How Would You Set Up The US Open Course?

Why has the USGA deviated from standard US Open course setup? I just heard this morning on TV that one of the fairways at our national championship is over sixty yards wide. This is sacrilege. I have always believed that the US Open is the toughest golf tournament because players are required to hit it straight off the tee. The scoring on the first two days are ridiculously low, and this morning I told my colleagues that if the USGA keeps it up there will be the need for a title sponsor because this event may become a regular PGA Tour event. Seriously, why is scoring so low? What happened to the narrow fairways and deep rough we all used to see?

I have always believed that 280 should win US Opens, and in recent years--say, within the past five years--the tournaments held in 2012 (Olympic Club) and 2013 (Merion) were superb tournaments with very orthodox setups. I have no clue what they were thinking in Pinehurst (no rough?) or Chambers Bay (goofy), and how they set up those courses made little sense.

This brings up an interesting question: if you were president of the USGA, how would you set up the course for our national championship?

I will answer the question myself first.

1. Average width = 31 yards.

2. Intermediate cut = two yards wide cut to 1.75"

3. Primary rough = 5"

4. Greens running at about 11' on the Stimpmeter.

How would you set it up?

6 of the top 10

Missed the cut.

Rough around the greens. Closely mown areas are not a punishment for missing the green. I saw so many awful iron shots end up with a perfect lie in a fairway cut.

Every green would be like 18 at the 1998 US Open.

Then for anyone who escaped from a bad shot, I'd plant a Hinkle Tree, over night, to prevent it from happening the next day.

Winner +20.

Bethpage 2002! One of my favorite opens... having wide fairways, no rough around the greens and no trees doesn't do it for me.

The best ever US Open course set up is the 1974 US Open at Winged foot. Very simple setup: fairway, fringe and uniform, deep rough. +7 won it. When the US Open was at Pebble Beach in 2010, there was an intermediate rough at 3.5" between the first cut off the fairway and the primary rough. In the past five years, Olympic Club and I think Merion were akin to those setups. Those were superb US Opens. For this week? We should let Procter & Gamble be the title sponsor and this week's PGA Tour stop would be the Pampers US Open.

Bring back the rough! Scoring is ridiculous. This is our only opportunity this year to watch the best players in the world struggle.

Greens running 11? Pretty sure the average tour event is 12+.

For this week? We should let Procter & Gamble be the title sponsor and this week's PGA Tour stop would be the Pampers US Open.

Pampers U.S. Open. I love it.

Greens running 11? Pretty sure the average tour event is 12+.

Yes. And his 31 yards average fairway width is still at bit generous for a U.S. Open.

I will answer the question myself first.

 

1. Average width = 31 yards.

2. Intermediate cut = two yards wide cut to 1.75"

3. Primary rough = 5"

4. Greens running at about 11' on the Stimpmeter.

 

How would you set it up?

Based on the reaction to Erin Hills, it seems more like...

1. Average width = 1 yard.

2. Intermediate cut = 1 yard wide, 2 inches deep

3. Primary rough = 12" deep, as long as it's not fescue.

4. Greens running at 22' on the Stimpmeter.

I will answer the question myself first.

 

1. Average width = 31 yards.

2. Intermediate cut = two yards wide cut to 1.75"

3. Primary rough = 5"

4. Greens running at about 11' on the Stimpmeter.

 

How would you set it up?

 

Based on the reaction to Erin Hills, it seems more like...

1. Average width = 1 yard.

2. Intermediate cut = 1 yard wide, 2 inches deep

3. Primary rough = 12" deep, as long as it's not fescue.

4. Greens running at 22' on the Stimpmeter.

Now we're talkin'. :)

I will say the 3-4 inches of rain the course got in the 2 days prior to Thursday has hurt the course immensely...if dried out, the fairways would have tons of roll bringing the rough and bunkers in to play. With soft conditions, it's aim and fire off the tee and flag hunting on pretty much every hole.

As a fan, I don't mind good scoring and rewarding good shots...after all, these guys are good. But in the same token, as I said in another thread, we're seeing what pros do when they have balls in the fairway...they generally score well, no matter what they have in their hands for approach shots. The guys that missed the cut were the guys that had a bad 2 days off the tee.

With more rains coming tonight, tomorrow I think could yield a record-scoring third round in US Open history.

I wouldn't - just let em play. Any way you set it up, the best guy that week will win.

There was a fairway at Chambers that was like 98 yards wide. Come at me.

I'd definitely incorporate the windmill.

Based on the reaction to Erin Hills, it seems more like...

1. Average width = 1 yard.

2. Intermediate cut = 1 yard wide, 2 inches deep

3. Primary rough = 12" deep, as long as it's not fescue.

4. Greens running at 22' on the Stimpmeter.

No, seriously. What parameters would you select? Maybe this would be better?

1. Average width = 26 yards.

2. Intermediate cut = 2 yards wide, 2 inches deep

3. Primary rough = 8" deep

4. Greens running at 14' on the Stimpmeter

Merrion was my favorite US Open recently.

Id set up the winning score to be around E +/-4 depending on the weather. Id pick a shorter course, trees, deep rough, a shot makers course. Give every player a chance to use their strength on at least 6 holes. Give the guys the option to bomb it on a few holes with some serious rough and bunker risk, give them some fair flags to strike it pure and leave a 10-12 footer for birdie, and some sucker flags that they would be smart to play away from and sink a long bomb. tree lined with pine staw or other material of make it still punishing for missing the fairway and rough but to tempt some guys into going for miracle shots.

