USGA Exec Dir Mike Davis "agrees with the criticism" about the greens and viewing access for spectators last week at the U.S. Open, but "only to a point, and he promises to do better" if the tournament returns to Chambers Bay, according to Paul Ramsdell of the SEATTLE TIMES. Davis said of the green conditions, "In some ways, they weren’t as good as we would have hoped, but some people would make it out that they’re putting on broccoli. I completely disagree with that assessment. ... We've had bumpy greens many, many, many times at the U.S. Open. ... Later in the day, there's a bounce to them." Ramsdell notes the two "main entities of this Open -- the USGA and Pierce County, which owns Chambers Bay -- will have their post-championship assessments, but statements from both parties indicate a desire for the Open to return in another 10 years or so." Davis: "Getting smooth greens, that will happen. Listen, that will absolutely happen.” Regarding the spectators, Davis said that every event "is a learning process." He added, "I do think our group, the people who did the roping, were probably a bit conservative. In their defense, they put public safety first, as it should be. But we probably had some areas that could have been used for viewing that weren’t used.” Ramsdell notes the USGA "did make some adjustments." For the first round, fans "virtually had to have a seat in the grandstands to see anything on the par-3 17th hole," but that area was later "opened for spectators." Davis: “When you’re running an event at a new place you’re trying to anticipate how it works. Inevitably, you get some things right, but there are other things you miss on" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/23).
PLANNING A RETURN TRIP? Golf World's Tim Rosaforte said of returning to Chambers Bay, "It's not a question of if, it's a question of when. ... There are two things that have to happen: We have to have better greens because this was unacceptable (and) we have to provide a better footprint for the spectators to watch." But Rosaforte said the Open at Chambers Bay "ticks off all the boxes: public golf, Pacific Northwest, eco-friendly. ... You can't argue against any of those things" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 6/22). In Tacoma, Christian Caple notes golfer Billy Horschel, who was highly critical of the green conditions, "did make a good point about the fan experience ... lamenting that spectators at Chambers last week were 'robbed' of feasible viewpoints and the chance to watch the golfers up close." That was a "common refrain from other players and many fans -- the ropes were too restrictive, and there simply wasn’t enough room on the golf course for everyone to be able to follow their favorite players." If Chambers "hosts another major championship, the USGA would do well to heed Horschel’s gripe about the fan experience" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 6/23).
MAKING THE GRADE: Author John Feinstein said he “loved” Chambers Bay despite “all the whining and all the complaining.” Feinstein said the USGA “went to a public course, they went to the Pacific Northwest for the first time ever, they produced an extraordinary venue, they produced a golf course that played differently." Feinstein: "I don’t know what’s wrong with different. ... And they produced a great finish.” While noting the tourney "wasn’t perfect," Feinstein said he would "give the USGA an A- with bonus points for trying something out of the box” (
“Yahoo Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 6/22). ESPN.com's Bob Harig gave the tourney a B-minus, noting the layout and setting "are terrific, and there's nothing wrong with a different type of course for the U.S. Open." It "proved to be exciting, as eight players finished under par." However, the condition of the greens "became too big of a story." ESPN.com's Jason Sobel also gave the tourney a B-minus, writing, "We can tsk-tsk over players complaining about the course, but any time a large percentage of them are grumbling, there is probably a valid reason." ESPN's Matt Barrie gave Chambers Bay a "'D' for setup and 'F' for aesthetics and greens," and said this year should be its "first and only U.S. Open." (
ESPN.com, 6/22). In Chicago, Mike Imrem writes the U.S. Open "should be contested on American-style courses, not whatever Chambers Bay was" (
Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/23). SNY’s Chris Carlin said, “If you listen to some of these guys complain about the greens it was as if they were playing in a quarry” (
“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 6/22). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Joe Posnanski wrote the context of Chambers Bay and this U.S. Open "will fade over time." The "broccoli greens will slowly wash out from memory," and the sight of golf balls "skipping on those greens like happy children will grow faint." Posnanski: "All that will remain is Dustin Johnson ... three-putting from 13 feet to blow the U.S. Open" (
GOLFCHANNEL.com, 6/22).
DREAM TEAM DESIGNERS? GOLFCHANNEL.com's Nick Menta reported The Greenbrier Owner Jim Justice "has retained" Golf HOFers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino to "build a course in West Virginia meant to attract the state's first U.S. Open." Justice "aims to build a course near The Greenbrier property in the Allegheny mountains." Ground is "scheduled to be broken in the next 30 days with the intent of opening the course" in Fall '16 (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 6/22). In West Virginia, Doug Smock noted Justice is "looking for a course that could stretch out to 7,700-7,800 yards from the tips, but will have multiple teeing areas to accommodate all skill levels." He is "not shy about going after the Open, much like the builders of Chambers Bay did." Justice: "Why not have the U.S. Open in West Virginia? How could the USGA, how could they turn their back on these four icons, their course?" (CHARLESTON GAZETTE, 6/21).
