Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: BCowan on April 16, 2014, 10:11:11 AM
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I hope it isn't too early, but I just can't wait for the US Open this year..
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Don't you mean the 5th Major ;D
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Beyond the drama of The Masters, I had to bite my tongue on several occasions at my buddies house. He does not care for critiques of Augusta ! Sacred cow thing. Anyway, I'm really hoping Pinehurst US Open can remove some dogmas. Should I dare to envision a paradigm shift in golf design and maintenance? Certainly it will be a touchstone of the vox populi in golfer sensibilities. A Rorschach test, perhaps.
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PSA...
One word: Sandhills region of the Carolinas
One word: Sandhills region in north-central Nebraska
Two words: Sand Hills Golf Club
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PSA...
One word: Sandhills region of the Carolinas
One word: Sandhills region in north-central Nebraska
Two words: Sand Hills Golf Club
Ladies and Gentlemen, Howard Riefs, math instructor.
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It may be a tough sell and you may not transmute the opinions of those who ache for pretty, pretty pictures; those who long for soft, plush fairways; those who pine for flat greens and bins of birdies.
The ebb and flow of praise and criticism from media, contestants and attendees will be an interesting story line. Our age of instant reaction produces forgettable yet injurious commentary from innumerable, unrestrained sources.
I've played #2 twice and can put these words to my experiences: in the moment, in the now of then, I enjoyed every shot, every challenge that was presented to me. If it's a weakness in my ability to tell a story, it is thus, but I cannot create drama where for me there is none. The course is not dramatic, but the holes (especially they par threes after #6) are of incredible character. In fact, I've just answered a question I silently pondered: which hole do I value as weak? It would be the sixth and you can scroll through to view it a bit here (click the "hole by hole" tab, halfway down the page):
http://www.pinehurst.com/golf/courses/no-2/
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. . .
. . .I cannot create drama where for me there is none. The course is not dramatic, but the holes (especially they par threes after #6) are of incredible character.
Ronald, Do ou mean to say that the course is not dramatic visually or strategically or fatefully, or . . . ?
I have never played it, only walked it a couple of times , but I was very impressed by the visuals and strategies and admired what, theoretically, were features that would integrate fate. ( one of my favorite traits I look for in a golf course.)
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Howard Riefs, math instructor.
I prefer:
(http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110204165556/uncyclopedia/images/a/ab/GrammarPoliceLogo.jpg)
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For those of you coming to Pinehurst for the Open I live an hour north and would come down and meet up if you are playing at a nearby course. If you want some suggestions of courses to play which may not be as crowded as those immediately in Pinehurst i have a couple in mind.
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If I had to put into one word what I'm looking for from these US Opens, it would be:
Domes greens stimped at 13, coupled with strategic bunkering.
Challenge thrown down.
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If I had to put into one word what I'm looking for from these US Opens, it would be:
Domes greens stimped at 13, coupled with strategic bunkering.
Challenge thrown down.
Sounds good to me! We're talking about the best players in the world, so make them earn it.
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If I had to put into one word what I'm looking for from these US Opens, it would be:
Domes greens stimped at 13, coupled with strategic bunkering.
Challenge thrown down.
I think you mean "one" sentence.
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If I had to put into one word what I'm looking for from these US Opens, it would be:
Domes greens stimped at 13, coupled with strategic bunkering.
Challenge thrown down.
I think you mean "one" sentence.
"One" paragraph.
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. . .
. . .I cannot create drama where for me there is none. The course is not dramatic, but the holes (especially they par threes after #6) are of incredible character.
Ronald, Do ou mean to say that the course is not dramatic visually or strategically or fatefully, or . . . ?
I have never played it, only walked it a couple of times , but I was very impressed by the visuals and strategies and admired what, theoretically, were features that would integrate fate. ( one of my favorite traits I look for in a golf course.)
Slag, by "fate" do mean luck? You mean a given shot on a given line might be either on the green or suddenly in a deep bunker? Love it.
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Play along guys...one word!
Also, Pinehurst stimped at 13 seems like it might be a lot
Like Seminole.
