Torrey Pines, US Open 2008 -- Funny math?

dpwrx · January 22, 2007

Holes 6 and 18 to play as par 4s rather than 5s

So, of course, how the USGA manages its rough, greens, fairways, and tees are a matter of its discretion, and their appeal to the individual fan of the style of play this produces is a matter of personal taste.

Let the USGA make however a tough/penal course setup as it wants.

But, doesn't this just smack of the USGA trying to artifically raise scores and look like a more demanding test of golf in the record books, rather than just being happy to actually be a demanding test?

Those two par 5s at Torrey are pretty long (560 and 571), and 18 is uphill I think. Certainly not the 490 and 500 yard variety of par 4s that are feasted upon at other tour stops.

I may change my mind, but I thin this goes beyond a USGA setup tactic and looks like outright trickery on their part. Let your course setup do the talking and don't resort to gimmicks, and stop being obsessed with scores!

If they shorten the playing length to 520 or so, maybe I'll reconisder this, but until then, I'm leery.

jamesduncan · January 22, 2007

are you sure they arent playing the holes from some of the forward tees?

on 18, the green tees meaure the hole at 486. so maybe they'll play from there.

They did this at Bethpage in 2002.

No 7 off the blues is a par 5 at about 520, but from the whites, its about 480 par 5, which is where they played it from in 2002 but dropped it to a par 4.

Theyre building a new tee box that will stretch it to about 490-500 for 2009.

jmc · January 22, 2007

At Torrey Pines, all they need to do is let that rough grow. Wow, is it tough. I haven't played there for a couple years now. When I was younger I used to play there frequently. The days leading up to and after the tourney were tough goings.

I think you're talking about hole 6, which is a little downhill, and downwind. Still, 560 is a long hole. And 18 isn't really uphill. Maybe slightly, but the green is somewhat raised.

Par 70 for that course sounds brutal, especially from where the pros play. I imagine they would have to shorthen a few of the holes.

ELEME1210 · January 22, 2007

TP is my local course.

They have been making changes to the course (the south) for the past 2 years for the US Open.

On 5 (par 5) they have removed about 10 or more giant eucalyptus trees on the right side that kept players from cutting the dog leg (canyon on the right).

These are now gone and the hole is much more open, I thought they would add bunkers at about 290-310 on the right side fot those who challenged the side now, NO they did not.

Even though its long, with the dog leg most player will be able to rip a drive and have 200 or less in. Not that hard.

18, the tees will be up and most long or semi long will get to this green in 2 so this will play longer than 5.

But i think it will add some thinking to player coming into the hole on sunday.

1. Do I bomb a driver and hope for a good lie to get over the water on a long second shot??

2. Do i play it like a par 5 and hope to get up and down for par???

I like the idea of these holes being par 4's and usually US OPEN's are PAR 70.

So this makes sense.

AFTER ALL THEY ARE PRO"S!!!!!!! What is hard for us should be easier for them.

sirvinim · January 23, 2007

Are they still going to play the Buick there next year and then have the US Open a few months later at the same venue? That's never happened before, has it?

dpwrx · January 23, 2007

Buick will still be played there in January of 2008.

Same type of thing happened with Pebble Beach in 2000 (AT&T in Jan. and US Open in June)

Tiger won them both, I think.

jdhallissey · January 23, 2007

The issue with the tour is they are taking the smaller hitter out of the game of golf. Ie Fred couples Corey pavin, Fred funk. Hell even some of the new guys on tour are not hitting it that far either. I have played torry a ton and hate the course. I stopped playing it i hated it so much. I have play torrey from the TIPS- it is really long and the long par 5's almost always play with some sort of wind. I think to make the course harder make the fairways smaller son;t make it 8000 yards. Make the course 7100 yards and make the fairways 20% smaller. That makes the better player not the longer player stand out. I am going to try and make the us open there. I am working towards this years too. I am a long player but 8000 yards at torrey is suicide. I have done it and 2-4 rounds there from the tips would drain a long drive hitter.

sirvinim · January 23, 2007

Buick will still be played there in January of 2008.

Same type of thing happened with Pebble Beach in 2000 (AT&T in Jan. and US Open in June)

Tiger won them both, I think.

Ahhh, good call. I forgot about that. I didn't get into golf until 2002 any way. I'll keep my mouth shut about history.

Thanks.

jmc · January 23, 2007

The issue with the tour is they are taking the smaller hitter out of the game of golf. Ie Fred couples Corey pavin, Fred funk. Hell even some of the new guys on tour are not hitting it that far either. I have played torry a ton and hate the course. I stopped playing it i hated it so much. I have play torrey from the TIPS- it is really long and the long par 5's almost always play with some sort of wind. I think to make the course harder make the fairways smaller son;t make it 8000 yards. Make the course 7100 yards and make the fairways 20% smaller. That makes the better player not the longer player stand out. I am going to try and make the us open there. I am working towards this years too. I am a long player but 8000 yards at torrey is suicide. I have done it and 2-4 rounds there from the tips would drain a long drive hitter.

In the 17 years since I first played TP, I have never heard anyone say they hated that course. I think I'm just shocked I heard someone say it. TAKE IT BACK!

It's not an easy course (I don't think the North or South are 'easy' per se), especially on windy days. I understand that the course is overplayed, and it can take forever to play there, which also can increase the frustration of playing there.

However, I do agree with bringing in the fairways, making the rough a little tougher (yipes).

chippen · January 23, 2007

Fred Couples, when did he graduate into the short-but-straight group like Funk?

jdhallissey · January 23, 2007

Fred Couples, when did he graduate into the short-but-straight group like Funk?
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Couples is by no means long! he hits it hard but I think he is out fo the top 50 for driving distance. That is what i was getting at. Not that he hits it like a 10 year old or anything.

Really I played the south course and i shot 1 over and bogeyed the 8 hole, The easiest hole on the course- little par 3. I hit it left in the bunker. That course is just long. Not original, 18 i think is the best hole but that is the only hole i enjoyed. Driver 3 wood to 10 feet heh 3 jack for par!!! I love golf. IF you have a chance go play Del Mar National golf club. That course has some great holes. I think they should move the buick there.