A look at Whistling Straits’ eighth hole.
Standing on the eighth tee for the first time, players have no idea where to aim on this long par 4, one of the toughest holes on the Whistling Straits Course. An expanse of mounds, bunkers and tall fescue rough appears to start in front of the tee box and extend all the way to the green, situated hard by the water’s edge.
Of course, there is a fairway out there, but the landing area isn’t visible and the secret to finding it is to aim at the lone juniper in the distance.
“Players have almost no visual of the fairway,” said Jim Richerson, the general manager and group director of golf for Kohler Co. “(Course designer) Pete Dye wants you to hear water, to see water, to see bunkers.”
Caddies who kept their yardage books from the 2010 PGA Championship will scratch their heads once they get to the green.
Dye has reshaped the back of the putting surface and reduced its overall square footage. He also knocked down a mound behind the green, creating the illusion that the backright edge is suspended over Lake Michigan.
“It’s that infinity pool look,” said Mike Lee, the manager of golf course maintenance for Kohler Co.
One other change is that there is now a tightly mowed runoff area behind the left half of the green. You’ll see many players hitting chips and putts from there during practice rounds, because there’s a good chance they’ll face that shot during a championship round.
No. 8 is an intimidating hole from start to finish. The Lake Michigan water level is up 2 feet from 2010, which adds subliminally to the fear factor.
“You hear the waves crashing below to your right,” Richerson said. “And late in the day, the shadowing makes the hole look even longer.”