The more I delved into the architecture of the Los Angeles Country Club, home of the 2023 US Open, the more I realize how much of a challenge this venue will be for the field. I did not realize the massive elevation changes were so prominent. I am confident that no player will have a flat lie except on the tee box. The undulating course will definitely affect the shot selection and club choice. He who chooses wisely will have a distinct advantage during the first round of the US Open.

There is no surprise that elevation changes have a direct impact on golf shots. I have played many courses that required an understanding of how to hit uphill or downhill. In all cases, there are a few things that the professionals will have to consider when looping the LACC. On a side note, the caddies with local knowledge will offer a huge advantage to their player today because the LACC is a new track for everyone. I will be interested to watch if my thought on a local caddie will be as advantageous as I think.

Hitting the ball through massive elevation changes requires a bit of forethought before swinging away.

The 10th hole at Glenn Abby Golf Club, Oakville, Ontario, (seen left) drops about 25 yards in elevation off the tee. Knowing this did not change my club selection, however some of the big hitters in my group dropped to a 3-wood in order to stay short of the creek in the distance. When I played there, I did not have a range finder with a slope reader, but used some simple math to figure out the distance advantage I gained from hitting downhill. If you are wondering, here is a guideline you can use to help make the calculations needed when hitting up or downhill.

Professional golfers have an advantage when hitting balls on elevated courses. Their advantage is knowledge of how their ball will react to the various elevation changes. They know to expect more of a roll out when hitting into an elevated green. They realize that adding spin to the ball when hitting uphill is huge challenge and therefore try to roll the ball out as much as possible. The mishit on those shots is coming up short, which most amateurs, like myself, do. The LACC will test each player’s ability to account for an undulating terrain on most shots, not to mention the other hazards present on most holes. It should be interesting to watch.

The 2023 US Open will offer many shot making challenges today. The lightning fast greens, horrendously thick rough, and elevation changes on each shot will ensure that every player earns their score. The US Open can be a fantastic event and is a fun Major to watch. With the LACC being a new venue for the US national championship, it will be interesting to see who can navigate the obstacles with calm, confident play. Today’s round will set the stage for the rest of the tournament, I wonder who will rise up to meet the challenge of the USGA course conditions and the massive elevation changes of each shot.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!