PGA DFS Hole By Hole Breakdown: BMW Championship (2023)

August 16, 2023

Josh Bennett's Hole-By-Hole Course Breakdown for The BMW Championship (2023), an in-depth look into the host course for PGA DraftKings tournaments.

Welcome to the latest edition of the PGA DFS Hole-By-Hole Breakdown, where Josh Bennett (@JishSwish) breaks down the course the PGA Tour is playing each week. We think this course breakdown is an important slice of the "PGA DFS pie" and will help change the way you do your research for every tournament. A good understanding of the course that's being played is extremely important before diving into individual players. Each week, this article will give you everything you need to know about the course, strategies players could take, and statistics that fit the specifics of the layout.

This week's Breakdown features Olympia Fields Country Club, host of the PGA Tour's BMW Championship. If they want to secure their spot in the playoffs next week, they'll need to be accurate off the tee and hit their irons close. Be sure to also read all of our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS and betting articles to help you win big!

Olympia Fields Country Club (North): Par 70, 7366 Yards

Hole 1: Par 5, 626 Yards

Off the Tee: They don't ease them into the course to start off their rounds, they get thrown into a very long par 5 off the first tee that has a tough tee shot. Out of bounds is left, as is a fairway bunker just past the average landing area. On the right, a little farther down is another bunker, and even more right is a line of trees that will be in the way for any approach. Since this hole is so long, only the extremely long hitters will have a chance to get to the green, so the result of this tee shot is not extremely important. If they hit the fairway, almost every player will have to lay up, and if they miss the fairway they will obviously have to lay up. The only rule on this tee shot should be to move the aim point to a spot where O.B. left is not in play.

Approach: The majority of the field will lay up from their tee shots to a preferred wedge distance. The most likely situation from a missed fairway off the tee will see lay ups right behind the first set of fairway bunkers which will leave a long wedge in. The most likely situation from the fairway is a layup over the set of fairway bunkers that will leave a very short wedge in. Either way, good wedge players should have a good scoring chance to a nice-sized green with bunkers on the front-left and front-right that won't be in play with wedges in hand. Green Size: 30x25 yards

Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 5 Scoring

Hole 2: Par 4, 467 Yards

Off The Tee: Another tough tee shot on the 2nd. Trees are in the way on a miss too far left, and bunkers will catch a miss right for most players in the field. A carry of over 305 will get long hitters over the bunkers, and then the hole is wide open, so being very long off this tee is a huge advantage. Otherwise, accuracy is important to avoid the tree lines and the bunkers.

Approach: A medium-length approach for most of the field to a well protected green with bunkers protecting both the left and right sides. Long hitters who cut off the hole over the bunkers off the tee will have much shorter approaches, potentially even wedges. Scoring should be plenty from there, otherwise par will be a great score. Green Size: 15x35 yards

Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, Bogey Avoidance

Hole 3: Par 4, 461 Yards

Off The Tee: The fairway is split up here, but the first section of the fairway is meaningless. The hole is long enough that driver will have to be hit. The fairway is thin, but the only trouble is the trees on the left so they'll move their aim points to the right and bring a bunch of the rough into play. If the rough is up, this hole will place a premium on accuracy because of how long the approach will be from thick rough. If not, the hole is much easier.

Approach: Another medium-length approach, but this one is a little easier than the last. The creek that runs across the fairway is not in play, and the bunkers near the green won't be either unless the rough is up and contact is difficult. However, the green is smaller and will be more difficult to hit, so short games will be important on this hole. Green Size: 20x25 yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, GIR, Scrambling

Hole 4: Par 4, 400 Yards

Off The Tee: More trouble off the tee on the left side on this hole, but this time the hole is short so we will see players in the field lay up off the tee to make sure it stays between the tree lines. If they do decide to hit driver, accuracy will be extremely important because any miss will be stuck behind trees and almost guarantee a bogey.

Approach: Even with fairway woods or irons off the tee, they will still be hitting wedges to this green. Bunkers protect the front-left and front-right, but won't be in play much with wedges in hand. Assuming they can get the ball between the tree lines off the tee, this will be a scoring hole for the whole field. Green Size: 20x25 Yards

Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring

Hole 5: Par 4, 417 Yards

Off The Tee: Back-to back short and narrow holes, but this one moves to the middle of the course so O.B. is not in play anymore. Trees are in play on both sides and a bunker is in play on the left, which narrows the fairway to almost nothing. Once again on this hole, we will likely see lay ups off the tee to try and keep it in the large part of the fairway and have a good look at this green.

