What is a barranca? Here’s an easy answer

If you’ve been watching the U.S. Open and hearing the announcers talk about the barranca there’s a good chance you’ve been asking yourself, “what in the heck is barranca?”

Good news. We have a very simple answer: It’s a narrow, winding gorge that snakes through the course at Los Angeles Country Club. It’s also not really a place you want to hit a golf ball into.

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Fortunately, there isn’t much water in the barranca this week, so players may be able to hit out safely. According to the USGA, anyone who does find themselves stuck in the barranca will be presented with the unpleasant choice to either hit the ball as it lies or take relief for the price of one penalty stroke.

Barranca (noun)
1. A steep-walled ravine or gorge
2. Not a spot you want to hit your golf ball

Here are the rules that apply if a player ends up in a barranca this week at LACC. pic.twitter.com/xueIpn6EGn

— USGA (@USGA) June 13, 2023

But Dustin Johnson found the barranca during Friday’s second round. The result wasn’t pretty.

The barranca bites back.

Dustin Johnson cards a quad on No. 2. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/naWYKQETQZ

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2023

Here’s a look at some of the interesting photos of the barranca and the other trouble that Los Angeles Country Club offers up, and how it impacted some of the players this week at the U.S. Open.