2018 US Senior Women's Open (MERGED)

[DavePelz4]

15-why should this club never host a tour event? Great course only for the members?

 

Hey Shil...I've played CGC. It's not long enough, doesn't have the practice facilities and doesn't have the spacing for corporate tents, etc. It's the purest golf course you'll ever play though and it was a privilege to play it.

[wrbush31]

15-why should this club never host a tour event? Great course only for the members?

 

Hey Shil...I've played CGC. It's not long enough, doesn't have the practice facilities and doesn't have the spacing for corporate tents, etc. It's the purest golf course you'll ever play though and it was a privilege to play it.

 

Well said. And like 15th said, there’s not a single thing I’d want changed. It’s a historic gem that should be preserved.

[Shilgy]

15-why should this club never host a tour event? Great course only for the members?

 

Hey Shil...I've played CGC. It's not long enough, doesn't have the practice facilities and doesn't have the spacing for corporate tents, etc. It's the purest golf course you'll ever play though and it was a privilege to play it.

I get that. It was the phrasing that got me. "They should never..." . Yes it's too short. Any the biggest reason is the lack of room for tents and grandstands.

But you, in this case, cannot blame the modern ball. They haven't held any big events in forever other than the recent noted WC.

Edit.. Addition... There is nothing wrong with these older courses still doing their part for the game by holding elite women's events.

[jkumpire]

Great course, great players, great tournament. I am glad the USGA found a course willing to host and its a great place for a great event. It should ha ve happened a long time ago. The last round will be very interesting to watch if Davies gets some heat put on her by Inkster.

[pwa]

And good on Fox Sports 1 to stay a few minutes over for the final three-some and to allow Johnson to putt out.

[rangersgoalie]

So, it is a great historic course, that anybody with a yearning for classic architecture would love to see and study.

 

So it is relevant for 98+% of all golfers, and membership sees no need to screw it up in a misguided attempt to somehow

“Keep up”with players that do not matter to the memberships’ enjoyment of a great golf course.

 

Well done CGC, for not caving, and proving that great golf courses can still be considered great without the need to have an ego measuring contest

[North Texas]

PSA for everyone.

 

They teed off early again today and they will actually finish before it even comes on TV.

[Holy Moses]

So, it is a great historic course, that anybody with a yearning for classic architecture would love to see and study.

 

So it is relevant for 98+% of all golfers, and membership sees no need to screw it up in a misguided attempt to somehow

“Keep up”with players that do not matter to the memberships’ enjoyment of a great golf course.

 

Well done CGC, for not caving, and proving that great golf courses can still be considered great without the need to have an ego measuring contest

 

It’s the (first) Women’s Senior Open and many competitors haven’t been playing competitively. If it was the men’s, they would trick it up.

[Holy Moses]

These greens are soooo pure! How much is parking?

[klebs01]

Parking is free at the DuPage county fairgrounds. There are shuttle busses going to the course. About a 5 minute ride.

[OLD_BONES]

I'm 71 and the only 2 golfers I ever heard of are Inkster and Davis.

[Holy Moses]

Laura Davies is a WGHOF member, but is two points shy of the LPGA HOF. Does a win today do anything for LPGA HOF points?

[geeceman]

Laura Davies is a WGHOF member, but is two points shy of the LPGA HOF. Does a win today do anything for LPGA HOF points?

I don't think so, since it's not a LPGA event or major. I know Whan doesn't want to change the criteria, but this new event should be added since touring and retired pros can enter. Like the USGA Open.

[rangersgoalie]

So, it is a great historic course, that anybody with a yearning for classic architecture would love to see and study.

 

So it is relevant for 98+% of all golfers, and membership sees no need to screw it up in a misguided attempt to somehow

“Keep up”with players that do not matter to the memberships’ enjoyment of a great golf course.

 

Well done CGC, for not caving, and proving that great golf courses can still be considered great without the need to have an ego measuring contest

 

It’s the (first) Women’s Senior Open and many competitors haven’t been playing competitively. If it was the men’s, they would trick it up.

 

Understand, but even people who believe distance is ruining the game, seem to agree that CGC is still a great course, and worthy of study in classic architecture, without caving to pressure to “update” for the problem of a small percentage of players distance wise.

 

CGC is a model for many great, classic courses, forget length and the lure, be a great course for the actual members and customers, not the 1% of players

[dhartmann34]

I was out there yesterday and it was beautiful. They gave people tons of access. You could walk anywhere except the greens, including the fairways! We were literally walking right down the middle of the fairways and standing 10 yards behind the players. It was incredible.

 

The fairways we're tightly mown, and pretty firm, considering all the rain we had...but definitely wide. The layout is amazing. I love the square greens and bunkers. The greens are nowhere near flat. There's a few bowl like greens. Lots of false fronts. The distances seemed so much further by eye than they were. It's like being in a completely different country for golf.

