Part 1 of our United States Open Championship of golf preview. Staff predictions and more from Pinehurst No. 2 tomorrow.

When Donald Ross broke ground at 80 Carolina Vista Drive down in Pinehurst North Carolina he envisioned something that the golf world had not seen in the United States up to that point. Ross wanted to challenge players in a way that was unique, but also rewarding. He focused on a design that made each shot equally as important both on and off of the dance floor.

Getting to each of Pinehurst #2's eighteen greens needed to be accomplished with pinpoint accuracy in order to be awarded a stroke at achievement. Birdies would be wonderful and pars should be earned. In order to complete this masterpiece he decided to give players an opportunity to take the risks necessary to become a champion.

When you turn on the final round of this year’s United States Open Championship of golf you will not see the rough that has become so familiar to the tradition of the tournament. What you will see are eighteen greens that can only be described as the crowns of eighteen kings. All who watch will be amazed not only by the turns and curves of each putt, but also by the speed of each try. There will be many tries on Pinehurst #2. However, most will only be that; good tries.

The task would not be easy for anyone who walked to the first tee. Short rough was replaced by narrow fairways and crucial approaches. Each of Pinehurst #2’s 7565 yards demands respect due to 70 shots it takes to achieve par. That’s correct, 7565 includes four par fours over 500 yards and four of the most difficult par threes on the planet (none of which are less than 190 yards for those of you who are keeping track).

172 bunkers are strategically placed to frustrate players on each hole who failed to execute the shots required for success. These bunkers also protected the world famous greens that made Arnold Palmer once call Pinehurst #2 the “Golf Capital of the World”. Jack Nicklaus once said Pinehurst #2 was his favorite course when talking lay out. The 18 time Major Championship winner never had a chance to compete for the Open Trophy at Pinehurst #2 during his domination of the competition throughout his incredible career. The course didn’t host the tournament until 1999 and then again just six years later in 2005. Up until 1999 the USGA was uncomfortable having the tournament at Pinehurst due to the possibility of some extremely warm temperatures. Jack was once quoted as saying, “I’ve enjoyed going out on #2 and seeing a totally tree-lined golf course without a tree coming into play.” The Golden Bear may be the only person you will ever hear say those words about Arnie's golf paradise.

Ross died in 1948 and never witnessed the tournament take place at his crown jewel. He did everything he could to find ways to make the course challenging and rewarding enough to host our country’s most challenging golf tournament. He was able to accomplish what all golf course designers should focus on. Ross created a golf course where good shots need to be followed by even greater putts if you plan to hoist the illustrious Open Trophy.

Read part 2 of U.S. Open preview here.