apprenti23 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Sh!t sign me up! I'm more than happy to put up an 85 in the open. I'd be playing golf on TV! Part of this years' story-line is that the US Open is being played on a public facility; meaning that anyone who wants to pony up can pay to play there. Another intriguing part of the story is that the golf course is much more of a links facility or "Open Championship" style than the normal parkland "US Open" style. Personally, I don't really care where they play, but would prefer them to play public facilities as often as possible. I know that hosting any tournament is an extremely easy way to grow the game and also help out facilities. Sure just having the tournament in different, remote areas such as the Pacific North-West is going to hopefully grow the game, but I feel that having it on a course where anyone can play just gives it that much more. I am instantly reminded to think back to Bethpage Black. It seemed as though the fans during the tournament were just that much more involved in the entire event. Maybe it was because they were proud of their facility, maybe it's just because they're from New York, I don't know. IIRC the USGA dumped quite a bit of money in Bethpage which was considered a dump. I wish they would do more of that. Find an awesome muni or diamond in the rough so to speak, give it five years or so and throw some money into it. Turn a golf course where every local has played or grew up playing into a tournament or championship golf course and wow, what a tournament you will have! This would have to have some type of positive effect on growing the game, right? Honestly, the USGA has to be making a mint over events such as this. You know they have to have extra cash. What did they have? 9,000 applicants for the event? How many came out of qualifiers? 80? Pretty incredible to think though that anybody on here has an opportunity to play in our Nations Super Bowl of Golf. I love it. So, what are your thoughts? Have you ever played a past US Open facility? Were any of them public? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 I have been lucky enough to play on multiple US Open facilities in the past. In fact, I am playing a future site, this Sunday, in Erin Hills. I have been lucky enough to play there a few times and have never really taken any pictures. I'll be sure to do that this time in hopes to share with you guys on here, but in a different thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP043 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 I've been pretty lucky as well. I got to play at Congressional CC in a member-guest, just a couple of years after thr 1997 Open there. I've played at Pinehurst #2 a half-dozen times. I've also worked as a marshall at both of those courses during US Opens. In addition to those two, I've played at two Open Championship courses (Carnoustie and St. Andrews Old Course) and just recently at the site of the upcoming PGA Championship, Whistling Straits. I gotta admit, its a real thrill to watch the actual championships on TV and know exactly what the players are facing. Honestly, the USGA has to be making a mint over events such as this. I agree that the USGA makes a bunch of money on THIS tournament, although I'm also certain the expenses involved in staging the event are far greater than any of us can imagine. However, the USGA stages many more events which make no money, but still cost a bundle to stage. The US Open finances a lot of what the USGA does through the rest of the year. Quote Irons Titleist T200, AMT Red stiff Rogue SubZero, GD YS-Six X T22 54 and 58 wedges 7-wood 5-wood B60 G5i putter Right handed Reston, Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 I gotta admit, its a real thrill to watch the actual championships on TV and know exactly what the players are facing. That's what I was thinking of but couldn't put it into words! Golf is the only sport where you can enjoy it with your buddies on the same stage as the pros. I find that so cool and love that it is not found in any other sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fozcycle Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 The closest I have come is to play Kearney Hills in Lexington KY...It's only a 3 minute drive from my Sister's home. They held many US Open Qualifiers there...... Tournaments/Championships Hosted: Senior PGA Tour Bank One Classic: 1990 - 1997 Kentucky State Amateur Championship: 1992 & 1995 Kentucky State Open Championship: 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship: 1997 PGA National Junior Series: 2001, 2002, 2005 - 2007 Kentucky Women's Amateur: 1998 Kentucky Women's Open: 2006 Kentucky Senior Open: 2003 & 2004 Celebrity Players Tour: 1999 - 2001 Kentucky PGA Championship: 1998 National Qualifiers U.S. Junior Amateur U.S. Amateur U.S. Public Links U.S. Senior Open U.S. Senior Amateur Southern Amateur Local Championships Include: Men's City, Men's Two Man, Bluegrass State Games and Larry Gilbert Lexington Open Past Champions of Interest Gary Player, Isao Aoki, Mike Hill, Vicente Fernandez, Tim Clark and Josh Teater. Many famous professional players from across the globe have walked the links of Kearney Hill. Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Bob Murphy, Jim Dent and Raymond Floyd. Floyd made his Senior PGA Tour debut to a galley of over 100,000 spectators. This event is thought to still be a Senior Tour record. Amateur players at the time that have played include: Trip Kuehne, Kelli Kuehne, Tim Clark, Ryuji Imada, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel. It's aPete Dye Links design and is very challenging. apprenti23 1 Quote Driver: 0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft Fairways: 0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft Hybrid: None in bag at the moment Irons: Titleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm). Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707, or Nike Method Core Drone w/Evnroll Gravity Grip Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fozcycle Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 The closest I have come is to play Kearney Hills in Lexington KY...It's only a 3 minute drive from my Sister's home. They held many US Open Qualifiers there...... Tournaments/Championships Hosted: Senior PGA Tour Bank One Classic: 1990 - 1997 Kentucky State Amateur Championship: 1992 & 1995 Kentucky State Open Championship: 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship: 1997 PGA National Junior Series: 2001, 2002, 2005 - 2007 Kentucky Women's Amateur: 1998 Kentucky Women's Open: 2006 Kentucky Senior Open: 2003 & 2004 Celebrity Players Tour: 1999 - 2001 Kentucky PGA Championship: 1998 National Qualifiers U.S. Junior Amateur U.S. Amateur U.S. Public Links U.S. Senior Open U.S. Senior Amateur Southern Amateur Local Championships Include: Men's City, Men's Two Man, Bluegrass State Games and Larry Gilbert Lexington Open Past Champions of Interest Gary Player, Isao Aoki, Mike Hill, Vicente Fernandez, Tim Clark and Josh Teater. Many famous professional players from across the globe have walked the links of Kearney Hill. Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Bob Murphy, Jim Dent and Raymond Floyd. Floyd made his Senior PGA Tour debut to a galley of over 100,000 spectators. This event is thought to still be a Senior Tour record. Amateur players at the time that have played include: Trip Kuehne, Kelli Kuehne, Tim Clark, Ryuji Imada, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel. It's aPete Dye Links design and is very challenging. Quote Driver: 0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft Fairways: 0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft Hybrid: None in bag at the moment Irons: Titleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm). Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707, or Nike Method Core Drone w/Evnroll Gravity Grip Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 Have never been across the pond but would love to one of these days. Like you, I've played Pinehurst #2 (before the redesign) and also Whistling Straits. In compiling my list, I'm having a hard time finding public courses that have hosted, but that's how it is in my area. I've also played Olympia Fields ('03 Open) numerous times. Although it's private, it's not impossible to get on. Another local major venue I've played is Medinah #3 (private) and a very cool experience. You can do everything there including shoot trap and skeet. When I was in college we played at Bellerive in St. Louis and also St. Louis CC which were both major courses from a long time ago. Crooked Stick and French Lick Springs in Indiana hosted PGAs, Kemper Lakes also hosted a PGA, here are multiple blasts from the past that are local to me that I've played as well- North Shore GC, Skokie CC, Glen View Club, and Onwetsia CC all in the north burbs of Chicago; and my favorite course on the south side Midlothian CC, another course on the south side that hosted a PGA back in the day is Flossmoor CC but that GC sucks IMO. The one that has eluded me is the Chicago Golf Club. One of these days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 There are quite a few classics that I would absolutely love to play- Winged Foot, Oakmont, Valhalla, Merion, Oakland Hills, Hazeltine, Southern Hills, and Baltusrol come to mind... fozcycle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revkev Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 I thought I had responded to this one. I've played Pebble, Bethpage, PGA National, Whistling and Blackwolf Run all of which have hosted some sort of major. Pebble and Bethpage were ions ago. Pace of play was slow, course conditions not so hot to terrible. Pebble was beautiful, Bethpage was ridiculously difficult (pre open fix). Neither Whistling nor Black Wolf is impossible so long as you are on the proper set of tees. I always played Black Wolf from the tees the ladies played their Open from and have shot 75. PGA National was very difficult because there are a number of holes where local knowledge is helpful. I cant begin to count the number of courses that I've played that have hosted tour events from PGA to LPGA to Champions. I agree with Dave, it's fun to be able to compare notes and think about what I did from a certain spot. I particularly enjoy that when I'm playing a course that the Women are playing. My game is closer to theirs than the guys. I would love to play Shinnecock and then an Old School course like Oakmont or Oakland Hills or Winged Foot. Quote Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60 Aldila R flex - 42.25 inches SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft Ping G410 7, 9 wood Alta 65 R flex Srixon ZX5 MK II 5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex India 52,56 (60 pending) UST recoil 75's R flex Evon roll ER 5 32 inches It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmikecpa Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I have played a bunch of courses that have hosted the Open. Bethpage Black Merion Oakmont Pinehurt #2 Congressional Winged Foot Shiinecock Baltrusol Philadelphia CC Fresh Meadow Philly Cricket Club Garden City CC Newport CC I agree with having more public courses host the