US Open/Merion/Philly Tips

[Josh Tarble]

Thanks for all of the advice...we will definitely be taking the train in.  And we're going to try to squeeze as much as we can in the little time we'll be there.  I'm really looking forward to Philly and definitely Merion.  I only hope I can see enough of the course!

[Joe Bausch]

Thanks for all of the advice...we will definitely be taking the train in.  And we're going to try to squeeze as much as we can in the little time we'll be there.  I'm really looking forward to Philly and definitely Merion.  I only hope I can see enough of the course!

I think you'll have a great time Josh!

Are you a Hoosier?  I'm guessing so from your avatar.  I used to be a Hoosier so here's some do's and don'ts for your visit:   

1.  Do sample a cheesesteak.  Try to find some little corner pizza place and they'll typically do one real well.

2.  Don't wear any Dallas Cowboys gear.

3.  Do sample a real Philly soft pretzel.  Get one from a food cart where it is a very rectangular and doughy.  Put some spicy brown mustard on it if you wish.

4.  Don't say you like native Hoosier Scott Rolen.  Matter of fact, say you hate him and comment on what kind of person would ask for the day off when the team was having "Scott Rolen Day" (that's a fact).

5.  Learn to pronounce some words like Philadelphians do:

wurter (water)
yoots (youths)
libary (library)
ant-knee (anyone named Anthony)
LANK-is-ter (county west of Philly, and also the main road running through the Main Line just north of Merion GC).

6.  Do appear interested when cornered by Mayday Malone and his latest suggested changes to Rolling Green.

 

[Mark McKeever]

Joe you nailed it all!

My only other thought to add is that some call water: "Wood-er"

Mark

[mike_malone]

 I have never suggested changes to RG. I only do what Flynn demands of me. 

[Dan Herrmann]

And, we have this strange thing called "Water Ice". 

[Howard Riefs]

2.  Don't wear any Dallas Cowboys gear.

2a.   or NY Rangers gear.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Joe you nailed it all!

My only other thought to add is that some call water: "Wood-er"

Mark

Last thought (well, maybe)... the wooder you see in fornt of the the green on #11 is Cobbs Crick... not creek.

[jeffwarne]

So if coming in from New York, would one want to park at the Norristown Tranportation center, or one of the stations closer to 476 or 276 such as County Line station?
Are there parking issues at any of the stations?
Thanks

[Dan Herrmann]

Well, Norristown is right of I-276 (exit 333).  I'm guessing you'd have a better chance of getting on when it's uncrowded versus, the Gulph Mills stop for example.

OR just take Amtrak or NJ Transit to Philly 30th Street Station and then the Paoli-Thorndale line to Villanova.

[jeffwarne]

Well, Norristown is right of I-276 (exit 333).  I'm guessing you'd have a better chance of getting on when it's uncrowded versus, the Gulph Mills stop for example.

OR just take Amtrak or NJ Transit to Philly 30th Street Station and then the Paoli-Thorndale line to Villanova.

Good point.
Norristown it is.
and theoretically, the longer I stay on, the less traffic I'd encounter when leaving I'd assume
will look into Amtrak, but that involves a one hour drive to Ronkonkoma, then a train to Penn Station

[mike_beene]

Is there a place to check cell phones which I believe are not allowed for practice rounds? I hate the thought of two hours each way on the train without email access. It would probably do me good.

[Mark McKeever]

For what its worth, I plan on getting the train at Norristown.

Mark

[Joe Bausch]

Well, Norristown is right of I-276 (exit 333).  I'm guessing you'd have a better chance of getting on when it's uncrowded versus, the Gulph Mills stop for example.

OR just take Amtrak or NJ Transit to Philly 30th Street Station and then the Paoli-Thorndale line to Villanova.

The stop is Rosemont for the free shuttle to the course.

[ChipOat]

Mike Beene:

Yes, you can check your illegal equipment at the Main Gate.  Based on my experience at previous tournaments, the odds of your device(s) getting mis-marked are near zero.

Jeff:

Unless the Norristown terminal for the High Speed Line turns out to be a total zoo, that's the way to go as the Ardmore Avenue stop is, literally, 100 yards from the Main Gate, 12th green and 13th tee.

[Joe Bausch]

Jeff:

Unless the Norristown terminal for the High Speed Line turns out to be a total zoo, that's the way to go as the Ardmore Avenue stop is, literally, 100 yards from the Main Gate, 12th green and 13th tee.

They've recently renovated the Ardmore R100 stop, making the platform twice the size to facilitate the increased load from the US Open.

[Mike Hendren]

How's parking at Norristown?  My flight doesn't arriive until 10:30 a.m. Wed.

Thanks.

[Michael Blake]

Note to people coming to the Norristown Transportation Center:  the main track on ground level is not the high speed line-that's the train to and from Philly.  YOU NEED TO WALK UPSTAIRS TO THE SECOND LEVEL to catch the HSL.

For NJ & NY folks, I'd seriously consider taking Amtrak to 30th, then SEPTA.

Bill C, I'd do that from Princeton.

Jeff W, I'd drive to Metropark in NJ & do that.

[Michael Blake]

How's parking at Norristown?  My flight doesn't arriive until 10:30 a.m. Wed.

150 spots maybe in their garage.
There a lot down the street & a garage one block north at the county courthouse.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Second on Michael Blake's comments--the Trenton and West Trenton SEPTA lines can be slow; Amtrak is a lot quicker to 30thSt.  The R5 west from CCP is usually is nice and clean.

[Dan Herrmann]

CCP = Center City Philadelphia (typically not called "downtown" here)

Here's a photo of the parking garage at Norristown:

[Ed Brzezowski]

The classic.  Jaeatyet ?

Translation   Did you eat yet?

Lets go to Kingaprussia?

Lets go shopping at King of Prussia mall.

The best.  Yo Adrianne!!

[Dan Herrmann]

Ed - Hasn't "Kingaprussia" been supplanted by the easier "KOP"?

[Andy Hughes]

So we have a parking pass for Lot S. Does anyone know where that is/how to get to it, and whether it is within walking distance of the course? I have searched high and low--I can not find information on lot locations.

[David_Tepper]

5-Day Weather Forecast for Merion:

http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/Ardmore+PA+USPA0051:1:US

[Wade Whitehead]

How about getting on at Upper Darby?

WW