Approach: A wedge approach to this green even with lay ups off the tee. Really short hitters may hit short-irons, but most will still have wedges to another green only protected on the front-left and front-right. The bunkers won't be in play, so as long as they keep it between the tree line like the last hole, this will be a scoring hole for the field. Green Size: 25x20 Yards

Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring

Hole 6: Par 3, 187 Yards

Approach: A medium-length par 3 playing to a green protected around the front edges by large bunkers. The green will favor a right-to-left ball flight and will be difficult to hit because of the shape, even though it's not necessarily small in size. Good around the green play will be important to keep bogey off the scorecard on this hole. Green Size: 15x30 Yards

Advantage: GIR, Scrambling, Par 3 Scoring

Hole 7: Par 4, 452 Yards

Off The Tee: This tee shot will require accuracy. The fairway gets narrow near the landing area with trees and bunkers on both sides that are in play for a ball that doesn't go near perfectly straight. The hole this time is not short, so they'll need to keep it out of trouble to have a shot at getting the ball on the green. Long hitters can take the bunkers out of play, but they cannot remove tree trouble so they'll have to be straight as well.

Approach: This approach is to one of the bigger greens on the course that's protected in the front and left. Those bunkers will catch shots that come from the fairway bunkers or players trying to punch it towards the green from the trees. Otherwise, since the green is so large, those that are in the fairway will be able to avoid them. Good all-around ball striking on this course will leave a good chance at scoring. Green Size: 20x35 Yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Scrambling

Hole 8: Par 3, 251 Yards

Approach: This is a long par 3 that the event could make even longer if they wanted to. Another tee box behind the measured distance can stretch this hole all the way out to 280 yards. Regardless, this hole is long and because of the length will play difficult. The green is large, but will be missed often again because of the length. Short games will be on display on this hole, most likely from the run-off space long and right of the green, but could be from the bunkers in the front-left and front-right as well. Green Size: 30x30 Yards

Advantage: GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance, Bogey Avoidance, Scrambling

Hole 9: Par 4, 472 Yards

Off The Tee: They close the front nine with another tee shot that has fairway bunkers that cut the fairway very thin near the average landing area. If they aren't long hitters, they will need to be accurate to stay out of the bunkers and out from the trees. The approach will be long, so bogey is in play if there is a miss. Longer hitters can carry the right bunker and eliminate that problem, but they still need to be accurate to avoid tree trouble.

Approach: A medium-length approach that will be difficult if it isn't in the fairway. Trees are close to the edge of the fairway and will be in play, so having to punch the ball low or play out of the fairway bunkers brings the green-side bunkers that protect the front of the green into play. If they happen to stay out of trouble off the tee, the green is large enough where it won't be difficult to hit and score on. Green Size: 25x30 Yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, Scrambling

Hole 10: Par 4, 444 Yards

Off the Tee: The tee shots do not get any easier heading to the back nine. Like many holes on the front, trees are in play on both sides of the hole, as are fairway bunkers that narrow the fairway down. Unlike previous holes that look like this, unless they are comfortable with their mid-range irons, they will not be able to lay up to the large part of the fairway short of the bunkers. Therefore, accuracy is key on this tee shot so they can have a good look at this green.

Approach: If they stay out of trouble on this tee shot, the approach should be perfect for scoring. It will be a short-iron or even a wedge into the green for some, and the green is only protected in the front-right and front-left by bunkers. The green is large and is accessible, so scoring should not be a problem on this hole. Green Size: 25x30 Yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring

Hole 11: Par 4, 396 Yards

Off The Tee: They finally get some relief on the tee shot here. Trees are not a problem on the right, plus just average length hitters will be able to take the whole right side and all of the fairway bunkers on the left out of play if they try to cut the corner. They can also choose to hit iron off the tee here and still have a wedge into the green. No matter the choice, everyone should have a great look at the green after this tee shot.

Approach: An easy wedge approach to a large green with bunkers on the front-left and front-right that are not in play. The whole field will look to attack the pins on this hole and we will likely see this as one of the easiest holes of the tournament. Green Size: 30x30 Yards

Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring

Hole 12: Par 4, 389 Yards

Off The Tee: Back-to-back short holes, but the tee shot is much different on this hole. The fairway is small and cut off by Butterfield Creek close enough where average-length players will roll into it. Therefore, we will see almost the entire field lay up on this tee shot. Since the hole is so short, they will still have wedges into the green so there is minimal incentive to hit driver unless they think they can carry the creek (looking at you, Bryson).

Approach: A wedge will be all that's left on this shot. The green has protection along the left and right sides by bunkers but should not be in play a ton because of the short approach. This should be the second hole in a row with great scoring chances for the whole field. Green Size: 20x25 Yards

Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring

Hole 13: Par 3, 168 Yards

Approach: This is a short par 3 for PGA Tour standards and will play as one of the easiest par 3's of the season. Mid or short-irons to this large green that only has bunkers in the front. They just have to dial distances to make sure the front of the green is covered, and then it's pin-hunting from there. This is a great chance for DFS players to get the 3-in-a-row birdie streak bonus. Green Size: 35x30 Yards

Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 3 Scoring

Hole 14: Par 4, 450 Yards

Off The Tee: The course let off the gas for a couple tee shots, but it's back with another difficult one on 14. Although we've seen Butterfield Creek on a handful of other holes, this is the first time it will actually come into play. They'll have to avoid it going down the right side, which will bring trees into play on the left. The landing area is narrow, so the tee shot has to be accurate. A miss to either side almost guarantees a bogey. A pitch out from the trees left will have to be short of the water leaving a long approach in, and obviously, a tee shot into the water has bogey written all over it.

