The 18th hole at Cherry Hills Country Club will be set up by the USGA as a 459-yard par 4 for the June 23-26 U.S. Women’s Open. But Cherry Hills members play 18 as a par 5. And even with an extra stroke to play with, members consider the uphill trek around the reservoir among the most demanding holes on the golf course.
Tom Meeks, the USGA’s senior director of rules and competitions, decided to make No. 18 a par 4.
“I just didn’t think it would be a good par-5 finishing hole,” Meeks said during a recent visit to Cherry Hills. “It would have been boring, because most players would have been hitting two shots and then a wedge into the green. If you play it as a par 4, you’re requiring players to try to reach the green in two.”
Meeks predicted No. 18 will become the most difficult hole during the tournament in reference to par.
“On the last hole of the championship on Sunday, if you’re leading, you still need to play hard,” Meeks said.
