Was at Astoria today for the first time since a severe winter windstorm took out about 80-90% of the shore pines which guarded the fairways. Maybe 10-20% have been repalced. It has really been opened up, which to me takes some of the fun out of the course. You had to work the ball to counter the effects of the wind and some-side sloped fairways, jst to keep the ball in the fairway and avoid the shore pines. If you got in them it was a 1/2 stroke loss. Plus the firm and fast condtions and short rough exacerbated the problems.
Today it was wall to wall green, no brown or dry spots. 2"+ sticky rough. It didn't play like a links course. Crampons needed because the ball seldom came all the way down off the dunes slopes because of high grass.