, par-4, 445 yards — “Uphill and plays longer than the yardage. If the prevailing wind is blowing, it will be into the wind. Players will have a 6 or 7-iron after a good tee shot. You don’t want to be long or in the right bunker and Sunday’s pin will bring those elements into play. I can’t think of a better hole to end a U.S. Open on because you can lose it with a bogey or win it with a birdie.”