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Bill, yes. That and the Wire Grass plantings in the sandy wastes that may or may not effect the golf ball and its player. Also, no fairway lining rough to catch or slow down rollouts into these wastelands. And, I'm assuming the fairways will be firm for some running of the ball.
What I like about fate is the suspense it adds to the game; both in the air (wind, ball spin) and on the ground (land features). Sort of goes back to the John Kirk "Time" theory.
Years ago I got into a heated debate with the editor (Mr. Pink's lackey?) at ScottishGolf dot UK when he suggested that THE OPEN (British) be designed more in the US Open fashion to determine the world's finest player. WTF? I couldn't understand why the player's importance was placed above the golf course's importance. (I sure miss their weekly newsletter, though.)
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Psyched to cover it, psyched to play a little, psyched to see everyone, psyched for the interviews I'm doing for my preview.
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Mother Nature will influence the perception and play at Pinehurst #2, as she always does.
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Gentlemen,
I may well be under-informed but it seems to me that the USGA has had less input into re-configuring Pinehurst #2 that they have had with respect to previous U.S. Open venues. Is this, from afar, a valid impression?
I am more interested in how this U.S. Open plays out than I have been for many a year. I hope this is due to the course itself separating the sheep from the goats and not excessive rough demanding boring down the middle application. The wiry grasses in the waste areas are, to me, a far more interesting hazard than simply thicker grass.
It will be very interesting to see how things are changed, in terms of length I guess, when the women tackle it later in the season. I always feel that the ladies strategies in attacking any given hole would be more in line with how I might tackle things ( though no doubt, in my case, with considerably less expertise!).
Pat,
Are you afeart that mother nature will produce soggy greens, too much wind or what precisely. I would have thought that a course of this calibre would withstand the vagaries of nature … no?
Cheers Colin
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When I was there in November the caddies were saying that the current light scattering of wire grass, interspersed with large areas of sandy hard pan was going to be transformed into a mini jungle by turning on the hose! Anyone know if this is the plan?
If it is, selling this US Open as being held on a course that has no "rough" is a bit disingenuous...
That's accurate, it's already starting to get thicker in some areas.
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Never too early to start guessing the winning score. For reference:
Par 70 in both 1999 and 2005. Winning scores were -1 and Even, respectively.
I think the weather was good (and steamy) both years, and both Tiger and Phil were right there at the end.
I'm going with -1 per day, or -4 for the winner.
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The women will shoot lower than the men as hipster rubes declare architecture is the real winner.
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I think I was illuminated when I wrote that second post.
The course has zero general-public-wow factor: no ocean, no cliffs, no dramatic creeks, no hills (and I know about 4 and 5), no valleys (same). It's so sublime that its gca-wow factor is recognizable to us. It has the great misfortune to have Michael Campbell as its defending champion. The Payne Stewart angle will be played again and again. They best hope that Philly Mick wins to complete his career slam.
I did mean what I wrote. When you are playing it decently to well, every shot comes alive. It looks flat, plays subtly up and down, yet devours you with healthy doses of strategy.
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The course has a dead hero. That trumps any ocean.
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Looking forward to attending on Thursday of the tourney. I am going with -2 winning.
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Looking forward to attending on Thursday of the tourney. I am going with -2 winning.
So you pay more to watch golf than to play it. What do you hope to get out of attending an event at a course that you would never play? I reference your $150 rule.
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Looking forward to attending on Thursday of the tourney. I am going with -2 winning.
So you pay more to watch golf than to play it. What do you hope to get out of attending an event at a course that you would never play? I reference your $150 rule.
Tixs are $125 (thur and fri) going to be in NC on vacation with family. I played it in 98'. I believe I can see more of the restoration walking the course and observing it vs. playing it.
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98? Was it a Bar Mitzvah gift?
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98? Was it a Bar Mitzvah gift?
No.
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Is anyone in the DG participating in Open qualifying?
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This might be one of the more interesting Women's Opens in some time. Hopefully some of the personalities who have been playing well this year will get in contention.
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Is anyone in the DG participating in Open qualifying?
I'm caddying for somebody trying to qualify. I agreed to provide him lodging if he makes it so he's got that going for him. :)