Public Links at Bandon Dunes

[Tom_Doak]

Was looking at the scoring summary just now, and they must have moved up the tees on #9 at Old Macdonald for today's matches.  Two of the guys made 2's at the ninth!

Also, from what I've seen there has not been a single birdie at #11 or #12 during the match play portion of the competition.  In the 12 matches I checked (3rd round and quarterfinals), players were +14 on each of those two holes ... that's 2/3 of their total over par (+37 for 12 matches).

Players were +6 today on #8 after being under par the previous round ... I wonder where the hole is for the quarterfinal?

[Pete Lavallee]

They used the front tpin for the Redan yesterday; very difficult to get close to down wind. They said it was playing 218 yards.

I was shocked to see the pin on the left half of the 18th green; I thought Mike Keiser didn't like that hole location?

[Garland Bayley]

They used the front tpin for the Redan yesterday; very difficult to get close to down wind. They said it was playing 218 yards.

I was shocked to see the pin on the left half of the 18th green; I thought Mike Kieser didn't like that hole location?

Methinks the USGA is setting pin positions, not Mike Keiser.

[Tom_Doak]

Yes, the USGA is in charge of hole locations.  And I had a sneaking suspicion they would use all the ones Mike won't let them use for everyday play, like the one on 18.  Sadly, not many of the matches got that far.

#1 played a lot harder this morning, too ... guessing that the pin was up on one of the plateaus.

[Scott Weersing]

I watched for the first time last night and I couldn't help but notice the greens on OldMac were very fuzzy. Was that because of the wind? Are they trying to keep the balls from moving with long greens or are they that way all the time to give the course an old time feel?

I do not think the greens are fuzzy. They are fescue greens and so they look different than anything else you would see on TV. They look very similiar to the greens at Chambers Bay last year.

The greens are still rolling faster than the rest of year. If they had them any faster, then balls would start rolling in 30 mph winds.

[George_Bahto]

It was a fun day when Mike was with us and he first saw the upper left plateau, possible pin, on the 18th.

We pretty much knew what to expect from him and he went right for it (our jugular) - it was sort of, “we’re not going to pin that spot, are we” (not his EXACT words but close)   -   

Our response was “sort-of” a guarded NO    -   but under our breathes we sort of laughingly whispered – not unless you’re out of town. Mike”

that is one great pin placement

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

This has been a treat to watch. I hope Bandon Dune stays in the loop for these events. A Walker cup would be s cool.

[Tim_Cronin]

Watching the semis now. Wind howling. Players forced to make decisions with and again' the wind or pay the price. Great stuff.

[Phil McDade]

One player had a 75-yard putt on one hole with a shared green. She four-putted.

Course looks great -- terrific sheen to the greens and fairway.

[Joe Bausch]

Sure wish the coverage was in true HD.... looks like a widescreen 480P telecast to me by TGC, just like their coverage of the LPGA.   

But I'm enjoying it very much nonetheless.   

[Tom Jefferson]

Tom D;
The cup on #8 this morning was cut immediately past the swale, in the left quadrant.
I didn't see the location for the tee on #9, but would guess it was on the new tee, right of the 8th green.  Drivable even for us mortals with the wind as it is today.
Tom

[Tom_Doak]

Wow, I just read the report of the quarter-final matches ... one of them had an ugly ending.

J. J. Spaun of California was one down through 16 holes.  Both he and his opponent reached the 17th hole in two.  Spaun marked his ball to line up an eagle putt to try and get back even ... and then was told that his ball was actually not on the green ... it's hard to tell with the grass there, and I guess they've painted white dots so they can make rulings on this.  Anyway, two-stroke penalty, and match over.  Ugh.

[Steve Kline]

Wow, I just read the report of the quarter-final matches ... one of them had an ugly ending.

J. J. Spaun of California was one down through 16 holes.  Both he and his opponent reached the 17th hole in two.  Spaun marked his ball to line up an eagle putt to try and get back even ... and then was told that his ball was actually not on the green ... it's hard to tell with the grass there, and I guess they've painted white dots so they can make rulings on this.  Anyway, two-stroke penalty, and match over.  Ugh.

