What will the USGA do to Shinnecock in 2004?

[Robert_Walker]

Pat Mucci,
There was only one time that I was ever absolutely positive about anything, but I AM PRETTY SURE.
I believe that the 18th tee was created for the 86 OPEN, and that a new tee to the right of the old tee was added to 17 for the 95 OPEN.
A funny story is that the membership were against  the chipping areas for the 95 OPEN, but many admitted that they were wrong after the fact.
David Eger deserves the credit for the 95 setup.
R

[Paul Richards]

(Another) Memo to USGA:

Rein in those balls before Shinnecock is "too short" to host
another US Open!

[Matt_Ward]

Minus a tweak here or there, SH is ready for the '04 Open. Just play the legitimate back tees, grow the rough an appropriate height and have the greens as firm as the Sunrise Hwy and you will have a real test.

Add the possible involvement of Mother Nature and whoever the winner is will be a fine champion.

Opens need to be contested on SH and for anyone to think the course is obsolete I advise a quick visit to the asylum. And, should Mother Nature not cooperate with high winds / rain -- who cares! The venue has all the ingredients again minus a minor tweak here or there.

I'm also looking forward to the PGA that year at Whistling Straits and hoping the PGA staff doesn't do a wussie job in setting up that course. Play it from the legitimate tips at 7,200 yards and let'em play.

[Anthony_Nysse]

Leave perfection alone!!

[Paul Perrella]

    It is not just my opinion but several of my friends that Shinnecock under U.S. Open conditions with a moderate to heavy wind may be the most difficult course on the planet. Although the two par 5's may be reachable they are certainly not gimmes for any score. This set of par 3's, also as difficult as any around, may be the determining factor in the open.
    It would also seem to me that if anyone did go really low at Shinnecock during the open then there are many other courses that deserve our sympathy as being victims of the current steroid laced golf ball.

[peter_mcknight]

I agree with all that Shinnecock is one of the nation's finest designs and needs little or no work done by an open doctor to prepare it for the 104th open.  However, with the advancement of technology, and if the track is fast, the 6944 championship yardage will play more like the high 6700s.  I remember in the 4th round that Pavin hit driver 9I to no.12.  No.16 remains one of my top 5 tournament par 5s in the world.

My thoughts are numerous:
1.  Lengthen the par 4s downwind;
2.  Lengthen the par 4s into the wind;
3.  Lengthen both par 5s by 20 yards each;
4.  There is no need to lengthen any of the par 3s;
5.  Finally, agronometric practices are so precise that the course could play even quicker than 1995.

The following is a spreadsheet of the thoughts listed above.
1995      down        in
394      395      395
226      230      230
453      475      455
408      415      435
535      555      555
471      490      475
188      190      190
367      370      370
447      450      450
409      415      415
158      165      165
472      495      480
377      385      385
444      465      450
415      415      435
544      565      565
186      185      185
450      455      455
6944      7115      7090

I like both choices, although if I had one to make, it would probably be the one into the wind.

Matt...I believe Whistling Straits will play it all the way back.  They played the PGA Club Pro Championship at 7208.  Also, commencing with Medinah in 1999, they have begun to play their courses all the way back (Medinah, A.A.C. (with the exception of holes 1 and 11), Hazeltine, Oak Hill will grow before 2003, etc.).  I wonder if no. 16 will play as a par 4, however.  With the exception of 18 (not that great), there isn't a long brute of a par 4 and 16 represents the best chance to create one.