2024 PGA Championship Course Preview: Valhalla Golf Club

2024 PGA Championship Course Preview: Valhalla Golf Club

The golf world descends upon Louisville, Kentucky for the second men's major championship of the year as Valhalla Golf Club hosts the 2024 PGA Championship.

Valhalla is a long 7,609-yard par-71 designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1986 that features bentgrass greens. The fairways, tees and approaches all feature Zeon zoysiagrass while the thick four-inch rough is a mix of tall fescue and bluegrass.

There is significantly less shortgrass and more thick rough around the greens at Valhalla compared to Augusta National, so this will help some of the golfers who are less skilled around the greens and minimize the edge for players with elite short games, like Scottie Scheffler. Additionally, with rain expected in the Louisville area on Tuesday, Wednesday and potentially Friday, conditions could make this even more friendly for those who excel at bombing and gouging.

New tees were installed on holes No. 1, 12, 14 and 18, and the course will play 151 yards longer than it did when it hosted the PGA Championship in 2014.

Since Rory McIlroy won the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, the tees and fairways were resurfaced from bentgrass to Zeon zoysiagrass in 2021. The switch to Zeon Zoysiagrass helps the course play firm and fast all year long compared to the more seasonal bentgrass.

The average green size at Valhalla is relatively small at 5,000 square feet, and the greens are expected to roll at a 13 on the stimpmeter. Water is in play on seven of the 18 holes, and there are 62 bunkers in play.

This is the fourth PGA Championship at Valhalla as the club also hosted prior PGA Championships in 1996, 2000 and 2014 as well as a Ryder Cup in 2008 and Senior PGA Championships in 2004 and 2011.

Valhalla Course Stats

The course 18 miles east of downtown Louisville features just three par-5s with all three listed from 570 to 597 yards, including the 570-yard 18th hole.

The 597-yard seventh hole (pictured below) stands out as a unique risk/reward hole where golfers can either attack an island fairway 26 yards wide that makes the par-5 play 50 yards shorter or instead choose the more conservative right fairway. Water short and left is a factor to second shots from each fairway.

Valhalla also has four par-3s and 11 par-4s. Six of the 11 par-4s play over 470 yards, and only two play under 400 yards: the fourth and 14th holes. The 372-yard fourth hole can play as a drivable par-4 when the tees are up, but the 351-yard 14th hole features a true island green and will require a precise lay-up and wedge shot.

There is some hidden length on the par-3s at Valhalla as all four are listed at least at 190 yards, with the 14th hole playing as long as 254 yards.

Key Metrics for Valhalla Golf Club

• Total Driving (With an Emphasis on Driving Distance)
• Weighted SG: Approach (With Emphasis on 175+ yards)
• SG: Around the Green (With Emphasis on Courses with Thick Rough)
• SG: Total on Long and Difficult Courses
• Bogey Avoidance
• SG: Putting (With an Emphasis on Bentgrass)
• 3-Putt Avoidance
• Putting from 5-10 Feet