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Where would you like to see the US Open played?
Goynes42
Professional Champion
 
172 Views    24 Replies    2 Likes   I like it!
Simple question really. Are there any courses you know of that you wish would host a US Open? A course that you think would really test the players and make for great TV?

Maybe it's a great course that has never hosted a major, or maybe it's a previous major course but hasn't been used in a long time.

Here are some of my picks:

Scioto CC (last hosted a PGA Tour major in 1950)
Dallas National (unreal course close to my home...almost got the bid for the Ryder Cup)
Alotian Club (uber-exclusive private club in Arkansas, and apparently one of the best courses in the nation already)
Bay Harbor (would need toughening, but it's one of the prettiest and most interesting layouts set right on Lake Michigan)

I thought about Cypress Point and Pine Valley, but they simply don't have the room for the spectators, so it would never happen anyway.
cogolfer1
LowIndex
 
# 1    6/3/2013 5:48:52 PM   
In my neck of the woods, I'd like to see it return to Cherry Hills. The Women's Open in 2005 had really high scores, and the US Amateur last year was no walk in the park for those guys either, despite the ever-improving equipment that can really show its power in the altitude. When the BMW Championship comes here next year, it'll be interesting to see how low they're able to go and what that might mean for the future of another US Open, because I know they want it back there.

I also heard a few weeks ago that The Broadmoor is going to have a member vote on getting rid of one of the three courses at the resort so that they're able to make more room for the West course (the famous one where the USGA championships are played) so it might be able to host the men's Open one day. They apparently want one USGA championship every decade, and that mainly has to do with getting the ultimate USGA event at their course. I think it's doubtful it'll happen, but I'd be thrilled if it does.

Really can't think of any public courses in Denver that could hold it. They're either too short or too small to host such a huge event. Ballyneal is actually ranked the best course in Colorado (it's easy to see why, http://www.sublimepub.com/publ.. ), but unfortunately it's too far away from civilization, with Denver being a 3 hour drive away, Lincoln, Nebraska a 5 hour drive away, and Cheyenne, Wyoming also a 3 hour drive.


MikeNomgi
Professional Champion
 
# 2    6/3/2013 6:38:29 PM   
I was disappointed that The Country Club didn't get the Open in celebration of the Centennial anniversary of Francis Ouimet's win.

I've always liked Shinnecock Hills as an Open venue, and I wouldn't mind the USGA going back to their roots and playing it at Newport Country Club.


bill321
Professional Champion
 
# 3    6/3/2013 6:45:49 PM   
Valhalla. It has the pedigree and it's 20 minutes from my house.

Additionally, I'm intrigued Victoria National (IN) has been so highly ranked for so long but never gets a big tournament.