A driveable par 4, Id like to see half the field seriously consider going for it, and not being overly punished for hitting a good drive onto the green but running off. Missing the green would be a punishment and walking away with par would be considered excellent. Try to find a balance so the birdie % is similar between to the two plays, with little regard for bogey % for going for it.

The course would test the overall game and planning of the player, without favoring one style or player over another. Id also want the commentators before the tournament to talk about how its only playing 6800-6900 yards and the winning score is going to be -20 and every US Open record is going to be broken because the players are going to eat the course up.

The rough would go from 3" to 8" depending on how far you missed the fairway with a gentle slope from the first cut to the deepest where it levels off maybe give them 5' from the 3" to the 8". Maybe a few really deep grass bunkers near the green and close to some tiger lines. Makes it a little more challenging than just a regular bunker shot.

Id like to see some guys hit wayward shots and then some miracle recovery shots that they had seen through a gap and using slopes.

Greens would be quick, I like fast greens, I want some guys to get smacked for going above the hole.

Definitely a fan of rough around the greens at Opens. Of the real gnarly variety. I would have the greens stimping over 13 too.

A good old fashioned US Open bloodbath is long overdue imo.

Par is just a number. It's all relative, and the winner is the winner whether at -15 under or +5 over. There is a reason these guys are all on tour: they are +++ handicap and can play under pressure.

I will answer the question myself first.

 

1. Average width = 31 yards.

2. Intermediate cut = two yards wide cut to 1.75"

3. Primary rough = 5"

4. Greens running at about 11' on the Stimpmeter.

 

How would you set it up?

 

Based on the reaction to Erin Hills, it seems more like...

1. Average width = 1 yard.

2. Intermediate cut = 1 yard wide, 2 inches deep

3. Primary rough = 12" deep, as long as it's not fescue.

4. Greens running at 22' on the Stimpmeter.

 

Now we're talkin'. :)

Come on now, how is Phil going to win that way? ;-)

Then again, he'll probably have to win one playing from the rough anyway. Actually look forward to it.

Course fast and hard, but you can't control natural rainfall. My son played the course more than once and said, no way to keep the ball on greens if not perfectly played. Said he was astounded how the greens were holding approach shots. Also mentioned they are slow.

Par is just a number. It's all relative, and the winner is the winner whether at -15 under or +5 over. There is a reason these guys are all on tour: they are +++ handicap and can play under pressure.

I disagree. Par is a psychological barrier, and it messes with your head if you are weak mentally. Pressure is relative, if the course is set up difficult the pressure of winning a major becomes greater if you aren't on your game. The cream rises to the top when scores are high and par is difficult. Last year was a perfect example, DJ had the talent and belief, Oakmont is the perfect US Open venue. The US Open should test all aspects of your game, physical and mental.

Definitely a fan of rough around the greens at Opens. Of the real gnarly variety. I would have the greens stimping over 13 too.

 

A good old fashioned US Open bloodbath is long overdue imo.

I don't mind some collection areas that funnel the ball away from the greens but the green should be surrounded by rough if those slopes aren't present. If possible firm greens are more important than fast greens. But I like them both.

A good example is Pinehurst, that course is designed to have roll off areas, but another venue like winged Foot we need more rough not less

The US open winner should be the only player under par. It should difficult enough to allow only one player to figure it out.

Fairways can be wide be the rough has long enougg to penalize players for missing easy shots.

Greens can have collection areas as long as they are really tight lies

I think USGA needs to set a roto

I would like to see 4 private, 2 public, 2 resort, and the 2 courses every 10 years; one private and one public

Private

1) Oakmont

2) Oakland Hills

3) Olympic

4) Merion

Public

1) Bethpage Black

2) Torrey Pines

Resort

1) Peabble Beach

2) Pinehurst

Roto would

Private

Public

Resort

New Private

Private

Resort

New Public

Private

Public

Private

I would lengthen the course all the way. Then water the crap out of the fairways. The course is playing too short. Guys are reaching 670 yard par 5s for chrissakes. That can't happen unless the runways are concrete. I remember back when Cory Pavin won the US Open and he had to hit fairway woods into par 4s. That week, he earned it. I want to see a champion that earns it.

I would lengthen the course all the way. Then water the crap out of the fairways. The course is playing too short. Guys are reaching 670 yard par 5s for chrissakes. That can't happen unless the runways are concrete. I remember back when Cory Pavin won the US Open and he had to hit fairway woods into par 4s. That week, he earned it. I want to see a champion that earns it.

The winner at 7200 yard TPC Southwind last week didn't break -10.

It's not about length. Guys are scoring this week because rough is non-existent and rains have made normally tough greens very receptive and rolling perfect.

You give touring professionals balls on the fairways into greens that are receptive and rolling true, you get birdies.

I'd set it up like they have at Erin Hills. I've enjoyed watching this tournament. Fairways are wide, but strategy helps. Leaderboard has bombers like Koepka/Thomas and short-hitters like Reed/Harman. I don't need a narrow fairway, long rough, tree-lined death march to E.

Bethpage 2002! One of my favorite opens... having wide fairways, no rough around the greens and no trees doesn't do it for me.

Agree. Bethpage is the us open.

Width is good, doesn't have to be EH wide but width gives the players options and really challenges the strategy cause you'll have a much greater advantage being on one side of the fairway vs the other. Try to get it as firm and fast as possible, probably stop just before it goes full Shinny.

Well we know where the pin won't be located tomorrow after Fowler's pitch shot.