Why Oakmont’s Church Pew Bunkers Are The Course’s Most Dangerous Hazard

When you think about hazards on a golf course, water and thick rough usually come to mind first. At Oakmont Country Club, site of this week’s U.S. Open, it’s not the water that’s wrecking scorecards. It’s the bunkers. Specifically, the infamous Church Pew bunkers. These are located between holes 3 and 4, and they come into play on both holes. Shot Scope found some data on just how punishing these bunkers are and it may surprise you.

The numbers don’t lie

According to Shot Scope data:

• On hole 3, players who end up in the Church Pew bunker lose an average of 1.25 strokes, more than double the average bunker penalty.
• On hole 4, they lose 0.61 strokes when they find the pews.
• Compare that to a typical bunker, where amateurs lose around 0.5 strokes. That’s a big difference and a good reason to fear this hazard.

So what makes these bunkers worse than usual?

Every U.S. Open course has something that stands out about it. Aside from the fact that the Church Pew bunkers at Oakmont are enormous (and come into play on two holes), there is more to these that makes them difficult to deal with.

Here’s why the Church Pews are in a class of their own:

• They’re huge. The main bunker stretches over 100 yards and impacts multiple holes. You can’t just aim away from it; it’s always in play.
• The ridges aren’t just visual. Those grass “pews” break up the sand and leave players with awkward lies, uneven stances and blocked-out views.
• Escape isn’t guaranteed. Most players are hitting something between a wedge and an 8-iron to get out. If you catch it a little fat or get too greedy, you’re still in there.

Are bunkers the most dangerous hazard at your home course?

Some bunkers end up being a better spot to miss a shot than thick rough or a water hazard. However, not all bunkers are created equal. The Church Pew bunkers are a great example of what separates a “manageable” bunker from a round killer.

At your home course, make sure you are analyzing the bunker before you put together your plan to escape.

• Flat bunker with room to swing? You might still go for the green.
• Deep bunker with a lip or sloped lie? Take your medicine. Just get out.

The Church Pew bunkers remind us that ego kills more scores than execution. Trying to pull off the miracle shot from a tough bunker might look heroic but the smarter play is often sideways, especially if the lie is bad or the lip is high.

Final thought

The pros at Oakmont know what they’re up against but when you see how many shots they are losing in these bunkers, it comes as a surprise. The data proves it. Some bunkers deserve to be avoided at all costs.