Many of the greens at Interlachen feature run-offs in the Donald Ross style, like the third hole. (Russell Kirk/USGA)

By David Shefter, USGA

Edina, Minn. – Sometimes numbers can be misleading.

The scorecard says, at 6,789 yards, Interlachen Country Club will play as the longest-ever U.S. Women’s Open course. For you mathematicians, that’s 40 yards longer than Cherry Hills C.C. outside of Denver played for the 2005 Women’s Open. It’s also 250 yards longer than the posted length for the 2002 Solheim Cup held at Interlachen and 117 yards longer than the 1930 U.S. Open at Interlachen, where Bob Jones won the third leg of his Grand Slam.

But take a more careful statistical examination of the figures and one can deduce that this isn’t your grandfather’s Oakland Hills circa 1954 or even today’s Torrey Pines. Translated: it won’t be a brute.

"It’s important to note that we’re going to play it to a par 73," said Mike Davis, the USGA’s senior director of Rules and competitions, at Women’s Open Media Day on May 19. "So for those of you who think the USGA is fixated on switching par 5s to 4s, we’ve got five par 5s this year."

This is a 180-degree reversal of normal USGA philosophy. Generally, short par-5 holes are converted into monster par 4s. The ninth at Winged Foot and No. 18 at Cherry Hills come to mind here.

But at Interlachen, three of the par 5s will play 525 yards or less, and four of the five could legitimately be reached in two shots. Only the 556-yard third hole figures to be a three-shotter for everyone due to the combination of length and a raised green that won’t allow for run-up shots.

The 473-yard dogleg-right second likely will be "easiest" of the par 5s and could yield a bunch of birdies and possibly some eagles. The USGA also has set up a couple of teeing areas at the second to alter the angles of the tee shot.

"I think that if we get regular weather conditions, whereby it’s not overly wet … a fair number of players can actually reach those in two," said Davis of holes two, 10 and 18. "The par 5s are truly where the players can make up a little bit on par."

Then again, Interlachen is the kind of course that tests the mind as much as physical skill.

The overly aggressive player could also pay the punishment for being too bold. And being a Donald Ross layout, the green complexes are small and can be penal if the ball winds up in the wrong spot.

For example, the short par-4 seventh (316 yards) could tempt some players to drive the green, while the downhill par-3 fourth (178 yards) features a green that slopes severely from front to back.

"Whether you can get to a par 5 or not, the thing about an Open is strategy," said defending champion Cristie Kerr, who won at another Donald Ross venue, Pine Needles. "You can be aggressive, but you have to know when to do it and [when] not to do it. The more low-stress situations you have in the Open at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about."

And Interlachen will certainly test the world’s best from a strategic standpoint. Very few of the holes are straight and the rolling terrain can produce plenty of uneven lies. And with green speeds expected to be 11.5 on the Stimpmeter, keeping approach shots below the hole will be paramount, especially since many of the green complexes feature run-offs in the Ross style.

"There’s not a bad hole on this course," said Kerr, a member of the 2002 U.S. Solheim Cup team that competed at Interlachen. "I love Donald Ross. He’s probably my favorite course designer. And he’s always incorporated a good mix of holes. This is one of my favorite golf courses."

David Shefter is a staff writer for USGA’s New Media. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.