At the Mid-Am in 2007 i was in the 10 man playoff for five spots to get in match play. I was in the first group of five to play #1 at BT. I hit the green in two but just barely. Another player was on his way to double, saw me mark my ball, and told the rules official I was not on the green. The official came over and said that I was. I thought that was a really jerk move.

[Tom Yost]

They showed a funny stat on yesterday's broadcast:

Stimp:
 Greens -11
 Fairways - 10

 

[Tom Jefferson]

Tom Y;

They can show the 'stat' if they want, but it is fabrication.  There is no way the fairways are 10s.  Possibly immediately outside of the 'edge' of the green, but certainly not on  a level lie in the fairway portion of the cut.  It is simply TV looking for a story, drama, ratings.  And that's ok by me...it just shouldn't be advertised as 'truth'.

Just my opinion, based on my knowledge of the turf at OM and the Resort in general.

More wind tomorrow!

Tom

[Tony_Chapman]

This was an absolute treat to watch on tv this evening. Even my almost 5-year old daughter was enamored with "how windy" it was and how the ball would roll all over the place.  It's a good thing older sister was at the grocery store with mom or I'd have been relegated to "Good Luck Charlie."

The winners scores today were Even and +5 on the men's side and +5 and +9 on the women's side. Really entertaining golf to watch and par was just a number. Great stuff!

[Mike Benham]

She four-putted.

Technically a 3-putt as her first putt finished off the putting surface  ...

[Jim Nugent]

Is the USGA happy with OM for this tournament?  What about the players?  I'm wondering if more USGA events might come to Bandon. 

[Tony_Chapman]

I think the USGA loves Bandon. We'll never see a pro event there, but I think all the amateur's can be played there and probably will be at some point. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Keiser's goal to host every amateur championship that the USGA contests. Would absolutely love to see the Walker Cup there; the Curtis Cup was really fun to watch.

[William_G]

It was a fun day when Mike was with us and he first saw the upper left plateau, possible pin, on the 18th.

We pretty much knew what to expect from him and he went right for it (our jugular) - it was sort of, “we’re not going to pin that spot, are we” (not his EXACT words but close)   -   

Our response was “sort-of” a guarded NO    -   but under our breathes we sort of laughingly whispered – not unless you’re out of town. Mike”

that is one great pin placement

+1

[William_G]

Tom D;
The cup on #8 this morning was cut immediately past the swale, in the left quadrant.
I didn't see the location for the tee on #9, but would guess it was on the new tee, right of the 8th green.  Drivable even for us mortals with the wind as it is today.
Tom

new tee? cool

there is some dilemma there between the 8th green and the 9th's tee boxes??

[Michael George]

Would be interesting to take a poll as to how many people watched the Pub Links primarily to: (a) see Old MacDonald vs. (b) see the matches. 

Not be fair on this web site. 

However, would be interesting for USGA to see whether some more remote courses could be used for their championships by increasing TV revenue (in lieu of ticket sales).

[Tom Yost]

Tom Y;

They can show the 'stat' if they want, but it is fabrication.  There is no way the fairways are 10s. 

No doubt.

The greens are probably not 11 either.

Neither is Bandon a "pure links."

But don't you think that the differential between fairway and green "stimp" is probably less than any course in the USA that we will see a championship being played.  In other words, the stat, despite being a fabrication, is still a fair indication of how different this course is from our typical American course.  And that is why I thought it was cool.

[Kalen Braley]

I tuned in today to see the course, no doubt about it.  If there were playing on almost any other venue, no way I tune in today.

That being said, that back 9 was just painful to watch.  Its only 2 guys and it took them almost 2:45 to bring it home after the turn.  I understand its high stakes and all for these guys, but cmon, that was just ridiculously slow.

[JWL]

Congrats to Tom and Jim.....I thought the courses showed off great in the telecasts.