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US Open

4 posts
  1. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    6/17/2013 4:06 PM
    A little surprised that there has been little chatter about the Open here on the forums.

    I certainly enjoyed watching and enjoyed the stretch of holes that were birdie chances due to distance, yet they didn't yield to many birdies, (Except 13 and even that wasn't a lot for as short as it played).

    I did think a couple of the par 3's were extreme, of course I couldn't really see how much lower some of the greens sat below the tee area. Also a couple of the long holes were pretty dang long, one hole they had to carry the ball 250 yards?, guess they couldn't miss it at all. Did see the tape this morning when Phil complained about how long number 3 played, it was after he teed off on # 4, he said something to an official as he was walking toward the fairway. But hey, that one guy put driver up near the hole. (I did agree it was a little too long) but over all it was fun to watch, while not being boring.

    Great job to everyone who worked so hard through all the weather to get the course ready for play.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  2. Timothy Walker
    Timothy Walker avatar
    0 posts
    6/17/2013 5:06 PM
    Melvin Waldron, CGCS said:

    I did think a couple of the par 3's were extreme, of course I couldn't really see how much lower some of the greens sat below the tee area. Also a couple of the long holes were pretty dang long, one hole they had to carry the ball 250 yards?, guess they couldn't miss it at all. Did see the tape this morning when Phil complained about how long number 3 played, it was after he teed off on # 4, he said something to an official as he was walking toward the fairway. But hey, that one guy put driver up near the hole. (I did agree it was a little too long) but over all it was fun to watch, while not being boring.

    Great job to everyone who worked so hard through all the weather to get the course ready for play.

    Mel


    Now he knows how some of us average players feel with some of the new par 3's hitting fairway woods or sometimes a driver (however infrequently).



  3. Ronald Conard
    Ronald Conard avatar
    4 posts
    6/18/2013 1:06 PM
    I guess I've never understood why people get hung up on what the par number is for a hole. If the same par 3 was instead a par 4 everyone would be saying how cool the hole was because of all the birdies, when in reality a 3 is still a 3. Am I missing something?



  4. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    6/18/2013 3:06 PM
    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: I guess I've never understood why people get hung up on what the par number is for a hole. If the same par 3 was instead a par 4 everyone would be saying how cool the hole was because of all the birdies, when in reality a 3 is still a 3. Am I missing something?


    In some regards Ron, I agree with what you are saying, and in tournament golf when you are playing against the field, it is the numbers that golfers get on the hole that count, not if they are making pars, birdies or bogeys when it comes down to it..

    I think we get hung up on par for one it makes it easier to track the scoring of all the golfers in the tournament.

    I think the other reason is, since this is a game where maybe more often then not on the recreational side, or so when we are playing by ourselves, it allows us to challenge and track our progress, it's us against the course. Maybe if we didn't worry so much about par and just the good shots we hit, would the game be more fun? I guess that would be a good discussion for growing the game?

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  5. Trevor Monreal
    Trevor Monreal avatar
    5 posts
    6/22/2015 10:06 AM
    Worse I have ever seen...
    FOX coverage was terrible. I actually quit watching Friday and Saturday.
    And, we all heard and unfortunately could see the problems with the greens (and I'm not talking about the color).
    I loved how the USGA was basically saying 'this is what you get when you have a sustainable golf course'.
    Not sure this will help drive the game
    What a shame



  6. Larry Allan
    Larry Allan avatar
    0 posts
    6/22/2015 10:06 AM
    The coverage was brutal. I even wished Johnny Miller was at the helm (almost).



  7. Steven Huffstutler
    Steven Huffstutler avatar
    11 posts
    6/22/2015 12:06 PM
    Larry Allan said: The coverage was brutal. I even wished Johnny Miller was at the helm (almost).

    Johnny Millers absence was the only saving grace of that broadcast



  8. Corey Eastwood
    Corey Eastwood avatar
    80 posts
    6/22/2015 12:06 PM
    Play it as you find it. If the fire is to hot then get out of the pan. Agree on FOX coverage. But not with the cry baby primidonas. Great job by Eric and staff and the USGA. Should have had more air time of Holly.

    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired

  9. Clay Putnam
    Clay Putnam avatar
    33 posts
    6/22/2015 12:06 PM
    Bad coverage. Fox Sports needs more practice.