Approach: As long as the tee shot is in play, a short-iron or wedge will be hit into this green. Like almost every other green on the course, bunkers are on the front-left and front-right but will mostly not be in play because of the short approach. This is a scoring hole with a good tee shot. Green Size: 25x25 Yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring, Scrambling

Hole 15: Par 5, 606 Yards

Off The Tee: A stretch of long holes to finish the round begins on the 15th. Although the hole is long, the key to this tee shot will be hitting it straight. If the shot gets too far off line, especially to the right, it will be blocked by trees. That will mean a pitch out to the fairway leaving a very long approach to a difficult green. Most will not be able to reach the green in two anyway, so they'll need to have the tee shot in a good spot so they can get it far down the fairway and have a wedge into the green.

Approach: Most of the field will have hit some kind of lay up shot, likely to a wedge distance. This green is small and protected on all sides except the back and back-left, so it is important to have an approach in with a wedge because long approaches will have a small chance of hanging onto the green. A full hole of all-around ball-striking is what will lead to scoring chances here. Green Size: 20x25 Yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Scrambling, Par 5 Scoring

Hole 16: Par 3, 215 Yards

Approach: The second long par 3 will be one of the hardest holes on the golf course. The creek is back on this hole, but will only catch extremely errant shots. The difficulty is that the green is small for how far the approach is coming from, plus it has a bunker right in front and another to the left, just in case they try to protect a bad miss right into the creek. The green will be hard to hit, so short games will be important on this hole. Par is a great score on this hole. Green Size: 20x25 Yards

Advantage: GIR, Scrambling, Bogey Avoidance

Hole 17: Par 4, 455 Yards

Off The Tee: They get one hole of relief coming down the stretch, and this one is it. As long as they avoid the creek on the right side, the landing area is wide open. The fairway bunker is only in play for the extremely long hitters, who may choose to hit fairway wood off this tee to eliminate that risk. This will be one of the easiest tee shots they hit for the week.

Approach: A short-iron into a green that, of course, has bunkers on the front-left and front-right. The bunker in the middle of the fairway is not in play for pros, so the only real trouble is just staying out of the green-side bunkers. Good iron players will have great looks at birdie on this hole. Green Size: 20x30 Yards

Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring

Hole 18: Par 4, 510 Yards

Off the Tee: To have the best look at the green on the last hole, they'll have to avoid hitting it into the trees on the left. There is more open space on the right side, although the fairway once again is narrowed by fairway bunkers. Even though right is better than left, the tee shot needs to be accurate either way. If it's not, trees are in play no matter what, plus there are fairway bunkers in play. Approaching from over 200 yards from a fairway bunker or behind trees puts bogey automatically in play.

Approach: Luckily, the green is large on the last hole, so even though the approach is long, the green should not be difficult to hit as long as the tee shot leaves a look at the green. Bunkers are in play exactly where they have been all day: front-left and front-right. As long as they keep those out of play, they should be able to get it on the green, two-putt and get out of there with a par. Green Size: 25x35 Yards

Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, Bogey Avoidance

Conclusions

The tee shots on almost every hole on this course demand accuracy. Trees line every fairway, and fairway bunkers narrow fairway widths down to 15 yards in places. Placing tee shots well into the fairway will leave great looks at these greens for birdies. However, missing spots will quickly bring bogey into play on most holes.

While accuracy off the tee is very important, having length attached to that will be very helpful to shorten some of the longer holes. Ball-Striking is a good stat that combines length and accuracy, and being an overall good ball-striker on this course will be helpful.

Since the fairways will be hard to hit, trees are in play everywhere, and fairway bunkers will even catch some good tee shots, being able to scramble around a golf course and avoid bogey will be what keeps players in contention. There are plenty of birdie opportunities throughout the round, but those won't matter if they can't keep the squares off the scorecard.

Other stats to consider: GIR, SG: Approach, Total Driving, Par 4 Scoring

Assumptions

Images and measurements were done on Google Earth. These satellite images can sometimes be up to five or more years old and not show very recent changes to courses if there were any.

Carry distance is used for off-the-tee distances shown in the images. The average carry distance on tour in 2022 was 281 yards, so that is what is used here.

I used a total dispersion off-the-tee of 60 yards. This comes from an article that Jon Sherman wrote for Practical Golf (@practicalgolf) discussing average dispersion, and I took 5-10 yards off from that number.

I assumed a 10-15 yard roll out from the carry distance to start the measurement to the green. Measurements to the green were rounded to the nearest five yards and measured from the center of the fairway to the center of the green.

Green measurements were also measured to the nearest five yards.

Things like weather, rough length, elevation, etc. are not taken into consideration on the measurements. I can only see and assume so much from satellite images. However, I do note where possible on each hole if things like elevation and wind could impact how the hole plays.

Scorecard:

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