Jim,
Please outline your day for those of us who didn’t go. The smallest details are often the best.
Hi John...happy to. Although, I apologize for the delay. I had to rest up hard yesterday. I found out that ANGC is a grueling place.
First, that place is WAY hillier than shown on TV. You just can't imagine. In the midwest, you could probably open a small ski hill there on ANGC property. I joked with a member who was kind enough to talk to me that you have to be a Billy Goat to play this place. He laughed and agreed.
When I first arrived early, I walked the course forwards. I was exhausted just after doing that. Then I decided to get merch and souvenirs for friends and family. I was surprised by how long the lines were even at 9:30/10 am or so. Seems like everyone had the same idea. Shop early and then get back out there for the action.
What amazed me about the shopping experience was that lines were as long as a crowded TSA line at the Atlanta airport. However, my feet always kept moving and the line never really stood still. I was probably inside the shop within 10 minutes of entering the line that had backed up to the outside. Then inside, getting to a counter to get a shirt or a hat, you simply tell the associate working there the number and size (if applicable) of your desired item. Again, lines were deep but they retrieved things fast. I was amazed at the volume of patrons shopping and the staff that kept things moving ridiculously fast.
Then at checkout, I continued to be amazed. I work in credit card security/payments, so to me, this is interesting, to others, probably not. In any event, I had about 20 items, they were scanned by the associate in about 30 seconds, and my payment was processed in under a minute. At most it took 90 seconds to check out and I was on my way.
I simply marveled at that experience and how fast it went given the massive crowds.
Now it was time to get a snack and head back out to the course. Right as I came out toward the first hole and ninth, Tiger was coming down nine. I had never seen him. Watched him hit his approach to nine and walk up the hill to the green. He looked tired and injured. Then watched him hit his tee shot on 10. He pulled a 3 wood left. Again, his swing looked a little tired. Then I went to the 18th green and proceeded to walk the course backwards this time. Saw a lot of players. Followed Min Woo Lee for a few as he was making birdies en route to a record tying 30 on the front nine. He is a very small guy who hits it a long way. That was a treat to see in person. Then continued to walk backwards and just marvel at the course.
When I was finished I was tired again. Got a couple of sandwiches and a couple of lemonades. Tried to get my picture taken at the Founder's circle but the line was long. I'll try later I thought. It never happened. I regret that. After not getting in that line I decided to head back out to the course. I walked down 10 and 11, saw a few groups go through 12 and then decided I head over to watch some guys go for it in 2 at the 13th.
That's where I realized again, that there are some things you just can't believe when you're there and see it in person. I just couldn't understand why until I got out to the apex of the 13th fairway. And I looked back toward the tee which you really couldn't see. Then I look toward the green. On TV this hole looks like a dogleg left. In reality, I dare to disagree somewhat. It's really more of a horshoe. One continuous turn to the left, with humpbacks in the right side of the fairway that create sort of speed slots (I saw that on 10 also) that if you hit it in the right place the ball would careen forward to a much more advantageous position. But still, I could not get over the severity of the dogleg. On TV it looks much straighter. I was perplexed by this.
No matter, I took a seat at the east end of the bleachers of the 14th tee where I could see guys on 13 go for it and guys tee off on 14 and hear the whizz of the ball as it flys by. That sound never gets old.
Then I kept looking at the leader board because I though there would be a dogfight with Scheff and Smith after Cam birdied the first two holes. Then he started to waver. Then I saw them post the numbers for the 3rd hole and a 1 shot lead turned to 3. Then 4. I decided to go watch some shots on the par 3 16th. I enjoyed that. It was particularly interesting to see from behind the tee, where some guys were aiming. Some aiming right to catch the green slope, and other guys going right at it. I wondered what I might do if given one chance.
Then I saw Scheff's lead was down to 3 and they were on the back nine. I decide to go find them. However, before I could get to them, the lead was now 6 after they played the 12th.
Also, while heading there, I noticed everyone else was too. It was getting crowded and thick.
