U.S. Open Hole 12 preview -- Chambers Bay, 18 holes in 18 days

Published Jun. 11, 2015 9:27 a.m. ET

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In the 18 days leading up to the June 18 start of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, FOXSports.com and Golfweek will preview the Chambers Bay course -- one hole at a time.

Today’s hole: No. 12 -- Par 4, 281/311 yards

This hole is like downshifting in a Ford Chicane on a LeMans racetrack. Players must be careful not to veer off course on an enticing, maddening, and – for most of the field – reachable par-4. The approach zone runs narrowly through huge dunes, then brings a massive blowout bunker into play short and left of the green.

The putting surface might best be described as a dogleg-left punchbowl that’s barely clinging to a hill. Its three tiers could bring players to tears. Reaching the mammoth green, 58 yards long, is easy, but holding the correct one of three -- or is it four? -- plateaus will be the real problem. Plenty of players will make eagles here, but many more will three-putt. A driver off the tee will draw all the wows, but a 6-iron or wedge might be a smarter play and produce, on average, lower scores.

Earlier holes

No. 1 -- Par 5/4, 598/496 yards

No. 2 -- Par 4, 399 yards

No. 3 -- Par 3, 163-198 yards

No. 4 -- Par 4, 495 yards

No. 5 -- Par 4, 488 yards

No. 6 -- Par 4, 495 yards

No. 7 -- Par 4, 508 yards

No. 8 -- Par 5, 614 yards

No. 9 -- Par 3, 217/224 yards

No. 10 -- Par 4, 436/468 yards

No. 11 -- Par 4, 500/537 yards

Golfweek's complete preview

Holes 1-18