US Open

[PrincipalsNose]

In the heart of the off season, I thought I would get a discussion going. When you think “ US Open “ what couple of courses do you think of? 
 

Also, was there a specific US Open that truly helped grow your love for the game? Love hearing these stories. Could have been a cool time with your dad or just an awesome showdown on a great course

[Wooley12]

My brother and I brought an empty coolers to the 1989 Open at Oak hill. Having an unobstructed view of Curtis Strange hole out on 18 for his 2nd Open win in a row was cool. 

[StoutKing]

3 hours ago, PrincipalsNose said:

In the heart of the off season, I thought I would get a discussion going. When you think “ US Open “ what couple of courses do you think of? 
 

Also, was there a specific US Open that truly helped grow your love for the game? Love hearing these stories. Could have been a cool time with your dad or just an awesome showdown on a great course

Pretty much all the courses that are on the current rota.  Nothing that helped grow my love for the game but 2000 sticks out.  I doubt we ever see a major won by 15 strokes again. Tiger was unreal.

[iBanesto]

 

Edited November 2, 2024 by iBanesto

[PrincipalsNose]

 

On 10/25/2024 at 8:46 PM, StoutKing said:

Pretty much all the courses that are on the current rota.  Nothing that helped grow my love for the game but 2000 sticks out.  I doubt we ever see a major won by 15 strokes again. Tiger was unreal.

Winged Foot and Oakmont scream US Open to me. Old school northeast venues. Along with Pebble and Pinehurst being great too 

Edited October 27, 2024 by PrincipalsNose

[Ferguson]

Pinehurst, Congressional and Oakmont. 

 

 

Still mad they never chose English Turn but I will get over it. 

[mshills]

Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and Oakmont are the consummate US Open venues for me.

 

The championship never grew my love for the game — that would be The Masters. 

[Mr.Cleeks]

Pinehurst, Winged Foot, and Oakmont are the big 3 IMO. 

[Wooley12]

Only been to one day of one Open. 1989 final day at Oak Hill. My brother and I took large empty picnic coolers with us through a back gate. Memory is standing on the cooler at 18 with a birds eye view of Strange's tap in bogey to win. 

[StoutKing]

On 10/29/2024 at 7:58 AM, Mr.Cleeks said:

Pinehurst, Winged Foot, and Oakmont are the big 3 IMO. 

Pinehurst has only been on Open venue for 25 years.  If you didn't hold one in the 1920's you're still a newcomer IMO.

[PrincipalsNose]

2 hours ago, StoutKing said:

Pinehurst has only been on Open venue for 25 years.  If you didn't hold one in the 1920's you're still a newcomer IMO.

Oakland Hills sneaky historic past 

[StoutKing]

2 minutes ago, PrincipalsNose said:

Oakland Hills sneaky historic past 

Pinehurst is definitely a modern US Open course although it's quite old.  I think of most courses on this list.  History matters for the US Open.  To the USGA's credit I think their upcoming lineup is very good.  I would just go to Pebble and #2 less often.  It's such a great event.  We are in for a real treat in future years.

 

 

 

[PrincipalsNose]

31 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

Pinehurst is definitely a modern US Open course although it's quite old.  I think of most courses on this list.  History matters for the US Open.  To the USGA's credit I think their upcoming lineup is very good.  I would just go to Pebble and #2 less often.  It's such a great event.  We are in for a real treat in future years.

 

 

 

 

I think of Winged Foot and Oakmont a lot. Just prime time US Open. For whatever reason more than Shinnecock.
 

Maybe because Shinnecock is more links style? Parkland and tree lined/long rough is what comes to mind

Edited October 31, 2024 by PrincipalsNose

[NoTalentLefty]

It hasn’t hosted many but I loved the 1975 US Open at Medinah. It looked like the pros were hitting through caves made of trees. 

[StoutKing]

13 hours ago, NoTalentLefty said:

It hasn’t hosted many but I loved the 1975 US Open at Medinah. It looked like the pros were hitting through caves made of trees. 

Medinah went through a redesign and a lot of those trees came down.

[ivygynonc]

Oakmont, Wingfoot and Pebble for me. 

[Green Valley]

2 hours ago, StoutKing said:

Medinah went through a redesign and a lot of those trees came down.

President cup 2026. Use to live right by the course. I had a friend that just played it, and said he misses the old #3 

[golferdude54]

15 hours ago, Green Valley said:

President cup 2026. Use to live right by the course. I had a friend that just played it, and said he misses the old #3 

 

Ah yes, the golf equivalent of home flippers knocking down the kitchen wall for a more "open floor" concept. Too overdone on classic courses IMO.

