So, back in 1999, I got a chance to play Pinehurst #2 in about February. It was a part of the Nike Winternational Junior Series. It was nice to get to play the U.S. Open golf course that would take place several months later that Payne Stewart would eventually win.

So after hitting balls off mats (the range was being redone), it seemed I wasnt’ working with a good ball striking day.

I got to the first tee, setup, and bam, block right into the trees. I setup to my 2nd shot. BAM, a chunk block.

Wow, things are going smooth.

Finally, I get myself on the green looking at an 8 footer for a 6 (double bogey). The pin was right on the front slope of the green. It was a fairly hard right to left breaking putt. I made sure to hit it softly and high.

Here is a front picture of Pinehurst #2 first green
Source: Golf Club Atlas

Here is a side picture to show you how steep it is
Source: Golf Club Atlas

Well, I did so perfectly, or so I thought. The ball was tracking toward the hole and starting diving. It fell below the cup before it even reached it.

Ok, not bad…just….sto…..stop…..stopp…..stop ball…. STOP!

It kept rolling. The ball stopped 35 feet in the middle of the fairway.

For those who don’t know, Pinehurst #2’s greens are shaped like upside down bowls, where the middle of the green is really the only safe place, and the edges just feed into the fairway.

Ok, so I get my line, setup, and nail it. Whoops!. 10 feet PAST the pin.

This should be a fun putt. I just touched the putt. Guess where it ended up?

Same exact spot, 35 feet in the middle of the fairway.

My next putt got halfway up the slope, and rolled all the way back down.

I was getting frustrated. I felt like John Daly when he got pissed at the USGA in 1999.

Finally, I knocked my putt to 2 feet and tapped it in for a healthy 11.

Yep, an 11, and this was the FIRST hole of the tournament.
I think I shot a solid 55 that day. It didn’t help that the temperature dropped to below 40 by the end of 9 holes, in which the round was called due to weather.

I heard about a guy who was next to the #1 green in 2 shots, and walked away with a 13.

A guy in my group, on #5 (which is a long hard par 5), was looking at a 15 footer for birdie.

Guess where his put ended up. IN THE BUNKER!

I think he got like an 8 on the hole.

That was a tough day and one I will never forget

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