US Open plans for Merion

[Howard Riefs]

Because there aren't enough Merion threads...

Golfweek has an article on the USGA's plans for Merion. In sum:


COURSE
*   Fairways between 22 and 24 yards wide
*   Rough at approximately 3" inches
*   Speedy greens (as if it needs to be said)
*   "There will be nothing tricky. But it all depends on the weather."

SITE/SPECTATORS
*   Few smaller merchandise tents, rather than one large tent
*   Strategically placed grandstands are expected to help crowd flow
*   Remote satellite parking and hospitality tents are also part of the plan
*   Grounds tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday have sold out; opening round expected to sell out soon


http://golfweek.com/news/2012/jun/20/merion-stretch-run-prepping-2013-us-open/

[Bill Shotzbarger]

Does anyone know what they are doing re: split tees? I know they went off 9 at Olympic....10 tee at merion is fairly inaccessible from ardmore avenue, no? I've only played there once...I assume they'll be going off of 11?

[Rich Goodale]

Does anyone know what they are doing re: split tees? I know they went off 9 at Olympic....10 tee at merion is fairly inaccessible from ardmore avenue, no? I've only played there once...I assume they'll be going off of 11?

My inside dope is that (a la Ty Webb--"I have a pool and a pond, you can swim in the pond") the plebian qualifiers (e.g. Sectionals, Japanese or European tours, etc.) will play holes 1-12 (the HH Barker "loop") three times over the first two days whilst the elite players will play 13-18 (i.e. the non-Whigham/Macdonald holes) four times.  Saturday and Sunday will remain as per usual.

[Bill Shamleffer]

Does anyone know what they are doing re: split tees? I know they went off 9 at Olympic....10 tee at merion is fairly inaccessible from ardmore avenue, no? I've only played there once...I assume they'll be going off of 11?

Since Merion West will be used for the practice area, and they will already have to transport the players to the course, there may not be any advantage using a tee other than #10 for the alternate tee on Thurs. & Friday.

I believe I also read that the locker facilities will also be located at Merion West.  Does anyone know how this is going to work?

[Jim Franklin]

Does anyone know what they are doing re: split tees? I know they went off 9 at Olympic....10 tee at merion is fairly inaccessible from ardmore avenue, no? I've only played there once...I assume they'll be going off of 11?

Since Merion West will be used for the practice area, and they will already have to transport the players to the course, there may not be any advantage using a tee other than #10 for the alternate tee on Thurs. & Friday.

I believe I also read that the locker facilities will also be located at Merion West.  Does anyone know how this is going to work?

As I said in one of the other Merion threads, they will be using the 10th tee. Players will be transported from the West practice area, through the neighborhoods and to the 10th tee. The entire area bought into this event and will make it easier to handle the crowds and other challenges that the tight area present.

[Terry Lavin]

Because there aren't enough Merion threads...

Even the King of the Links should be capable of restraining himself on this topic.

[Matt Dupre]

Bill -

There are no locker facilities at the West course - just a log cabin with a bar, fireplace and room for a few tables (pretty much perfect, in other words...).

I'm sure the players will be perfectly happy with the men's locker room - but transporting them from there to the West and back, or to 10 tee via Golfview Road, is going to be interesting.

[Emile Bonfiglio]

SITE/SPECTATORS
*   Few smaller merchandise tents, rather than one large tent

- So they have 3 20,000sf tents instead of 1 45,000sf tent.....hmmm

[Howard Riefs]

Because there aren't enough Merion threads...

Even the King of the Links should be capable of restraining himself on this topic.

There are currently four "Merion" threads on page 1.  And the tournament is still 51 weeks away.  Just wait..

[Joe Bausch]

I put this out there every year or so, partly because I think it is very educational and partly because I put many hours into it.   

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/golf/merionweb/merion_web.html

[Howard Riefs]

And a few more details from the Morning Call...

COURSE
*   Several short par 4s
*   Four par 4s that measure 490 yards or longer
*   One of the two par 5s will stretch longer than 600 yards, and both par 5s will be among the first four holes
*   "We've narrowed some of the fairways, moved some bunkers and lengthened the course," Ill said. "We'll be tweaking the course between now and next year, but it's essentially ready."

LOCKER ROOM/PRACTICE FACILITIES
*   Players' locker rooms and practice facilities will be located on the West Course, with shuttles running the mile in between.

SITE/SPECTATORS
*   Grandstands to accommodate 17,000 fans, hoping people fill those seats to alleviate course crowding
*   Merchandise, concessions and restrooms will be located on the course's perimeter
*   Off-site properties such as neighboring Haverford College agreed to host the hospitality tents
*   Bridges will be constructed from Haverford to the championship site
*   "Corporate tents will take over some grounds of the posh neighborhood."  

NEIGHBORHOOD
*   Residents who live on Golf House Road adjacent to the course are giving up their lawns to the championship


http://articles.mcall.com/2012-06-18/sports/mc-usopen-merion-0618-20120618_1_usga-merion-golf-club-hospitality

[Dan Herrmann]

I think that parking will be out at Fairmount Park.

Howard  - are you sure locker rooms will be at the West Course?  They would need to be temporary facilities, because the Adirondack-style lodge is all that's out there.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

I think that parking will be out at Fairmount Park.

Howard  - are you sure locker rooms will be at the West Course?  They would need to be temporary facilities, because the Adirondack-style lodge is all that's out there.

I'm sure that they will just set up temporary trailers as locker rooms.  These can be much nicer than they sound.

[Howard Riefs]

I think that parking will be out at Fairmount Park.

Howard  - are you sure locker rooms will be at the West Course?  They would need to be temporary facilities, because the Adirondack-style lodge is all that's out there.

I'm sure that they will just set up temporary trailers as locker rooms.  These can be much nicer than they sound.

That's the likely case. Will probably see the same in Kiawah at the PGA Championship in August as there's not much room for the players' lockers in the clubhouse.

[BVince]

Will 3" rough be enough?  Will they be attempting to achieve par for the 72 hole winning score?  Will 3" rough on a shorter course be sufficient in achieving this objective?

[Kris Shreiner]

They have a monster 2 story facility for the players they erect. It is as posh as just about anything you could find at a fixed structure. That will be no problem at all. The shuttle system might get taxed a bit, though the Merion folks know how to run something in an efficient, first-class manner. They'll nail it...we just need mother nature to cooperate!

Cheers,
Kris