    As for the course, I have always been a "play it as it lies" kinda person. All the humps and bumps and firmness and all the rest. Seems like evrey year a handful of players aren't happy with this or that. Having said that, I have never heard as much criticism about a course as I did with Chambers Bay and I did find myself agreeing with the some of the player's concerns regarding the different growth habits of the Poa vs the Fescue. If there is anyplace on a course that should be consistent [u">for all[/u"> it's the putting surface. I'm just sorry the course became as much of a story as the exciting tourney itself.



  10. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    6/22/2015 12:06 PM
    The coverage was pathetic. Too much booth time and not enough coverage of the players. Only saving grace was they showed more of a mix of the players than just the leaders, which is typically what NBC and CBS do. Brandel Chamblee's suggestion of installing TifDwarf or TifEagle showed his ignorance and allowing Gary Player to bash the course lost a lot of respect. Then Sunday's interview with Billy Horschel, knowing how much of a loud mouth that guy can be, was nothing but expected by Fox News...err, I mean Fox Sports. I kept waiting for the live coverage from the marina fire to interrupt the Open.

    At the end of the day everybody played the same course. It was a true test of Links style golf and very similar to what is found around the world, especially in Europe. I think the course was an excellent venue, however the USGA could have done a better job with the presentation. A bit more water and half the gripes would have disappeared. Hats off to the staff!



  11. Steve Nelson
    Steve Nelson avatar
    0 posts
    6/22/2015 1:06 PM
    Didn't like the coverage, but I thought Norman was good. Loved the course and the scenery- quite the setting. Absolutely hated all the whining, not sure what it is about the US Open, but it brings out the worst in the players. Not one of them will have the juevos to criticize St. Andrews a month from now.

    Perhaps it may have been better to have the greens be a little more lush, not sure greens with those undulations should be that fast. Of course, then they would have complained about slow greens.

    Bottom line, had Johnson eagled out it would have erased all whining and given us maybe the most exciting finish ever at a major. Even so, Spieths play at 18 was fantastic, and we have a rising star on a march to a possible Grand Slam. I hope he does it, golf needs a superstar again to put some fire back in the industry.



  12. Keith Pegg
    Keith Pegg avatar
    0 posts
    6/22/2015 4:06 PM
    FOX!!!!! may they never do golf again, with the worst TV greens I have seen and the zooming camera with people talking in every back swing. (I know the players could not hear but I could)! The USGA has lost me maybe for good. That said the course design was good even if the grass was wrong for the NorthWest. In 5 years it will be Poa like 99% of the Seattle / Tacoma courses and look good I am sure.

    Keith
    Zama, Japan



  13. Trevor Monreal
    Trevor Monreal avatar
    5 posts
    6/23/2015 2:06 PM
    Andy Jorgensen said: Then Sunday's interview with Billy Horschel, knowing how much of a loud mouth that guy can be, was nothing but expected by Fox News...err, I mean Fox Sports.

    Hey...at least he was being honest. But you're right though, honesty is something some people would rather not have when covering important events.



  14. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    6/23/2015 2:06 PM
    Just saw today that Mike Davis' 15' yacht was included in the marina fire. He lost everything.



  15. Kenneth Rue
    Kenneth Rue avatar
    3 posts
    6/23/2015 3:06 PM
    I was awaiting a fly over upon introduction to covering the US Open by Joe Buck and for the golden bear to throw out the first pitch.



  16. Steven Huffstutler
    Steven Huffstutler avatar
    11 posts
    6/23/2015 3:06 PM
    Fox Sports is now the official apologist for the USGA



  17. Keith Lamb
    Keith Lamb avatar
    3 posts
    6/23/2015 6:06 PM
    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: Fox Sports is now the official apologist for the USGA


    Joe Buck for the Old Tom Morris award!!



  18. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    7/1/2015 4:07 PM
    Andy Jorgensen said: Just saw today that Mike Davis' 15' yacht was included in the marina fire. He lost everything.


    15 foot "yacht"?



  19. Peter Bowman
    Peter Bowman avatar
    11 posts
    7/1/2015 6:07 PM
    Stephen Okula, CGCS said:
    Andy Jorgensen said: Just saw today that Mike Davis' 15' yacht was included in the marina fire. He lost everything.


