Is Merion Really Ready to Handle a US Open ?

[TEPaul]

"It has more to do with those who don't and who will be the ones inflicting all their ideas to "make the golf course play harder" and to "defend par".  That is what you are missing.  

Trust me, the course would risk a lot of change."

Mark:

Why do you think I'm missing something about Merion? And why should I trust you that the course would risk a lot of change? What are you basing that on? Is it some experience you've had at Cherry Hills? Merion East and Merion is not Cherry Hills.

I know most of the people who are part of the administration at Merion and will be. The course has undergone a form of restoration for about the last fifteen years. Did you not hear the green chairman say that at that restoration forum a few years ago? And how well do you know Merion East? What do you think they would ever want to do there now? This amateur probably was a test to see how the course would stand-up to the good player in a major tournament. I think everyone that has to do with Merion and the USGA feels it stood up really well to that test. That includes those at Merion and the USGA---they were all there last week and I spoke with many of them about that subject precisely.

Do you think they're all lying about their opinions of Merion? Perhaps you do.  

[Mark_Fine]

Tom,
I surely don't know the course as well as you do nor am I pretending to.  My basis is past U.S. Open venues and what has happened to them.  Shinnecock Hills I view as an exception as it was well tested more recently before the 2004 Open.  It is also a very different kind of golf course.  

I would love to see Merion host the tournament and frankly I think it would hold up just fine as is.  I'm just not convinced it would be left alone especially by 2015 or whenever a date in the future would open up.  

I just wish they would take the approach that they do (or used to do) for the most part for the British Open.  I remember asking a buddy of mine who is a member at Royal Birkdale what they do to prepare for the tournament.  He said, "they toss around some extra grass seed, throw up some grandstands, open up the back tees, and let the boys have a go"!

[fred ruttenberg]

Normally the rough at Merion presents a severe penalty. This is true for normal member play. June in Philadelphia is ideal to grow grass and the rough could be as thick as desired for an open.

For the US Am rough was not a factor. Tom Meeks had the rough cut so that the qualifying field  would be able to finish the round (he was worried about looking for balls in the rough). After being cut it was further trampled down by spectators.

Furthermore, if my recollection is correct, the green speed for the Am did not approach what it was for past opens. I have a vivid recollection of seeing Tom Watson attempt a short put downhill on the 12th green and seeing the ball roll off the green many yards down the fairway. It seemed that easier pin positions were also used in the Am.