DavyCrockett
Professional Champion
 
# 4    6/3/2013 7:53:05 PM   
Take your pick from the Texas top 20.


Rank
Course
Location
Type
Desinger(s)
Year
open

1.
Whispering Pines Golf Club
Trinity
Private
Chet Williams/Nicklaus Design
1999

2.
Dallas National Golf Club
Dallas
Private
Tom Fazio
2002

3.
Colonial Country Club
Fort Worth
Private
Perry Maxwell, Ralph Plummer,
John Bredemus
1936

4.
Preston Trail Golf Club
Dallas
Private
Byron Nelson, Ralph Plummer
1965

5.
Cordillera Ranch
Boerne
Private
Jack Nicklaus
2007

6.
Vaquero
Westlake
Private
Tom Fazio
2001

7.
Escondido
Horseshoe Bay
Private
Tom Fazio
2006

8.
Carlton Woods, Nicklaus Course
The Woodlands
Private
Jack Nicklaus
2001

9.
Boot Ranch
Fredericksburg
Private
Hal Sutton, Jim Lipe
2006

10.
Brook Hollow Golf Club
Dallas
Private
A.W. Tillinghast
1920

11.
Carlton Woods, Fazio Course
The Woodlands
Private
Tom Fazio
2005

12.
Champions GC, Cypress Course
Houston
Private
Ralph Plummer
1957

13.
Shadow Hawk Golf Club
Richmond
Private
Rees Jones
1999

14.
Miramont Country Club
Bryan
Private
Robert Trent Jones Jr.
2004

15.
Shady Oaks Country Club
Fort Worth
Private
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1958

16.
River Oaks Country Club
Houston
Private
x-Donald Ross; y-Rees Jones
1923

17.
Austin Golf Club
Spicewood
Private
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw
2001

18.
Austin Country Club
Austin
Private
Pete Dye
1984

19.
TPC Craig Ranch
McKinney
Private
Tom Weiskopf
2004

20.
Lochinvar Golf Club
Houston
Private
Jack Nicklaus
1980


Mongo68
Legend
 
# 5    6/3/2013 7:55:12 PM   
Bulle Rock in Havre De Grace, MD 76.4/147 7375 yds. Hosted LPGA Championship a few years back. Always in superior condition and very penal off the fairways.

http://www.bullerockgolf.com/

Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, PA 74.4/130 7190 yds. Par 70. Hosted AT&T National for 2 years while Congressional was prepped for US Open. Course was stretched longer for PGA but not sure of yardage. Talk of the tourney was that this course could easily host a PGA Championship or US Open by both the media AND the players. Course CLEARLY has more room than Merion (300 acres vs. Merion's 110) and is just a few miles away. Hosted PGA Championship in 1962, 2003 Senior PGA Championship. A great Donald Ross layout.

http://www.aronimink.org/


LyinLewis
Legend
 
# 6    6/3/2013 8:18:32 PM   
Pacific Dunes...nuff said...the most beautiful course in the US with teeth. One issue...hotel rooms.

Pacific Dunes is so good I won't even give you #2.


JayPet
Legend
 
# 7    6/3/2013 8:19:38 PM   

I was disappointed that The Country Club didn't get the Open in celebration of the Centennial anniversary of Francis Ouimet's win.

I've always liked Shinnecock Hills as an Open venue, and I wouldn't mind the USGA going back to their roots and playing it at Newport Country Club.


I completely agree with this one. The Country Club should have hosted the100 year anniversary of when golf became significant.

A close second would be Aronimink since it's in the same area (in case they had their minds set on PA)


LyinLewis
Legend
 
# 8    6/3/2013 8:24:34 PM   


I was disappointed that The Country Club didn't get the Open in celebration of the Centennial anniversary of Francis Ouimet's win.

I've always liked Shinnecock Hills as an Open venue, and I wouldn't mind the USGA going back to their roots and playing it at Newport Country Club.


I completely agree with this one. The Country Club should have hosted the100 year anniversary of when golf became significant.

A close second would be Aronimink since it's in the same area (in case they had their minds set on PA)


Agreed a dumb idea skipping the event that inspired Bobby Jones to stay an amateur...an even dumber idea skipping the venue that was the greatest upset in golf history with Ouimet's house still overlooking the course.


JayPet
Legend
 
# 9    6/3/2013 8:31:25 PM   

Pacific Dunes...nuff said...the most beautiful course in the US with teeth. One issue...hotel rooms.

Pacific Dunes is so good I won't even give you #2.


Chambers Bay will be the closest thing to it in a couple of years from now. A little more length to CB too; PD is probably considered too short for their liking.


Pappy82nd
Professional Champion
 
# 10    6/3/2013 8:47:09 PM   
It comes to my neck of the woods in 2016 at Chambers Bay about 60 minutes south of me and I already have my exec full week pass. So I am happy.


Mongo68
Legend
 
# 11    6/3/2013 8:48:38 PM   



I was disappointed that The Country Club didn't get the Open in celebration of the Centennial anniversary of Francis Ouimet's win.

I've always liked Shinnecock Hills as an Open venue, and I wouldn't mind the USGA going back to their roots and playing it at Newport Country Club.


I completely agree with this one. The Country Club should have hosted the100 year anniversary of when golf became significant.

A close second would be Aronimink since it's in the same area (in case they had their minds set on PA)


Agreed a dumb idea skipping the event that inspired Bobby Jones to stay an amateur...an even dumber idea skipping the venue that was the greatest upset in golf history with Ouimet's house still overlooking the course.