I stopped and reconsidered my plan.
I decided not to go watch them or anyone on the back nine, even though "The Masters doesn't start until the back 9 on Sunday" -- I decided to go find all the holes they had already played, which would be empty, and I could stand in the fairway cross walks and look toward the green and back to the tee so I get a feel of sight lines and what players see.
So that's what I did for the last two hours. That was the best part of the day for me. Things started to make sense to me. I could tell where you needed to hit it off the tee, in just the right spot of the fairway, lest you catch a mound and be pushed to a disadvantageous spot off to the side of the fairway or rough, and now the hole just became exponentially more difficult. Now I understood standing behind the 10th tee, why guys might not hit driver. Or standing in the 2nd fairway and looking back up the hill, understanding the downhill slope from right to left that would careen a drive into the 360 range and an ideal line to the green for an eagle. Which was just as fascinating as looking back at the 13th fairway which seemed like a horseshoe to me, or in the middle of the 8th fairway that seemed like a mountain to climb up, with two elephants seemingly buried in the middle of the fairway some 370 off the tee, and absolutely not possible to see the green at all. It was mesmerizing to get looks at all of this from the fairways, behind the tees and the greens.
I'm so glad I did this. No one else was really around. Everyone was going the other way I was. I could spend as much time as I wanted just gazing and looking at sight lines and contours.
Toward the end when I was making my way back up the hill toward 9 and 1, I realized a couple of things.
TV is 2 dimensional. Life is 3. That's why you can't see these severities on TV -- they get flattened out. The topography is somewhat missing.
Then, I played golf at the University of Michigan which is an Alister McKenzie course. I never figured that course out until long after I graduated. And still, I wouldn't call it "figuring it out" -- I just understand it better. I shake my head when I think back on collegiate rounds there how I recklessly slashed my way around that place without giving placement, strategy, positioning, etc., even a bit of thought. It made me think, no wonder first timers at ANGC have so much trouble with the place. You probably need 20 or so rounds, just to start to begin a journey of comprehension of that golf course to understand it better, which, you never will; you'll only get closer, never full, complete understanding. I saw many similarities of the U of M course and ANGC. I loved it.
I remarked to that same ANGC member when if found myself next to him near a garbage can -- I said that I've watched this tourney since I was a kid with my later father on black and white TV, when you had to get up to change the channel, back in the 70's and this is my first time here. I then said, having visited here and seen this property, now I understand why the USGA does what it does with US Opens...lengthens rough, dries out and feverishly rolls greens...they have to. You folks don't. He smiled. That was a nice chat.
I know there are probably USGA employees on or people with strong ties to the USGA, maybe even ANGC too, and I'm sure members of US Open host courses. I mean NO disrespect to those courses or the USGA. I hold them all with the same reverence. I just saw things a little differently than I have in the past having now set foot on the ANGC grounds and seeing that property in person for myself.
I hope I haven't offended anyone with my thoughts or views...it's just stuff that came into my little peabrain when I was out there.
It was a dream come true to go see those holes in person. I will carry those pictures in my head forever.
I hope this wasn't too weird or off-putting to anyone.
Oh...one last thing...the free phones there. I had heard about those. I wrote down the numbers of my in laws and called them to thank them. Then called my wife to tell her I loved her and missed her.
I told them both I snuck my phone in and we needed to keep it down, but I just wanted to give a quick call. My father-in-law, then began to whisper. That was funny and we all had a good laugh. So, that's pretty cool to be able to give someone a call from inside the grounds, and it's right next to the gift shop and before the big old time scoreboard, where the scores are written in markers on tourney sheets, just like all the amateur tourneys I've played in my day. That was cool to see them still doing that where you could see hole by holes scores.
I guess that's about it for now.
Thank you all for your advice to help me with my first visit -- it was greatly appreciated and it helped make it less confusing for me. That place is truly overwhelming and the grounds just massive. You have no idea unless you've been.
I've slept an avg of 12 hours the last two nights. I finally feel normal.