Captain Nathan Smith Reveals the Soul of Cypress Point

Send us Fan MailWe welcome USA Walker Cup Captain Nathan Smith to discuss the upcoming matches at Cypress Point Club, the first time this iconic course has hosted the event since 1981 and will be televised for the public to see its splendor.• Nathan Smith brings his perspective as a four-time US Mid-Amateur champion who has played in four Masters• Cypress Point's Alister MacKenzie design philosophy offers "an easy birdie or a hard-fought bogey" on every hole• The course demands strategic precision with properly played angles rather than just power• Each section of the course presents different challenges—forest holes (1-6), dune holes (7-12), and the iconic ocean holes (13-18)• The 16th hole requires a 230-yard carry over the Pacific Ocean and is considered by many to be the greatest par 3 in golf• The dune sand at Cypress is particularly penal with a "90% chance you're not going to be able to advance it very far"• Match play format perfectly suits the course design with constant risk-reward decisions where "no lead is going to be safe"• The 13th green exemplifies MacKenzie's genius with a design that "plays like six small greens" despite its modest size• Morning fog potentially giving way to afternoon wind can completely transform how the course plays within hoursTune in to Golf Channel this weekend to witness this spectacular venue and see the world's best amateur golfers compete in the 50th Walker Cup.Support the showTo find Justin best, please find him on Instagram @elitegolfswing or email him, [email protected] find Jesse best, also find him on Instagram @flaghuntersgolfpod or TEXT him, (831)275-8804.Flag Hunters is supported by JumboMax Grips and Mizuno Golf