 

In regards to a men's pro tournament, there's no way. Not enough room for people, equipment, or staff. It'd also be extremely tough for spectators of that volume. As someone said, the practice facility is lacking. It's not going to get a much bigger tournament than this one. I also didn't see it as a super difficult course.

 

We spoke with a member for a little bit and he seemed a bit disappointed in the clubs clubhouse conditions and the setup in regards to access. I got the feeling he wanted to showcase the club more. But he was really pleasant and commended the galleries as being really respectful.

 

Here are a few pics... although they don't do the course justice.

[Holy Moses]

What are the directions given to the fans on where to stand because there are no ropes? Stay out of the fairway?

[Naptime]

Davies won by a lot. Interesting to see some of those players again. (on TV)

[Yuck]

But the question is "can Davies beat a 4 Handicap". I think she answered that.

[DavePelz4]

For a first time event, the USGA did a helluva job. They probably learned a lot starting from the qualifiers to the exempt players. With all appropriate respect to Joanne Carner, and kudos on shooting your age, maybe make the field smaller and more competitive. To create stature for an event you can't have tons of players shooting 85 or higher, especially when the conditions were ideal. The idea of letting spectators that close to the players is awesome. it only draws people closer.

 

Lots to learn from this but kudos to the USGA, you did good.

[jkumpire]

Congrats to all the players and the USGA for a great event, and many congrats to Tammie Green Parker who had the low round of the day to finish =8. She grew up playing a small, short 0 hole course in Perry County, Ohio, where i now live, and ended up winning an LPGA major during her long career. Fantastic finish. .

[KingMike]

Thanks for the pix dhartmann34

 

Looks wonderful

[dhartmann34]

They didn't give us any direction at all in regards to where we could and could not go. There were some folks out there directing traffic in some areas, but that was mostly at crossing areas and such. But everyone seemed to be extremely respectful and do really well with it.

 

What are the directions given to the fans on where to stand because there are no ropes? Stay out of the fairway?

[wmblake2000]

My friend has been working with Danielle Ammaccapane for several months getting ready for this tourney and she finished 4th. Very exciting results for Danielle and my friend.

 

But Laura Davies, good lord. She crushed the field.

 

I hope this tournament can sustain itself....

[Bad9]

I was out there yesterday and it was beautiful. They gave people tons of access. You could walk anywhere except the greens, including the fairways! We were literally walking right down the middle of the fairways and standing 10 yards behind the players. It was incredible.

 

The fairways we're tightly mown, and pretty firm, considering all the rain we had...but definitely wide. The layout is amazing. I love the square greens and bunkers. The greens are nowhere near flat. There's a few bowl like greens. Lots of false fronts. The distances seemed so much further by eye than they were. It's like being in a completely different country for golf.

 

In regards to a men's pro tournament, there's no way. Not enough room for people, equipment, or staff. It'd also be extremely tough for spectators of that volume. As someone said, the practice facility is lacking. It's not going to get a much bigger tournament than this one. I also didn't see it as a super difficult course.

 

We spoke with a member for a little bit and he seemed a bit disappointed in the clubs clubhouse conditions and the setup in regards to access. I got the feeling he wanted to showcase the club more. But he was really pleasant and commended the galleries as being really respectful.

 

Here are a few pics... although they don't do the course justice.

What a spectacular looking place! I love courses like that.

[duffer987]

For a first time event, the USGA did a helluva job. They probably learned a lot starting from the qualifiers to the exempt players. With all appropriate respect to Joanne Carner, and kudos on shooting your age, maybe make the field smaller and more competitive. To create stature for an event you can't have tons of players shooting 85 or higher, especially when the conditions were ideal. The idea of letting spectators that close to the players is awesome. it only draws people closer.

 

Lots to learn from this but kudos to the USGA, you did good.

 

Agreed it's nice to see them giving it go, as I was out in the sticks so didn't see any coverage - but were those high scores ugly? Or just a bunch of pars/bogies/doubles? Not that that's pretty ;)

Obviously the 7-something index requirement for qualifying was a joke and it seems most of the amateurs who may have benefited from that had it handed to them.

[ThinkingPlus]

For a first time event, the USGA did a helluva job. They probably learned a lot starting from the qualifiers to the exempt players. With all appropriate respect to Joanne Carner, and kudos on shooting your age, maybe make the field smaller and more competitive. To create stature for an event you can't have tons of players shooting 85 or higher, especially when the conditions were ideal. The idea of letting spectators that close to the players is awesome. it only draws people closer.

 

Lots to learn from this but kudos to the USGA, you did good.

 

Agreed it's nice to see them giving it go, as I was out in the sticks so didn't see any coverage - but were those high scores ugly? Or just a bunch of pars/bogies/doubles? Not that that's pretty ;)

Obviously the 7-something index requirement for qualifying was a joke and it seems most of the amateurs who may have benefited from that had it handed to them.

