Merion Today

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

I walked the course with one of my pupils who is competing this week.  Having never seen the course I was beyond impressed by the layout.  The course is now green, but is in pretty poor shape--I have a feeling the fungus practically killed the course a few weeks ago and was saved by brilliant greenskeeping.  The fairways will most unlikely get firm this week--they are borderline muddy at the moment.  In fact the course is extremely soft, but green speed is pretty good.  If the powers that be at Merion are hoping for an Open, then they are dreaming.  It has nothing to do with the layout--this place could host an epic Ryder or Walker any day!  Actually the holes are great, but there are 4 crossovers because of extended tees, and several places where tees and greens are so close that the pace of play would be a disaster.  Also, the driving range is literally 2 miles away from the clubhouse.  In addition, there is no way 10,000 people can roam the grounds--typical courses must acccomidate 40,000.  Then there is the loss of corporate tent revenue--it would be hard to fit more than 6-7 tents in the normal driving range that is being used for tournament officials parking( it cannot be more than 250 by 50 yards).  And for a big production, the TV people need some acreage for their huge fleet of trucks and tents.  One member working this week as an official boasted that the USGA likes to average out the numbers, so they would be willing to make a financial sacrifice by hosting the event at Merion. They certainly would make some sacrifices, but there are too many factors working against an Open.  Also, I wonder how the neighbors would react to an Open--How many people will welcome the populace walking through their multi-million dollar properties?  There are some serious homes in this neighborhood and these people probably value their privacy and will take the necessary steps to maintain their privacy!   This being said, having played the majority of the top 50 in the world, this course has to be among my top 12!

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

I forgot to mention that there USGA probelms with 5,12, and 15 greens.  They are being deliberately slowed in relation to the other greens.  These greens are nothing short of brilliant.  Unfortunately, I never found a spot  under 2.3 degrees of slope on 5--mostly in the 3-5 degree range.  It was pretty close to the same on 12 and 15.  I found three 1.7 degree areas on 12, but they were very close together and only a 1.8 degree spot on 15 with the slopes in the 3-4 degree range on these greens.  These slopes are cool under normal golf conditions, but are unpinnable when greens are firm and running around 11 or more on the stimpmeter.  The USGA has taken quite a bit of abuse for the 18th at Southern Hills --different green speeds create a storm of outcry from the competitors.  I would cry if they changed these greens to simply land an Open!

[Craig_Rokke]

Glad to see a cooperative forecast for the week. I'm
interested in possibly seeing some play on Wed.  What is the
procedure for trying to get tickets?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

The Walker Cup will be at Merion in 2009.

[TEPaul]

Robert:

They may have to sacrifice revenue but it's not as if a US Open is a new thing to Merion. Don't forget they've held a number of them, the last being in 1981.

But for the golf course itself it will be interesting to see what the top 64 scores will be at Merion in this two day stroke play qualifier into match play. Even being as soft as it is I doubt 64 players will shoot better than around 74 (par is 70). A few may go low but I doubt many will.

[Mike_Cirba]

It's probably two early to tell, but of the first 26 contestants to finish 9 holes at Merion, 1 is at Even, 2 are +1, and the rest range from +2 to +9, mostly towards the high end.  

[PThomas]

since those punk kids are so good , I would think it would be pretty amazing if they don't go low out there, esp. if it's wet and the greens are slower and holding...

[Robert Thompson]

I recall the driving range being behind the maintenance building. It isn't near the clubhouse -- but it also isn't "two miles away." Could Merion function for an Open? I don't think so -- but it has nothing to do with the range or the golf course, and everything to do with the logistics of getting fans around the course and finding places for corporate tents. Both would be next to impossible.

[Mike_Cirba]

Another way to look at it is of the first 29 players to finish 9 holes at Merion, 17 of them are +5 or higher.

[Mike_Cirba]

The scoring seems much higher at Merion than I would have anticipated given soft conditions.

So far, of those players completing nine holes;

3 are even
6 are +1
7 are +2
6 are +3
3 are +4
9 are +5
5 are +6
7 are +7
2 are +8
1 at +9
1 at +13

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Then there is the loss of corporate tent revenue--it would be hard to fit more than 6-7 tents in the normal driving range that is being used for tournament officials parking( it cannot be more than 250 by 50 yards).

Robert T.,

The regular range is being used for parking.  My guess is they have a driving range set up somewhere on the West Course, which is a couple of miles away.

[Jim Nugent]

Then there is the loss of corporate tent revenue--it would be hard to fit more than 6-7 tents in the normal driving range that is being used for tournament officials parking( it cannot be more than 250 by 50 yards).

Robert T.,

The regular range is being used for parking.  My guess is they have a driving range set up somewhere on the West Course, which is a couple of miles away.

In the 1993 and 1994 Tour Championships at Olympic, they used parts of the Ocean course for parking.  I "drove" down one of the fairways!

[Tony_Chapman]

Merion must be playing unbelievably difficult. The low in the house there is +4. Wow!! And, there are currently only eight guys on the course who are at Even par.

I see our young Junior champion is making a bit of a mockery of Philly CC. 32 on the back with a pair of bogeys!!  

[RE Blanks]

tway had a 2 on the par 4 16th.  

+1 is now the best at Merion.  

[Jeff Goldman]

What is the set-up like?  Does it have the hay like Oakmont did a couple years ago?

On another note, I heard that Merion had sort of worked out off-site corporate tents and such with nearby venues in an effort to be more appealing to the Blue Coats.

Jeff Goldman

[Mike_Cirba]

I haven't been there yet, but the website talks about 4 inches of primary rough.

There is one 71 so far, and a few 74s...quite a number in the 80s as well.

My sense is that the club is trying to show the USGA that the course will hold up to top players...and is likely succeeding.

[George Pazin]

Tway is at Philly CC.

[RE Blanks]

The guy that shot a 71 is the 18 yr old Walker Cup member.

[Mike_Cirba]

With what looks to be about half the field already finished, those playing at Merion;

1 - +1
1 - +2
2 - +3
4 - +4
8 - +6
2 - +7
3 - +8
5 - +9
2 - +10
2 - +11
3 - +12
2 - +13
2 - +14
1 - +15
1 - +16

[JSlonis]

Tony,

I'm not quite sure that 3 under for 9 holes is a making a mockery of Philly CC.  

I've been very curious to see what the scores at Merion would be.  I have been told that the course is softer than it usually is for the Hugh Wilson, and the scores are still very high.  Having played Merion over the years, the high scores are NO surprise, the young bombers will not overpower that golf course.

[Tony_Chapman]

Jamie - You are probalby right. That was a bit loud to say mockery. He is going around quite nicely, though.

It appears they only update the scores after nine holes. I wonder why?

[Mike_Cirba]

3 - +1
1 - +2
2 - +3
5 - +4
2 - +5
8 - +6
3 - +7
6 - +8
5 - +9
4 - +10
3 - +11
3 - +12
2 - +13
2 - +14
3 - +15
1 - +16
1 - +17

[JSlonis]

Tony,

How old is Kevin Tway?  Am I correct to assume he is Bob Tway's son?  Something to be said for those golf genes!

Ouch...just updated...Tway +6 on the front nine at Philly CC, +3, 73 for the day.

[JSlonis]

The US Am is currently being led by a couple of "Canucks"...more interestingly, their last names are:

PARR & YIP...you just can't make this stuff up!

[Mike_Cirba]

I'm pretty astounded at these scores.

Today in Philly is near perfect, weather-wise, with a high in the upper 80s, low-humidity, and 5-10mph winds after a steamy, damp weekend.

Can you imagine a windy day?