Open. You are correct that the USGA dumped a bunch of coin into the Black to make it a championship course. For years it was run down and the least desirable of the five courses at Bethpage that you could play. The thing that makes Bethpage so cool is that it is really a muni that is run by NY State and pretty much no frills. There are also two more real quality course there in the Red and Blue that are about a step below the Black. apprenti23 1 Quote WITB 2024 Driver: Qi10 LS 9* Ltd. HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60 TX Fairway: BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5* Evenflow Black 75g 6.5 Fairway: Sim 19* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5 Hybrid: 0317x 22* KBS Proto 95x Irons: X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX Wedges: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner Putter: Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75" Ball: Z Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Damn! Do you have a favorite or top three from that list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmikecpa Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 If I narrowed it down to three it would be 1. Merion - grew up playing it an possibly my favorite course on the planet 2. Shinnecock - just fantastic layout and a blast to play. Surprisingly would be number 4 on my list of Eastern Long Island courses behind Friar's Head, National and Sebonack. 3. Toss up between the Black and Oakmont. Both solid layouts and just brutally long. Oakmonts greens are a lot tougher than he Black but an easier driving course than the Black. All of those courses are just awesome and the only one that I really just did not enjoy all that much was Newport CC. Great views and a pretty course but it does not fit my game at all. Quote WITB 2024 Driver: Qi10 LS 9* Ltd. HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60 TX Fairway: BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5* Evenflow Black 75g 6.5 Fairway: Sim 19* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5 Hybrid: 0317x 22* KBS Proto 95x Irons: X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX Wedges: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner Putter: Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75" Ball: Z Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Thanks for that! From watching them I feel like they'd all be incredible, but Merion would be an easy #1 for me as well! How cool are the flagsticks too? I'd try and take one lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmikecpa Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 They are very cool and a lot heavier than you would think. Also a heck of a lot harder to swipe than you would imagine but they are very heavily guarded on the course and in the maintenance barn. Quote WITB 2024 Driver: Qi10 LS 9* Ltd. HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60 TX Fairway: BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5* Evenflow Black 75g 6.5 Fairway: Sim 19* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5 Hybrid: 0317x 22* KBS Proto 95x Irons: X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX Wedges: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner Putter: Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75" Ball: Z Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apprenti23 Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Haha it'd be the ultimate item for anyone's "golf room!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmikecpa Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 That would be a nice addition. I think the members may be able to purchase the flag sticks that they take out of service but that may just be a rumor that I have heard. apprenti23 1 Quote WITB 2024 Driver: Qi10 LS 9* Ltd. HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60 TX Fairway: BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5* Evenflow Black 75g 6.5 Fairway: Sim 19* HZRDUS Red 75g 6.5 Hybrid: 0317x 22* KBS Proto 95x Irons: X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX Wedges: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner Putter: Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75" Ball: Z Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LICC Posted April 29, 2022 Share Posted April 29, 2022 The challenge with the USGA or the PGA upgrading a true muni is that so very few muni's have the bones to be a world-class challenge. Bethpage Black was originally designed and built to be just that, on the level of Pine Valley. Ferry Point is technically a muni and can present a major challenge but it is run as a high-end facility. If we are talking about true, geared for the masses muni's, ala Bethpage or Torrey Pines, there are probably very, very few that would have the length and design, and overall logistics (a property that can handle all the tents, production facilities, parking, etc.) that would work. Stuka44 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violinguy Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 I've always loved playing the regional courses the day after qualifying rounds. The rough is high and the greens run fast and true. Even a decent local course is a blast to play in those conditions. Quote BB Epic 10.5 turned down to 9.5. Stiff - Driver 3W - Stiff EX-9 3 & 5 hybrids, stiff Stealth irons, 5-PW, AW, Dynamic Gold Stiff SM6 56-degree SW, and 60-degree wedge Zing Putter w/Winn NTP midsize grip Tour Soft Wish list - Sub70 699 pro irons, Titleist TSI 3 driver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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