I initiated a thread on this subject a short while ago.
This is what happens when you take the King's "schilling"
Greens like # 12 and # 15 have to be on the hit list.
As golf courses increase speeds the natural progression is to flatten greens, eliminating their character, challenge and the fun associated with playing them.
What's difficult to understand is the following.
When you have character laden and challenging greens like
# 12 and # 15, why on earth would you alter them for 50 to 150 golfers for four days out of the next 10 to 15 years ?
Why would the members tolerate a disfiguration of those greens which will make them less challenging and less fun for all members and their guests when the U.S. Open leaves town and the greens are returned to their daily speeds ?
Why squeeze the distinctive life out of those greens ?
Once they're disfigured, they won't be restored, they'll be lost forever.
Shame on the leadership and members of Merion, Winged Foot and other clubs that permit these permanent disfigurations to their golf courses in exchange for hosting a Major Tournament.
What's disappointing is that Merion and Winged Foot have such rich golfing traditions, yet, they've lost their way, sold their architectural soul in exchange for notoriety.
As Jeff Warne stated, for the best golfers in the world, you'd think that the best defenses lie at the green end.
The arguement that hole locations are limited is nonsense.
Hole locations are limited at a number of great greens, be it the Postage Stamp at Troon or the 7th at Pebble Beach.
Merion, Winged Foot and other clubs embarking down this path will defend the disfiguration of these greens.
They have to, otherwise, they'll look more foolish.
They'll tell you about the increased number of hole locations returned to play, they'll show you computer generated graphics demonstrating how higher speeds can be accomodated, but, it's all smoke and mirrors, an attempt to justify the disfiguration in the name of presenting a more balanced challenge to the best golfers in the world.
As green speeds increase the natural progression for putting surfaces is toward flat, boring greens.
How does the U.S.G.A. reconcile recommending the disfiguration of historical greens with the mission of protecting the integrity of the game ?