[farmer]

Pebble, Oakmont and Winged Foot.  I suspect the tree removal at Medinah was to increase air circulation and improve the turf.

[billyspan]

On 10/31/2024 at 11:11 AM, Green Valley said:

President cup 2026. Use to live right by the course. I had a friend that just played it, and said he misses the old #3 

This may have been posted elsewhere on WRX, but here is the reimagined back nine at Medinah #3 by OCM Golf (Ogilvy & Co.)

 

 

[StoutKing]

1 minute ago, billyspan said:

This may have been posted elsewhere on WRX, but here is the reimagined back nine at Medinah #3 by OCM Golf (Ogilvy & Co.)

 

 

I would love to play the new version.  OCM is quite good.

[PrincipalsNose]

 

WFW is a gem 

Edited November 2, 2024 by PrincipalsNose

[aenemated]

On 10/25/2024 at 5:46 PM, StoutKing said:

I doubt we ever see a major won by 15 strokes again. Tiger was unreal.

 

And don't forget that he carded a triple on #3 on Saturday. It could have easily been a win by 18. 

[TiScape]

RIV, Pebble and of course LACC

[mosesgolf]

My fave is Pebble. Special things seem to happen there. Jack, Tom Watson, & Tiger.

I enjoy the classics like Shinnecock, Oakmont, Winged Foot and after what we saw from Bryson Pinehurst too.

[PrincipalsNose]

It is interesting to think how they fit the gallery on Merion! I’m assuming the USGA sells less tickets? 

[billyspan]

All the courses that have hosted the U.S. Open 2x or more are listed below for reference (Note the couple of odd sorting issues below FYI).

[billyspan]

I think of Oakmont, Winged Foot and Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills, and to a lesser extent The Country Club, Baltusrol and Inverness.

 

Pinehurst #2 will build it own modern legacy (like Shinnecock Hills). The "restored" #2 course is fantastic.  Uniquely American!  It probably didn't host an US Open earlier because it hosted the prestigious North and South Open (the Masters before The Masters!) until 1951.

 

I feel as though the massive "renovations"(in many cases RTJ and Reese Jones) hurt many of the "classic" venues.  Oak Hill (#18 green stands out), Medinah (so many facelifts), Baltusrol, Oakland Hills, Inverness and Hazeltine.  So much "quirk" was sanitized post-WWII unfortunately.  See that so many of these courses have finish or begun massive, expensive "restovations".

 

Bring back Southern Hills and The Olympic Club I say!

[billyspan]

Also, I know Chicago GC tried and Interlachen and Inverness are "trying" but it doesn't appear as though these venues are spacious and/or long enough for the men's open.  Just a matter of time before the first 8,000 yard Open course!

[StoutKing]

40 minutes ago, billyspan said:

I think of Oakmont, Winged Foot and Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills, and to a lesser extent The Country Club, Baltusrol and Inverness.

 

Pinehurst #2 will build it own modern legacy (like Shinnecock Hills). The "restored" #2 course is fantastic.  Uniquely American!  It probably didn't host an US Open earlier because it hosted the prestigious North and South Open (the Masters before The Masters!) until 1951.

 

I feel as though the massive "renovations"(in many cases RTJ and Reese Jones) hurt many of the "classic" venues.  Oak Hill (#18 green stands out), Medinah (so many facelifts), Baltusrol, Oakland Hills, Inverness and Hazeltine.  So much "quirk" was sanitized post-WWII unfortunately.  See that so many of these courses have finish or begun massive, expensive "restovations".

 

Bring back Southern Hills and The Olympic Club I say!

Southern and Olympic are great tracks.  They are currently or have been PGA courses lately.  Will they come back to the Open?  I think SH is probably too hot and Pebble is getting all the NorCal Opens.  That being said here are the courses with upcoming Opens and their recent Golf mag US rankings:

 

3 Shinny

5 Oakmont

8 Merion

9 Pebble

10 LACC

13 Pinehurst

14 Riviera

18 Winged Foot

20 Oakland Hills

21 Brookline

 

Seems like the Open is getting more elitist in course selection.  Let's be honest elite clubs founded the USGA.  Southern is 24 and Olympic is 59.  Based on the weather for SH and PGA for Oly I don't see them coming back anytime soon.