Hole 1 at Hazeltine National Golf Club

Par 4 • 490 Yards • Chaska, Minnesota

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Brutal

Hazeltine's opening hole sets an immediate championship tone, featuring the iconic Payne Stewart Bridge that adds both beauty and strategic complexity to this signature par-4. With water lurking along the right edge and multiple bunkers guarding the approach, this demanding starter has tested the world's best players during major championships like the 2016 Ryder Cup.

Tees:

490y442y412y390y378y

Green:25y × 33y

6 Bunkers dogleg

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Hazeltine National Golf Club

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 490 yds
Green: 4787 sq ft
Bunkers: 6
Course Slope: 155
Course Rating: 78

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Hole 2

Par 4 • 431y

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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

This demanding opener requires precision off the tee as the fairway completely disappears at the 250-yard mark. Focus on accuracy over distance, targeting a controlled drive to the 200-yard area where you'll have 33 yards of fairway width to work with.

hazard warning

Three strategic bunkers guard the landing area between 311-329 yards, with the lake constantly threatening along the right side. Any tee shot beyond 250 yards risks finding sand or water, making course management critical from the first swing.

approach

After a conservative tee shot to 200 yards, you'll face a lengthy approach of 290 yards to a compact green measuring just 4,787 square feet. This demands a precise long iron or fairway wood to find the putting surface.

green

The green's narrow 25-yard width creates a challenging target for long approaches. With the slope running back-right to front-left and a narrow opening front-left, favor the left side of the green to use the contours and avoid the water hazard.

tee shot

At 490 yards, this hole demands strategic thinking over aggressive play. Consider laying up short of the fairway bunkers with a 3-wood or long iron, leaving yourself in the safe 200-yard landing zone for a more manageable second shot.

train this shot at home

This 490-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 490-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: long par 4, heavily bunkered.

What hazards should I watch out for on hole 1?

Key hazards include: 3 greenside bunkers. Plan your shots to avoid these trouble spots.

How big is the green on hole 1?

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 1?

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 1 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for Hazeltine National Golf Club. You can play this exact 490-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 →