And so it begins ...

[Ran Morrissett]

My girlfriend’s daughter was hosting at the nearby steakhouse last night when ... Sergio Garcia strolled in! She said that he is BOTH extremely good looking and very polite. Bubba Watson was there Sunday.
 
In other local developments, my girlfriend and I were minding our own business watching the Wallander series from Sweden sista natten  when the home phone rang. Alarmingly, it showed a 610 Philly area code.
 
Sure enough, the legendary Tom Paul was just finishing up a fine dining experience in Southern Pines at Chef Warrens and was looking for action. Thankfully, the Dishers and Crosbys were also present to lend dignity to the proceedings.
 
Anyway, the ever thirsty (for knowledge, that is – what did you think I meant?  ) and dapper Tom Paul & crew were soon being waved through the gatehouse onto the grounds of the world renowned GolfClubAtlas.com compound.
 
Within moments, these two fine bottles, which had thrived for so long in peaceful bliss, had met their match.


Empty, boo-hoo!
 
GCA.com’s oenophile Jeff Lewis would shed a tear - as would Joe Andriole who gave me these bottles to safeguard for his return next week. Oops
 
And so the 2014 Opens begin … only the fittest of the fit will survive the grueling (drinking) demands that lie ahead - let the good times roll!!

Best,

[JC Jones]

wait a second, Tom Paul has a cell phone?  Or does he travel with the barn?

[Rees Milikin]

Cheers, and perhaps I may run into some of the GCA crew!

[Peter Pallotta]

JC - Thanks a lot! That got me laughing so hard I nearly choked on my salami and cheese sandwich...

Ran- the description of your life at US Open time reminds me of the Woody Allen line -- i.e. I'm not sure I believe in reincarnation, but if it's true I want to come back as Warren Beatty's fingertips...

[RJ_Daley]

Rees, you'll be able to recognise the GCA contingent.  They'll be the ones on their hands and knees caressing the ground poofs and textures....  

Bubba says he is "not sure he'll love it or hate it, with that rough, dirt, sand, needles, transition...whatever they call it."  But he says it is fun.  

I hope for Tom Paul's sake, Pinehurst hasn't gone to a "smokeless facility".  Fat chance of that along the tobacco road...

[Josh Smith]

Ran,

         Will we get a layout preview of your outfits for each round of the tournament?  I would love to know when and how the Jean Jacket with horseshoes factors in.  By the way, really enjoyed the podcast.  Look forward to seeing you again soon, sans Jean Jacket.

Best,

Josh

[Eric Smith]

Look forward to seeing you again soon, sans Jean Jacket.

What's wrong with Jean Jackets? I own two of 'em.

Sincerely,

JC Jones

[Tim Martin]

Look forward to seeing you again soon, sans Jean Jacket.

What's wrong with Jean Jackets? I own two of 'em.

Sincerely,

JC Jones

So between the Jean Jackets and the "Members Only" collection that makes an even dozen. Sounds like a job for California Closets.

[David_Tepper]

"my girlfriend and I were minding our own business watching the Wallander series from Sweden"

Ran -

Big Wallander fan here. I really like the current series, as Wallander's dementia slowly emerges.

DT

[Rees Milikin]

Look forward to seeing you again soon, sans Jean Jacket.

What's wrong with Jean Jackets? I own two of 'em.

Sincerely,

JC Jones

I hope they are sleeveless.

[Tim_Cronin]

Ran, you're more famous than you think. You were mentioned on Golf Central last night, albeit as a writer from Global Golf Post.

[Mike Sweeney]

wait a second, Tom Paul has a cell phone?  Or does he travel with the barn?

Okay that was a good one 

I find Pinehurst to be an interesting contrast from last years US Open at Merion:

Merion = short, narrow fairways, deep rough, completely unique, Tom Fazio, green, private

Pinehurst = long, wide fairways, uneven rough, now completely unique, C&C, brown, resort

It would be great to hear from Tom Paul and others on the ground for both Opens, his/their views on the contrasting nature of the above. 

[BCrosby]

It is rare in the annals of American hospitality that a man is tested as Ran was a couple of night ago. He passed the test with great aplomb. Together with his wonderful girlfriend Fritz, it was a memorable evening.

Let me tell the story. Lost in the backwoods of Southern Pines that evening, Tommy dials up Ran who, as if he had been expecting the call, asks us over for a visit.

As GCA's command center, I had expected to see racks of blinking servers, cubicles, a dozen computer screens and tech guys wearing dirty tee shirts. We found instead a stately home filled with books, paintings and drawings (most but not all related to golf) and one heck of a wine cellar.

After the shock of our appearance at the front door, Ran quickly made us feel like we had actually been invited.  It was a memorable evening full of good talk. Fritz is a delight. Thanks Ran. Thanks Fritz.

Bob

P.S. I want to confirm that the now famous Craig Disher was with us and that he has remained (at least among us friends) his old humble self. But I'm not sure how long he will be able to maintain the pose.

[Paul Gray]

My girlfriend’s daughter was hosting at the nearby steakhouse last night when ... Sergio Garcia strolled in! She said that he is BOTH extremely good looking and very polite. Bubba Watson was there Sunday.

If intended in the way I read it, brilliant!

