Philip Young,
Once it's announced that a golf course is going to host a U.S. Open, it becomes increasingly popular.
There's something unique about golf.
Golfers want to play the same golf courses that the best golfers in the world play.
They want to identify with them.
They want to be able to say that they hit this incredible shot, or made this incredible birdie or par and relate it to what they saw in person or on TV.
But, there's a difference in doing it once, or occassionally, versus, doing it day in and day out.
I played BPB from the U.S. Open tees, but, I wouldn't do that as a steady diet. I hit a pretty good drive on # 10 and didn't reach the fairway, thus, on a steady diet, the golf course is beyond my abilities, and while I want to be challenged, I want to enjoy myself, and I don't see myself enjoying play from the U.S. Open tees on an every day basis.
The MEMBERS of Oakmont will play a reconfigured golf course once the PGA Tour Pros leave, and, they'll have to play that course on a daily basis.
Thus, I would find the narrowed features less appealing on a day in, day out basis.
It's one thing to narrow the fairways vis a vis mowing patterns, but, once you move the features inward, permanently, toward the center line, you change the enjoyment factor for golfers less able to cope with the altered presentation.
After the big show leaves town, let's see what happens over the next few years.