Hole 5 at Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

Par 4 • 465 Yards • Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

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Brutal

The fifth hole at Oakland Hills' legendary South Course continues the relentless challenge of "The Monster" that Ben Hogan famously named after his 1951 U.S. Open victory. This demanding par-4 tests players early in the round with its unforgiving layout on Donald Ross's masterpiece design.

Tees:

465y420y394y338y

Green:33y × 29y

Fairway @250y:26y wide

5 BunkersWater dogleg

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Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 465 yds
Green: 5739 sq ft
Bunkers: 5
Water: Yes
Course Slope: 135
Course Rating: 75.5

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

The opening hole of 'The Monster' presents an immediate challenge with no fairway width recorded at both 200 and 250 yards, indicating extremely tight driving conditions that demand precision over distance from the elevated tee.

approach

With bunkers positioned at 295, 440, and 447 yards, your approach shot to this 465-yard par 4 will likely play from around the 295-yard bunker area, requiring a mid-to-long iron into the green.

green

The relatively compact green measuring 33 yards by 29 yards (5,738 sq ft) demands accuracy on your approach - missing this target will leave challenging up-and-downs to start your round on The Monster.

hazard warning

Be especially wary of the greenside bunkers at 440 and 447 yards - these are positioned right around the green on this 465-yard hole and will punish any approach shots that drift offline.

tee shot

With no recorded landing zone from the tee, course management is critical - consider hitting a controlled fade or draw to find the narrow fairway corridor rather than attempting to overpower this historic Donald Ross design.

train this shot at home

This 465-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

When water is in play, commit to a conservative target. A bogey beats a big number every time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 465-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 5?

This hole is one of the tougher holes on the course for most golfers. Key challenges include: long par 4, water in play, heavily bunkered.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 5?

Key hazards include: 2 greenside bunkers; water at 329.1 yards. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 5?

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 5?

This hole is one of the tougher holes where par feels like birdie. A challenging par 4. Accept that bogey happens and avoid big numbers.

Can I practice hole 5 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 465-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 →