What is the hell hole causing havoc at the US Women’s Open?
Nelly Korda suffered a car crash on hole 12 as she took 10 shots to find the bottom of the hole, but why is this par 3 so difficult?
At the 2015 US Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, there was a five-hole stretch in the middle of the course that caused the players most trouble.
Holes 8 to 12 played over par, and it was the par-3 12th hole where 31 double bogeys were made. So why is this such a difficult spot on this William Flynn-designed golf course?
This hole is 181 yards long but because of the steep drop to the putting surface, this causes headache number one with your club choice. How much do you take off the stock yardage? How well can you judge the gradient?
There are 11 uphill approach shots at this Pennsylvania golf course, and in the lead-up to the 12th tee box, you are faced with four of them. Players are asked to make a swift adjustment from the up to down, and this doesn’t even take into account the wind.
(All images courtesy of the USGA)
Watch out for Hole 12: Lancaster Country Club
With such a severely sloped hole, the ball is in the air for a long time, enough time for the wind to manipulate its flight. In the early stages of the first day of the 2024 US Women’s Open, the hole was already causing havoc for the best players in the field.
Nelly Korda made a staggering 10 three holes into her campaign to win seven titles in her last eight starts. The American found one of the sand traps long of the green and hit her second shot in the water at the front of the green.
From the penalty area, she hit two more balls in the water and shot seven-over-par on one hole. Mariajo Uribe also made a nine on the hole that was playing 161 yards on Thursday.
It is the perils that surround the green that cause trouble too. Drink at the front and beach at the back. Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Yuka Nii and Sophia Popov made double bogeys too, while Caroline Inglis struggled to a triple bogey.
The 12th hole will no doubt play a crucial part on what is a tricky course in general. It might have played an even greater role in 2015 as if the tournament had gone to a playoff, this devilish par 3 would’ve been part of the three-hole aggregate playoff.
In 2024, holes 10 and 18 will be used if a two-hole aggregate playoff is required.
NOW READ: See more about the Nelly Korda 12th hole disaster at the US Open!
NOW READ: US Women’s Open: Everything you need to know
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
