Hole 15 at Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

Par 4 • 401 Yards • Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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Challenging

Hole 15 at "The Monster" presents a demanding test on Oakland Hills' legendary South Course, where champions like Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have battled. This challenging par 4 requires precision and strategy, embodying the course's fearsome reputation that has humbled golf's greatest players.

Tees:

401y373y370y291y

Green:35y × 28y

Fairway @250y:55y wide

7 Bunkers dogleg

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Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 401 yds
Green: 5728 sq ft
Bunkers: 7
Course Slope: 135
Course Rating: 75.5

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Recommended Gear

Bunkers everywhere — a versatile wedge is your scoring club on this hole.

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

From the elevated tee on this 401-yard opening hole of 'The Monster,' favor the right side of the fairway to avoid the bunkers clustered around 368-371 yards. The fairway widens from 44 yards at the 200-yard mark to 55 yards at 250 yards, giving you more room if you can carry your drive past the 250-yard marker.

approach

With bunkers positioned at 368, 366.5, and 371.1 yards from the tee, most golfers will have a mid-to-short iron approach into this relatively compact green measuring 5,728 square feet. The green's 35-yard width gives you a reasonable target, but precision is key on this historically challenging opener.

hazard warning

The trio of bunkers at 368.0, 366.5, and 371.1 yards creates a significant hazard zone for longer hitters. If you typically drive 280+ yards, consider taking a 3-wood or hybrid off the tee to lay up short of these bunkers and leave yourself a comfortable wedge approach.

green

The green's dimensions of 35 yards wide by 28 yards deep make it a moderate-sized target, but given this hole's reputation as the start of 'The Monster,' focus on hitting to the center of the green rather than attacking pins. Ben Hogan's respect for this course suggests conservative play is often the winning strategy.

tee shot

At 401 yards for a par 4, this hole requires strategic positioning rather than pure distance. The fairway's narrowest point at 200 yards (44 yards wide) means shorter hitters actually have an advantage, as they can use the full width of the fairway without worrying about the bunker complex ahead.

train this shot at home

This 401-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

With bunkers guarding the green, pick the side with the most room and let the slope feed the ball toward the pin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 401-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 15?

This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: heavily bunkered.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 15?

Key hazards include: 5 greenside bunkers. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 15?

The green is medium-sized with moderate targets. Pay attention to pin placement when selecting your approach club.

What's a good score on hole 15?

This hole is a demanding hole where bogey is not unusual. This longer par 4 will test most golfers. Focus on position over distance.

Can I practice hole 15 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course). You can play this exact 401-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →