USPGA Valhalla hole by hole guide: hole 7

A closer look at the 7th hole at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky - host of the 2014 USPGA Championship

Valhalla hole 7
The par-5 7th hole at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A closer look at the 7th hole at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky - host of the 2014 USPGA Championship

A closer look at the 7th hole at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky - host of the 2014 USPGA Championship...

Valhalla hole by hole guide: Hole 7 - Par 5 - 597 yards

There is opportunity to be aggressive on Valhalla's par 5, depending on your disposition. There's a split fairway, with the left route shortening the hole by some 50 yards. That said, the landing area - as well as being surrounded by some of the most penal rough on the course, and a water hazard to the right - is a mere 26 yards wide. From here, an approach of around 220 yards remains to a green fronted by a water hazard that also protects its entire left side. Eagles will be made here, but expect to also see plenty of double-bogeys.

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Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x