PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament course) Hole by Hole - 9th Hole

Hole 9 at PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament course) is a challenging par 4 with a distance of 461 yards from the championship tees. The hole has been given a handicap of 1, making it one of the most difficult holes on the course. This hole requires precision and strategy in order to score well.

From the tee, golfers should aim for the center or left side of the fairway as there are three bunkers strategically placed on the right side. A drive of approximately 217 yards will leave an approach shot of around 244 yards to reach the green in regulation.

The green itself is large, measuring at approximately 12897 square feet, but it is well-protected by only two greenside bunkers which make up just 2% of total bunker coverage. However, water comes into play on this hole with a pond located on the right side near the green. Golfers must be careful not to overshoot their approach shots as they risk finding themselves in trouble.

When approaching this hole during different seasons, golfers should take into consideration any changes in altitude or temperature that may affect ball flight conditions and adjust their club selection accordingly. In addition, wind can also play a factor here due to its open layout and slight dogleg right curvature.

For average golfers who hit drives around 217 yards and have distances of about 140 yards with their seven iron and 120 yards with their pitching wedge, we recommend using driver off the tee followed by either a long iron or hybrid for your second shot depending on your comfort level hitting longer clubs out of rough grassy areas. For those who struggle with accuracy off-the-tee or prefer more control over distance when playing shorter courses like PGA West's Nicklaus Tournament Course then consider taking advantage by laying-up short before attacking pins aggressively especially if you're able to consistently make solid contact from within scoring range while avoiding bogeys.