[Joe_Tucholski]

Listening to Andy North on SportsCenter I feel like he doesn't get anything but the penal school of golf.  His analysis generally stated the players are just going to have to deal with frustration because they will hit really good shots that hit a slope and end up far from the green and then they will hit poor shots that end up on the green.  While he is a two time US Open champ it seems he avoided the British Open.  In his 21 years of playing in majors he only played in 4 Open Championships.

[David Royer]

As we approach tomorrow, I find great inspiration.   I trust we will experience great enjoyment in the upcoming days and nights.  Where is Dr. Shaida with his recommended mixology for the weekend?

[Paul Gray]

Listening to Andy North on SportsCenter I feel like he doesn't get anything but the penal school of golf.  His analysis generally stated the players are just going to have to deal with frustration because they will hit really good shots that hit a slope and end up far from the green and then they will hit poor shots that end up on the green.  While he is a two time US Open champ it seems he avoided the British Open.  In his 21 years of playing in majors he only played in 4 Open Championships.

We all know that there is nothing so fatal in playing golf as to have a vivid imagination....... Dr. Alister Mackenzie

[John Burnes]

Hogan only played one open..

[Terry Lavin]

It is rare in the annals of American hospitality that a man is tested as Ran was a couple of night ago. He passed the test with great aplomb. Together with his wonderful girlfriend Fritz, it was a memorable evening.

Let me tell the story. Lost in the backwoods of Southern Pines that evening, Tommy dials up Ran who, as if he had been expecting the call, asks us over for a visit.

As GCA's command center, I had expected to see racks of blinking servers, cubicles, a dozen computer screens and tech guys wearing dirty tee shirts. We found instead a stately home filled with books, paintings and drawings (most but not all related to golf) and one heck of a wine cellar.

After the shock of our appearance at the front door, Ran quickly made us feel like we had actually been invited.  It was a memorable evening full of good talk. Fritz is a delight. Thanks Ran. Thanks Fritz.

Bob

P.S. I want to confirm that the now famous Craig Disher was with us and that he has remained (at least among us friends) his old humble self. But I'm not sure how long he will be able to maintain the pose.

Old school gca.com stuff!!!  It's ALIVE!!!!!!

[Chip Gaskins]

this week will bring a lot of the generations of GCA.com together.

i always wondered how Tom Paul took that barn around with him.  it is a pretty damn nice barn.

[Bill_McBride]

It is rare in the annals of American hospitality that a man is tested as Ran was a couple of night ago. He passed the test with great aplomb. Together with his wonderful girlfriend Fritz, it was a memorable evening.

Let me tell the story. Lost in the backwoods of Southern Pines that evening, Tommy dials up Ran who, as if he had been expecting the call, asks us over for a visit.

As GCA's command center, I had expected to see racks of blinking servers, cubicles, a dozen computer screens and tech guys wearing dirty tee shirts. We found instead a stately home filled with books, paintings and drawings (most but not all related to golf) and one heck of a wine cellar.

After the shock of our appearance at the front door, Ran quickly made us feel like we had actually been invited.  It was a memorable evening full of good talk. Fritz is a delight. Thanks Ran. Thanks Fritz.

Bob

P.S. I want to confirm that the now famous Craig Disher was with us and that he has remained (at least among us friends) his old humble self. But I'm not sure how long he will be able to maintain the pose.

Old school gca.com stuff!!!  It's ALIVE!!!!!!

I think I saw Craig Disher and Bob Crosby's first face to face meeting during cocktails at a Dixie Cup in Madison, Georgia a few years ago.  It was obvious they had been communicating about projects of mutual interest.   That's the best of GCA to me.  Great company and some fun golf too.  

[Joe_Tucholski]

Hogan only played one open..

I have to believe the difficulty of travel in the 30's-50's was a bigger factor in that.  Not sure the same can be said for the 70's-90's.

The question I should have asked in the post is:
Is a really good shot that hits a slope and goes far from the green really a good shot?

In my mind it's a poorly conceived/executed shot.

In a recent interview Bill Coore was talking about one of the first courses he played and specifically a par 3 on that course (Lexington Municipal - which looks pretty interesting in the background of the interview).  Basically he said when he was a kid he played with a neighbor who always used to hit his shot into a large slope away from the hole and the ball always trickled to the green.  Coore said he always tried to hit his short iron and fly it to the plateaued green and it always rolled off the back.  When the neighbor suggested Coore try playing it off the hill Coore responded that's not the way it's supposed to be done.  The response was great "Golf is not a game of what you're supposed to do, it's a game of what you do."  Luckily Coore learned this lesson early in life.

Andy North picked Dustin Johnson to win.  Maybe I'm wrong but I don't believe Dustin Johnson has a lot of creativity in his game.  Clearly Johnson and North are great players but I see both saying "that's not what's supposed to happen" when a shot bounces away from a green.  I hope someone with creativity wins the US Open this year.

[John McCarthy]

Hogan only played one open..

But he won it. 

[archie_struthers]

 


Very good stuff , cheers to all in beautiful Pinehurst , N.C.

Dr Mackenzie's line about imagination and golf is so apropos . I'm enjoying this Grey chap more each day . My wife likes to use one that fits the bill for many "great minds are seldom tidy" !

Enjoy lads , jealous but happy we are !

[Jeff_Lewis]

Ran, my good man.   The only tears I might shed would be for my absence.  It is a far greater sin to wait too long than to have something perhaps a wee bit early.   Enjoy the week!