2010 US Am--2nd host course named to assist Chambers Bay...

[Peter_Herreid]

Not exactly a hot topic on the order of Merion's heredity, but those who were wondering which of the available local options would serve as the 2nd host course with Chambers Bay for the 2010 US Am, The Home Course it is...

Link below with details...

http://www.thepnga.org/PNGAMedia_Stories/thehomecourse_amateur.asp

[Sean Leary]

Not surprising.  Guaranteed to be the longest combo in US Am history for sure if played all the way back, which I am guessing they will considering the time of year.

[Phil McDade]

Peter:

Have you played? How does it compare/contrast to Chambers Bay? Anything notable about it in terms of design?

[Richard Choi]

Phil, comparing The Home Course to Chambers Bay would be like comparing Miata to a Ferrari. Sure, they are both sports cars, and they both handle well, but they run in different classes.

The home course is a nice, solid course, but kind of a course where you have a hard time remembering individual holes afterwards. No real weak holes, but no outstanding ones either.

They better be able to grow some thick rough because there isn't much defense other than length, the greens are relatively flat and the fairways are very wide.

[Craig Sweet]

The photo's on their website look interesting....reminds me of Circling Raven in Idaho...

I see this course is public and very inexpensive...

[Jay Flemma]

Jeff shelley did a nice write up on both the chambers bay course and the home course

http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/home_course_to_be_assisting_course_for_2010_us_amateur

[Pete_Pittock]

I only went around the Home Course once, but there were a lot of blind landing areas. Slightly disconcerting.

[Peter_Herreid]

This was, as Sean noted, likely the only real logistical option for the 2nd-host course...

They will play nothing very much like each other at all, except for what will likely be a similarity in length.  The Home Course is a solid track, although I don't think anyone would call it inspiring (or inspired, for that matter).  The pace of play there for locals is often glacial, so they'll have a good idea of how long it will take to move 156 players (or whatever) around THC in a specified amount of time.

THC could be tricked up, with tall roughs and tucked pins, just like just about anyplace else, but I'm guessing the emphasis will be more utilitarian---get 'em around, get the scores in and get 'em back over to Chambers quickly for the typical play-off for the final few match-play spots.

Although there are a few blind spots on THC (the 7th tee and the blind drive over the hill with the pond right is a combo I do not like, for example), I suspect it will not be a big headache for the Am's playing in it.

Logistically and politically (WSGA "home" course, etc.) this was the de facto choice..

[Garland Bayley]

...
he greens are relatively flat ...

I'm not sure you played the same Home Course that we did. The greens were the most significant feature we found at the GCA outing there.

[Richard Choi]

When I say "relative" I meant relative to Chambers Bay.

And I have played there 5 times now. There are a few holes where greens are severe like the one at the par 5 13th and many have tiers. But generally, I think they are fairly tame.

[Adam Clayman]

I was shocked to see the home course. If there were two outstanding features, or, intriguing aspects to the design, I missed one of them. The repetitive nature, from the look, on approach, to the bunker shapes, to ..ahh... everything, was comical. My hope is they don't build too may homes around the home course. It couldn't handle it.

[Sean Leary]

Adam,

Its a decent course with low price for the market. I thought that there were some cool greens out there but nothing to write home about.

Are they preparing it for the Am with tall grasses etc?

[Garland Bayley]

... The repetitive nature, from the look, on approach, to the bunker shapes, ...

I may be known for disliking ponds, but you are now exposed as a bunker fetishist.

[Dale Jackson]

I was shocked to see the home course. If there were two outstanding features, or, intriguing aspects to the design, I missed one of them. The repetitive nature, from the look, on approach, to the bunker shapes, to ..ahh... everything, was comical. My hope is they don't build too may homes around the home course. It couldn't handle it.

Wow, as someone said in an earlier post, I am not sure we played the same course.  I have played perhaps 10 - 12 rounds there, and while The Home Course is not as dramatic course a course as Chambers Bay, if you gave me 10 rounds I would take 8 on THC and 2 at Chambers.  CB has drama and interest, but it is also a very hard walk (and I walk and carry all the time), and I just do not find it fun.

THC I find to be tremendous fun, great variety in the holes, really interesting greens complexes and wide fairways that require some thought to obtain the best approach into the greens.  There are some bind shots, and I confess I like a blind shot, but nothing of the variety that hides a hazard in the landing area. 

All in all I am a real fan of the course, especially when you consider its background and purpose.  It was originally an explosives factory and is an environmental reclamation project.  It is co-owned by the Washington State Golf Association and Pacific Northwest Golf Association and is intended to serve all levels of golfers from beginners to championship golfers.  Ah well, different strokes ...

BTW, the fairways are being narrowed on some holes and rough will be the usual USGA standard for the US Am, 4 inches if I recall correctly.  The pace of the greens can be well up there but will be kept to around 10 - 11 to match the fescue greens at Chambers Bay.

[Garland Bayley]

...CB has drama and interest, but it is also a very hard walk (and I walk and carry all the time), and I just do not find it fun.
...

Are you another one of these hard core back tee players, that is complaining about the walk back up hills to access your seldom used tees?
Or, again I must ask did we play the same course?

[Richard Choi]

Adam, you are not mistaken. There is really nothing of note for The Home Course other than the fact that the fairway widths are wide, bunkers are deep, and green has more movement than most course of this type. But it is close to Chambers Bay which makes logistics work better and since the course is owned by WSGA, I am sure that had a lot to do with it as well.

You will be please to know that the site is a Superfund site and no homes can be built on the site. I wouldn't go too near the pond in the middle of the course

I have a hard time believing that anyone on this site would prefer The Home Course over Chambers Bay. They are not even in the same league.

[Dale Jackson]

...CB has drama and interest, but it is also a very hard walk (and I walk and carry all the time), and I just do not find it fun.
...

Are you another one of these hard core back tee players, that is complaining about the walk back up hills to access your seldom used tees?
Or, again I must ask did we play the same course?

No, not a back tee person.  But even off other tees there are three substantial hill climbs and some fairly significant walks from green to tee.

You will be please to know that the site is a Superfund site and no homes can be built on the site. I wouldn't go too near the pond in the middle of the course

I have a hard time believing that anyone on this site would prefer The Home Course over Chambers Bay. They are not even in the same league.

I do not argue that architecturally CB is more radical and worthy of study than THC.  But, again, given the choice to play the 2 courses, I will pick THC.

In the interests of fairness I should state I am on the executive of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.  But I played THC and CB before THC was purchased by the WSGA/PNGA and had the views I stated above back then.

[Garland Bayley]

...CB has drama and interest, but it is also a very hard walk (and I walk and carry all the time), and I just do not find it fun.
...

Are you another one of these hard core back tee players, that is complaining about the walk back up hills to access your seldom used tees?
Or, again I must ask did we play the same course?

No, not a back tee person.  But even off other tees there are three substantial hill climbs and some fairly significant walks from green to tee.

...

The hardest part of walking CB for me is the walk down 9 (significant knee pain). The 3 to 4 walk is a little long, but not a significant uphill. The other uphill walks are basically on course and they don't count. "If you can golf it, you can walk it." That's my motto.