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Merion Greens

• K7JBQ 1,468 Posts

  Wed, Dec 21 2016 10:25 PM

  I've always found 6 to be a tougher green than 5, but maybe it's just me.

• islandlar 709 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2016 4:26 PM

  Steve915:

  Merion greens are a JOKE

  Here's a putt on #6 from the WGT week 52 18 hole single play tournament that shows just how frustrating Merion can be.  Ended up with a 61, but this missed putt ended up costing me 2 strokes since the uphill come back putt broke opposite from the direction of the dots.  I mean, c'mon man, if the holes not where it's shown on the screen how is one supposed to know where to aim?  

  http://www.wgt.com/gameclient.aspx?view=showReplay&JSON=%257B%2522GUID%2522%253A%25225d9b05d6-cb7f-4293-a230-a6e401802c80%2522%252C%2522Brand%2522%253A%2522%2522%257D

• pmm711 5,515 Posts

  Fri, Dec 23 2016 9:19 AM

  Steve915:

  Merion greens are a JOKE.

  In RL they're even crazier.  I grew up 4 miles from Merion.  Caddied there and played it.  Thank God for the 19th hole.

• Vaibhav5viv 886 Posts

  Fri, Dec 23 2016 1:24 PM

  K7JBQ:

  I've always found 6 to be a tougher green than 5, but maybe it's just me.

  I'd say pin viz pin #5 is still tougher. But we get front pin on #5 and back pin on #6 lot more often, so in that case #6 is tougher.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Dec 23 2016 3:05 PM

  Vaibhav5viv:

  I'd say pin viz pin #5 is still tougher. But we get front pin on #5 and back pin on #6 lot more often, so in that case #6 is tougher.

  I think the back pin on #5 is the hardest in the game, including BPB 15.

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Fri, Dec 23 2016 8:46 PM

  YankeeJim:

  I think the back pin on #5 is the hardest in the game, including BPB 15.

  I concur here. 15 BPG is OK under the hole, #9 OAK is OK under the hole but with both of those holes, it is possible to get the ball in the best place, whereas back pin #5 at Merion is nigh on impossible to get the ball in a position to make bird. 

  The problem with #6 at Merion (and probably most courses and holes) we have the tendency to attack the pin - whereas playing shorter and leaving a longer uphill putt is probably the smarter play....

• borntobesting 9,623 Posts

  Fri, Dec 23 2016 8:58 PM

  2 other holes that should be played like that which we rarely play are # 18 @ Cabo and # 12 @ Whistler. Both those above the hole are killers.

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Fri, Dec 23 2016 9:36 PM

  Very true Joe....I seldom play them and 18 on Cabo is definitely a must be below the hole putt (unless you fluke on or like 3/4 putting).

  Is #12 Whistler the one that was in the old Best of course? I think I have played Whistler once!

• Vaibhav5viv 886 Posts

  Sat, Dec 24 2016 10:36 PM

  alanti:

  YankeeJim:

  I think the back pin on #5 is the hardest in the game, including BPB 15.

  I concur here. 15 BPG is OK under the hole, #9 OAK is OK under the hole but with both of those holes, it is possible to get the ball in the best place, whereas back pin #5 at Merion is nigh on impossible to get the ball in a position to make bird. 

  The problem with #6 at Merion (and probably most courses and holes) we have the tendency to attack the pin - whereas playing shorter and leaving a longer uphill putt is probably the smarter play....

  Spot on Alan... Need a really helpful wind to get the ball staying up near that #5 back pin.. Other holes are still approachable.

  Cant say anything about Cabo as I've played it only once 18 months back.. Whistler , I have played a few matches recently there and really like it. Best way to approach #12 is to angle it to the slope.

• Yiannis1970 3,269 Posts

  Sun, Dec 25 2016 1:25 AM

  A usual mistake that many people do on No6* is believing they can attack the pin on any wind...well, not. On tailwind over 10mph, chasing the pin is just a waste of time for the simple reason that physics and trajectory say NO. There is a little space between bunker and pin in order to hold the ball. Once you are above the hole, you are in trouble.

  With sidewind at 2-3-4 o'clock is pretty much hard but it can be done (if you are lucky) because green tends to push the ball to the right. With wind at 8-9-10 o' clock things are easier. Perfect wind for this hole is headwind when you can approach somehow with ease. Regardless the winds though, afterwards you have to deal with one of many lying dot greens of Merion.

   

  *Same thing goes for No5 with high pin. Best approach for this one is 20-30 ft below the hole. Half backspin will work well in most cases.