I checked indices of a good sampling of the ams. All that I checked were near scratch to slightly plus. I'm guessing the fast (stimping around 12 I think), undulating greens plus fescue did quite a few in. Also, even though fast and firm conditions, the course played pretty long for many of the older participants (ams and pros). Quite a few driving distance averages near or below 200 yards the first 2 days. Tough to play 6200 yards when you average 190 - 200 off the tee. Most senior women just don't play many courses longer than 5500 yards unless it is a state level or national level tournament. Just not many of those for us old fat ladies!

[duffer987]

On the other end of the spectrum :)

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2018/u-s--girls--junior.html#!scoring

 

Some of the girls (not being pejorative it's the title of the event ;)) are shooting lights out in Monterey!

[ClairefromClare]

 

I checked indices of a good sampling of the ams. All that I checked were near scratch to slightly plus. I'm guessing the fast (stimping around 12 I think), undulating greens plus fescue did quite a few in. Also, even though fast and firm conditions, the course played pretty long for many of the older participants (ams and pros). Quite a few driving distance averages near or below 200 yards the first 2 days. Tough to play 6200 yards when you average 190 - 200 off the tee. Most senior women just don't play many courses longer than 5500 yards unless it is a state level or national level tournament. Just not many of those for us old fat ladies!

 

I saw an article lately, focused on female golf course architects. Consensus was that a good course length for "average" women is 5,000-5,200 yards. I don't see too many of those, even from the forward tees. 6,200 is just plain darn long for any but the top females. Heck, it's long for most of the fellows I know.

[ThinkingPlus]

I checked indices of a good sampling of the ams. All that I checked were near scratch to slightly plus. I'm guessing the fast (stimping around 12 I think), undulating greens plus fescue did quite a few in. Also, even though fast and firm conditions, the course played pretty long for many of the older participants (ams and pros). Quite a few driving distance averages near or below 200 yards the first 2 days. Tough to play 6200 yards when you average 190 - 200 off the tee. Most senior women just don't play many courses longer than 5500 yards unless it is a state level or national level tournament. Just not many of those for us old fat ladies!

 

I saw an article lately, focused on female golf course architects. Consensus was that a good course length for "average" women is 5,000-5,200 yards. I don't see too many of those, even from the forward tees. 6,200 is just plain darn long for any but the top females. Heck, it's long for most of the fellows I know.

Our course here in south TX is about 5450, but plays a bit longer because of the forced layups. A flood control ditch crosses a couple of holes. There are also trees and ponds on doglegs which require layups (target golf). I just hit irons or hybrids to layup, but most of our ladies frequently hit driver, then layup, and then go over. Terrible for them. Obnoxious design approach.

 

I can comfortably play whites (~6100) here. Blues (~6450) stretch me pretty well, but I manage. I am fortunate. Purely from a distance prrspective the Women's Senior Open would not have overly stressed me, but the green complexes, firmness, and speed would have given me fits for sure.

[DavePelz4]

For a first time event, the USGA did a helluva job. They probably learned a lot starting from the qualifiers to the exempt players. With all appropriate respect to Joanne Carner, and kudos on shooting your age, maybe make the field smaller and more competitive. To create stature for an event you can't have tons of players shooting 85 or higher, especially when the conditions were ideal. The idea of letting spectators that close to the players is awesome. it only draws people closer.

 

Lots to learn from this but kudos to the USGA, you did good.

 

Agreed it's nice to see them giving it go, as I was out in the sticks so didn't see any coverage - but were those high scores ugly? Or just a bunch of pars/bogies/doubles? Not that that's pretty ;)

Obviously the 7-something index requirement for qualifying was a joke and it seems most of the amateurs who may have benefited from that had it handed to them.

I checked indices of a good sampling of the ams. All that I checked were near scratch to slightly plus. I'm guessing the fast (stimping around 12 I think), undulating greens plus fescue did quite a few in. Also, even though fast and firm conditions, the course played pretty long for many of the older participants (ams and pros). Quite a few driving distance averages near or below 200 yards the first 2 days. Tough to play 6200 yards when you average 190 - 200 off the tee. Most senior women just don't play many courses longer than 5500 yards unless it is a state level or national level tournament. Just not many of those for us old fat ladies!

 

Hey TP...they kept the course around 6,000 yards and with the roll, it probably played 7-10% shorter. We played there at just under 6,700 yards which is a bit out of my normal range but with the roll, it was irons and the occasional hybrid into the green. As mentioned earlier, the defense of the course is the greens and not a single player in the USSWO averaged less than 30.25 putts for the entire 4 rounds. That's crazy and speaks to the difficulty of the greens.

 

On a comparative note, 55 players averaged 200+ yards off the tee and 29 players averaged 220 or more. 66 year old Pat Bradley averaged 222 yards off the tee so I'm not really sure length was the challenge.