The West Course at Winged Foot—host of six U.S. Opens, one PGA Championship, two U.S. Women's Opens, two U.S. Amateurs, a U.S. Senior Open, and a Walker Cup—stands as one of A.W. Tillinghast's most decorated designs. Located in Westchester County, New York, Winged Foot is often cited as an example of a great course on a mediocre property, as it sits on relatively flat terrain with rocky soil—typically an unremarkable foundation for great golf. However, Tillinghast’s brilliance shines through one of the most celebrated sets of greens in the world. Characterized by severe false fronts, intricate internal contours, and big wings to the back, the course's greens were aptly described by 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy as “beautiful and scary.”
From 2016 to 2017, the West Course underwent a massive renovation by Hanse Golf Course Design. A key focus was reclaiming the original size and shape of Tillinghast’s greens, and in the process, lost features were rediscovered. With input from late club historian Neil Regan, the Hanse team expanded the greens by 26 percent, unlocking new dynamics and capturing a broader variety of pin positions. It’s incredible to look at photos from the 2006 U.S. Open in comparison to the 2020 U.S. Open and compare the sizes, shapes, and slopes of these greens.
Golfers don’t have to wait long to experience the exemplary contouring of Winged Foot West's putting surfaces. The first hole features a stunning green with a trough that snakes through its center and creates several core sections: the front, in the trough, right, or left. It is a fitting introduction to the exhilarating architecture that defines the course.
Winged Foot West is set to continue its championship legacy by hosting the 2028 U.S. Open. However, the big question remains: how will the course challenge the modern professional golfer? At the 2020 U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau appeared to solve the Winged Foot puzzle by overpowering the course. He leaned into his immense strength, hitting long drives and short, hacking approach shots from the rough that used the open approaches to the greens. Counterintuitively, more width might be part of the answer for Winged Foot West. Historical aerials reveal that Tillinghast originally intended the course to be much wider than it is today. Restoring fairways to their original width could enhance strategic options and ensure that success at Winged Foot relies on more than just power.
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