LL, here's an excerpt from an article I read a little while back regarding what you're talking about. I have to say, I kinda agree with it and it has nothing to do with Merion being in my back yard this year:

"Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Joe Logan agreed the choice was monumental news. “It is a nod to a hallowed place. The USGA is doing a good job of being all things to all people. They have given a nod to public players with Bethpage, Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines. There is a nod to great classic courses with Shinnecock and Winged Foot and Merion.”

The most serious competition came from The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., site of a phenomenal Ryder Cup in 1999. But that club seemed to base its hopes on people being sentimental that 2013 would be the 100th anniversary of the victory by Francis Ouimet.

Come on people, it’s Francis Ouimet, not Francis of Assisi. Taking the argument ad absurdum we should honor Orville Moody’s centennial anniversary by going to Champions in Houston in 2069 and Steve Jones’ 100th anniversary at Oakland Hills in 2096. Rigid adherence to a scheduled golf calendar of anniversaries would lead to a chaotic checkerboard of venue selection and will always disappoint somebody.

The impact on the future of technology and equipment is equally staggering. Does this mean we will have a tournament ball by 2013? A 10-percent ball solves a lot of problems regarding older, shorter courses. While the USGA downplays any link between choosing Merion and the reduced distance ball, six manufactures have submitted balls to the USGA for testing and balls are also being given to players to check for performance.

Finally, Alistair Mackenzie once wrote, “We must fight for the soul of golf course architecture as though British hegemony were at stake.” Not only is Merion historic, but the course is one of the strongest architecturally – all the more amazing because it was Hugh Wilson’s first effort.

Merion has always been short, is short and will continue to be short. But that is irrelevant. You don’t need length to defend par. The 10th at Riviera says more in its scant 310 yards than most par-4s say on 460. On average, it still plays over par at the Nissan Open."

If you want the full article you can find it here:
http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_..


LyinLewis
Legend
 
# 12    6/3/2013 9:20:50 PM   
Moody your 4th paragraph and the author's argument might be the dumbest thing I have ever read on this site. Francis Ouimet and the 1913 US Open literally changed golf in the United States! Changed it...popularized it...brought the game to the masses. The author compares that with Moody? What an idiot! An unknown amateur beats Harry Vardon who was bigger than Tiger Woods and perhaps even more dominant. Ouimet wins the 1913 US Open and changes the face of golf. Never before had an American golfer stood up in a major and beaten a Brit..never and the guy who did it was an amateur that lived across the street. He was the hero of Bobby Jones who is the Patron Saint of the USGA.

None of this knocks Merion... Merion could have easily been scheduled for 2014.

Now here is the kicker...the USGA has spit on Ouimet and his memory once before and this time it was one more injustice. The last time the USGA stripped him from his amateur status. Why? Because he opened up a sporting good store that amongst other things sold golf clubs. True story!

How important is Ouimet...important enough to have been named the first ever Captain of the R&A from the United States.

No one can justify this injustice...and or stupidity. The Ryder Cup of 1999...how does that even factor into this discussion?

I was fine until I read that...now I am upset.

I could care less if the course is short or long...and Merion will be fun to watch but don't try to justify and injustice!


Robert Premeaux Jr.
Professional Champion
 
# 13    6/3/2013 11:27:45 PM   
anywhere in Texas

I don't know Dallas National, but I'd take it. Whispering Pines. Colonial (with super-sized rough and fairways no wider than a 2x4). Miramont here in B-CS thinks it could do it. We have a handful of tracks that could be set up for an Open.

it won't happen, but one can dream.


Mark Simmons
Legend
 
# 14    6/3/2013 11:45:38 PM   
anywhere in Texas

The only problem with that is when the U.S. Open is held. There are many fine courses in Texas worthy of consideration. However, in many parts of Texas the weather can be brutal in mid to late June.


Robert Premeaux Jr.
Professional Champion
 
# 15    6/4/2013 12:23:40 AM   

anywhere in Texas

The only problem with that is when the U.S. Open is held. There are many fine courses in Texas worthy of consideration. However, in many parts of Texas the weather can be brutal in mid to late June.


no doubt ... but my statement to the USGA on that subject would be:

we live and play in it. bring water.


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