Merion - To Be or Not To Be?

[Mike_Cirba]

Speaking of Merion...

From my understanding, the USGA at its Winter Meeting in February was supposed to give Merion the definitive thumbs up or down on whether they would host a future US Open.

Given that we've heard nothing, should we assume anything?

[Steve Lapper]

Isn't supposed to be announced until middle of April...or so my little nearby birdie tells me..

I'm also hearing that Merion is a lock (so long as the club desires it)!

[Mike_Cirba]

Very interesting, Steve...I'll keep my ears open.

Thanks for the update!

[Kevin_Reilly]

I recall reading the other day in either Golfweek or Golfworld that Merion is the prohibitive favorite for the 2013 Open.

[Mark_Fine]

I really hope Merion gets the tournament!  Wouldn't that be interesting - The 2012 U.S. Open played at 8175 yards and then they go to Merion and play a 6900 yard golf course.  How does the USGA deal with that one  

[Scott Coan]

I recall reading the other day in either Golfweek or Golfworld that Merion is the prohibitive favorite for the 2013 Open.

I always thought that TCC would get 2013 for Ouimet's 100th anniversary victory.  I know they dropped the PGA but have they dropped out of this as well ?  

[PThomas]

the USGA should do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to have the 2013 event at TCC

I don't care  if it means spending more than they usually do - they certainly can afford it -----

one of the most momentous events in golf history deserves such an honor

[Mike_Cirba]

the USGA should do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to have the 2013 event at TCC

I don't care  if it means spending more than they usually do - they certainly can afford it -----

one of the most momentous events in golf history deserves such an honor

Paul,

No way, Jose.  

If Merion is the alternative I'd put Merion's history, especially at 6,900 yards with 13,000 spectators cramped on site in this high tech age, against TCC any day.  

[PThomas]

Mike:  Merion can host it in 2014 or 15 or....

2013 is the 100th anniversary of one of, if not , the defining moments in American golf

Winter has obviously affected your thinking even more than mine

[Mike_Cirba]

Paul,

I say this having actually played golf the past two weekends at a Donald Ross public course, so my brain is at least starting to unfreeze.  

[PThomas]

Mike - I am getting SO STIR CRAZY.....they claim it will be in the 50's this weekend, and my course, as of last week, was to stop using temp greens this week...God I hope so...

[Sean Leary]

the USGA should do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to have the 2013 event at TCC

I don't care  if it means spending more than they usually do - they certainly can afford it -----

one of the most momentous events in golf history deserves such an honor

Isn't it TCC the one saying no, rather than the USGA? Maybe they are saying no because they don't want to make any changes to the course, but I thought this was more of TCC's decision whether they wanted have it or not....I'd really like to see it there however..

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike - I am getting SO STIR CRAZY.....they claim it will be in the 50's this weekend, and my course, as of last week, was to stop using temp greens this week...God I hope so...

Paul,

I completely understand.  In my case, though, I have only myself to blame because normally if the winter had been as mild as this one I've have played continually.

Unfortunately, life intervened, and before last weekend I'd played exactly once since October.

So, hopefully you can simply consider me in a golf-withdrawal-induced-coma and take my opinions with that proverbial boulder of salt.

[PThomas]

Sean -I'm not exactly sure what the problem is re TCC...I thought I read something about a money issue but I can't recall for sure

Mike - I think all of us Northerners can (conveniently ) use winter as an excuse for any lame-brainess we exhibit whenever we need an excuse

and "take my opinions with the proverbial BOULDER of salt":  that might have to go at the bottom of my posts for awhile Mike!

[Kevin_Reilly]

I recall reading the other day in either Golfweek or Golfworld that Merion is the prohibitive favorite for the 2013 Open.

I always thought that TCC would get 2013 for Ouimet's 100th anniversary victory.  I know they dropped the PGA but have they dropped out of this as well ?  

The blurb mentioned that TCC was not going to get the "100th anniversary" Open.

[SPDB]

TCC will likely get the 2013 Walker Cup. Cornish (TCC tournament director) has been fairly outspoken that he wants any event held there to be a less intrusive affair than the 1999 Ryder Cup, in terms of alterations to the course and  corporate tents. Members were also pretty rankled the last time around - guests were prohibited for 1 year, and they didn't have full access to the Primrose course for 2 months, since they were preserving the setup for the composite course. Cornish has therefore been talking up the Walker Cup as a more appropriate celebration of Ouimet, which isn't that farfetched given that he played on more Walker Cup teams than any player in history.

[Jim Sweeney]

Too many challenges to host the Open at TCC in '13, particularly the neighbors, who are more difficult than even Mariion's. Bet the Walker Cup or the Amateur.

[peter_mcknight]

If I remember reading correctly, the TCC people said they weren't really interested in hosting a professional golf tournament anymore, that it would be better to host an amateur event of a shorter duration (e.g., the Walker Cup).  Further, it sounded as if they chafed big time at having to sign a USGA contract to host the 2013 US Open, meaning giving up their course, having to add up to 9 additional back tees, having to deal with the neighbourhood (Cherry Hills 2005 would be considered a walk in the park compared to Brookline), amongst other things.

As stated earlier, giving TCC the Walker Cup would be a more fitting honor to Ouimet than giving TCC the 113th Open.

[Mike_Cirba]

Tom,

Sounds like a good reason to start taking better care of ourselves so we're around in another 7 years.  

As bad as it might be for spectating, and how much more one would see on television, I wouldn't miss being there for the world.