Hole 1 at Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

Par 4 • 435 Yards • Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Enhanced Content

Tough

The opening hole at Oakland Hills Country Club's legendary South Course—famously dubbed "The Monster" by Ben Hogan after his 1951 U.S. Open victory—sets the tone for Donald Ross's masterful design. This elevated opening tee shot launches golfers into one of American golf's most storied and challenging championship tests.

Tees:

435y419y382y347y

Green:40y × 33y

Fairway @250y:28y wide

6 Bunkers dogleg

Loading map...

Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Play This Course at Home

Practice Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) Year-Round

Launch monitors from $600 and simulators from $2,500 include real course data. Play every hole without leaving home.

Browse Launch Monitors & Simulators

Amazon · Top brands compared · Free returns on most items

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 435 yds
Green: 7916 sq ft
Bunkers: 6
Course Slope: 135
Course Rating: 75.5

Navigate

Hole 2

Par 5 • 523y

Back to Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)View Full Scorecard

Recommended Gear

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

Shop Wedges →

Strategy Tips

tee shot

This opening hole at 'The Monster' demands precision from the elevated tee. Target the center of the fairway which narrows to just 27 yards at the 200-yard mark - use a controlled driver or 3-wood to avoid the squeeze.

approach

From 250 yards out, you'll have more room to work with as the fairway opens to 33 yards wide, but your approach shot to this 435-yard par 4 will likely be a mid to long iron into a substantial green measuring 7,916 square feet.

hazard warning

Be aware of the greenside bunkers positioned at 404 and 422 yards - these guard the putting surface and will catch shots that fly the green or miss short right, demanding precise distance control on your approach.

green

The large green at 40 yards by 33 yards offers multiple pin positions, so pay attention to flag placement and aim for the center of this 7,916 square foot putting surface to avoid three-putts on Donald Ross's undulating design.

approach

With bunkers at 299 yards, longer hitters need to be strategic off the tee - consider laying up short of this hazard to leave a full wedge approach rather than threading the needle for maximum distance.

train this shot at home

This 435-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.

See launch monitors & simulators

Scoring Tip

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

Play Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course) from Your Living Room

Launch monitors and simulators now include real course data. Practice your strategy on every hole before your round — or just for fun.

Compare Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 435-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 1?

This hole is a moderate challenge for most golfers. Key challenges include: heavily bunkered, large green requiring good lag putting.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 1?

Key hazards include: 2 greenside bunkers. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 1?

The green is large and can play quite long. Three-putt territory if you don't manage your approach distance well.

What's a good score on hole 1?

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 1 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 435-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 →