    15 foot "yacht"?


    It must have been about 12 stories high.



  20. Michael Rogers
    Michael Rogers avatar
    2 posts
    7/2/2015 5:07 AM
    Here is an article about greens at US Open. http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/us-op ... or-fiction

    The greens putted the same for everyone but for me the chatter was unacceptable and for once I agree with Colin Montgomerie about holing 10 footers. I would like to see the putting stats for this Open.

    In Ireland, Declan Brannigan had pure fescue greens for years at a couple of the courses where he built and advised. Fescue makes a fine textured and fast surface but is tough to keep with heavy traffic.

    My first thought was what kind of seed head program was in place at Chambers Bay. I also question the amount of poa which seemed to be about 50-50 in my eyes.

    Over the years I have worked with a dozen of the best and most famous links courses in Ireland and England. Many have a mix of all kind of grasses that somehow create a good rolling surface when closely mown.

    The Chambers Bay site is spectacular and very successful so they must be doing many things right.

    Saludos Michael

    Marbella Golf Country Club



  21. Jason Schulte
    Jason Schulte avatar
    0 posts
    6/17/2018 8:06 PM
    Would love to know if Shinnecock super told usga to water Friday night?
    Usga has some explaining to do!



  22. Jason Schulte
    Jason Schulte avatar
    0 posts
    6/17/2018 9:06 PM
    1 of you 1st 5 viewers are golf guys. Say something, ressuresesct this dead forum.



  23. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    6/18/2018 6:06 AM
    I just want to know why the USGA feels it needs to trick up the golf course. What is wrong with playing it the way it always is? Everyone plays the same golf course and the general public wants to see birdies, not bogeys. I watched about 20 minutes of it.....they lost my interest a few years ago.



  24. Peter Bowman
    Peter Bowman avatar
    11 posts
    6/18/2018 6:06 AM
    I would think most members were sick to their stomachs seeing the greens like they were on tv.



  25. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    6/18/2018 6:06 AM
    Peter Bowman, CGCS said: I would think most members were sick to their stomachs seeing the greens like they were on tv.


    At least we can count on the US Open for not raising questions about our home courses "not looking like they do on tv".



  26. Steven Huffstutler
    Steven Huffstutler avatar
    11 posts
    6/18/2018 7:06 AM
    I've already had to explain twice this morning that it's not the Super who makes those decisions, its the USGA. That was the most boring tournament I've ever watched.


    Regards,

    Steve



  27. Jason Schulte
    Jason Schulte avatar
    0 posts
    6/18/2018 7:06 AM
    I know usga makes those calls, but that super's input must have been heard, one would think. USGA cannot just day we made a mistake because the same thing was said in 04. USGA CEO should resign



  28. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    6/18/2018 9:06 AM
    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I've already had to explain twice this morning that it's not the Super who makes those decisions, its the USGA. That was the most boring tournament I've ever watched.


    Regards,

    Steve



    I agree. But the USGA doesn't listen to the guy that knows that property in and out.... but they should.



  29. Keith Fellenstein
    Keith Fellenstein avatar
    0 posts
    6/18/2018 10:06 AM
    Don't know that we'll ever get the true story. USGA did themselves no favors saying what they did Saturday night...something to the effect that they heard everyone and will slow down the course. Either stay the course and see it through, or address the issue, but don't publicize it. What a fiasco. As far as players, it may have exposed those that had flaws in their game, but it definitely exposed those who had flaws in their character. Too many whiners.



  30. Christopher Thuer
    Christopher Thuer avatar
    101 posts
    6/18/2018 6:06 PM
    Not sure if accurate or not but aren't a good number of the USGA officials part timers with careers away from the USGA? Why would the Super and course maintenance staff, Director of Golf, Greens Chairperson, etc, not be the most qualified to be setting up their courses for the tournament? They see the course every day for years and would know best how far they can push their course and the best locations for challenging pin locations.

    Tom Meeks lives about a mile from me, down the lake, and plays our course often. Super guy. I really felt bad for him and what happened at the '04 Open. After seeing what has been happening with the US Open setup for decades, It appears that the problem is systemic within the USGA and not necessarily with any individual.

    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN

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