Winged Foot Golf Club is one of the most prestigious golf courses in the northeastern United States due to its intense difficulty. The course is located in Mamaroneck, New York, which is just outside New York City. The course was designed by A. W. Tillinghaust, one of the most famous course designers who also designed other famous courses such as Baltusrol Golf Club and Ridgewood Country Club, both in northern New Jersey. The courses that Tillinghaust have designed are very similar in layout and structure. Winged Foot actually has two 18 hole courses, the East and West course, both of which consistently rank in the top 100 golf courses in the United States. The West course is perhaps the more famous one, as countless major championships have been played on it. The West course is a Par 72 course that is just over 7,400 yards. This means that the course favors those who are able to hit the ball far, but also have precision around the greens. The course features several angulated greens that make short game very difficult. Many of the holes also have a course feature known as a “false front.” Basically, a false front is a steep hill at the front of the green that causes golf balls to roll down once on the green. This causes extreme difficulty around the greens and in approach shots. Many players record huge numbers of their scorecard just due to the difficulty around the greens and with putting.

Most recently, Bryson Dechambeau won the U.S Open in 2020. This win was especially historic because Dechambeau revolutionized the game. He essentially worked out and spent a lot of time getting stronger. On the course, Dechambeau was able to hit the ball extremely far which gave him a huge advantage over many other golfers that simply could not hit the ball as far. Many golfers are currently hiring personal trainers to get them in the best physical shape to perform. Golfers, historically, were not known as the most athletic, but the game certainly has shifted. Players now spend hours in the gym making sure that they are flexible and physically ready for tournaments. One of the most difficult aspects of the course is the rough. The rough is so thick that many players struggle to hit accurate shots out of it. Bryson Dechambeau was able to hit the ball so far that even though the ball might have been in the rough, he was only a few yards away from the hole and was able to control the ball better. Many golf experts doubted that golfers would be able to do this especially at a course like Winged Foot. The course has also held the U.S. Women’s Open, the PGA Championship, as well as the U.S. Senior Open since its founding. Overall, Winged Foot is one of the best courses to play, and even though it is very challenging, the experience is unparalleled. Being able to play one of golf’s greatest designer’s courses is a real privilege.