Merion

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I may not be around but:
https://www.usopen.com/2024/articles/merion-adds-2040-u-s--open-to-its-future-usga-events.html

[Tim Martin]

At only 125 acres it provides a more intimate walk when compared with most other U.S. Open sites. It’s great to see such a worthy course find it’s way into the regular rotation.

[Wayne_Kozun]

I wonder what the ball and equipment will look like by then.

[Blake Conant]

I wonder what the ball and equipment will look like by then.

I wonder what Merion will look like by then

[Jim_Coleman]

   Gotta give the membership credit. Hosting the Open is a bit of a pain in the ass. Unfun rough for months; hitting off mats; closing the course for weeks; etc. Yes, it’s a lot of money and pride. I doubt everyone would be happy to do it, especially the older guys and their wives.

[Brent Carlson]

Thanks for the heads up Steve.  This is excellent news.  In 2013 Merion was a great venue for the Open.  Interestingly through 2042 only one US Open - in 2036 - has not been assigned. 


 

Event	US Open
Month	June
2022	The Country Club
2023	Los Angeles CC
2024	Pinehurst # 2
2025	Oakmont CC
2026	Shinnecock Hills GC
2027	Pebble Beach
2028	Winged Foot
2029	Pinehurst # 2
2030	Merion GC
2031	Riviera
2032	Pebble Beach
2033	Oakmont CC
2034	Oakland Hills
2035	Pinehurst # 2
2036	TBD
2037	Pebble Beach
2038	The Country Club
2039	Los Angeles CC
2040	Merion
2041	Pinehurst # 2
2042	Oakmont CC
2043	TBD
2044	Pebble Beach
2045	TBD
2046	TBD
2047	Pinehurst # 2
2048	TBD
2049	Oakmont CC
2050	Merion GC
2051	Oakland Hills

 

[Tommy Williamsen]

   Gotta give the membership credit. Hosting the Open is a bit of a pain in the ass. Unfun rough for months; hitting off mats; closing the course for weeks; etc. Yes, it’s a lot of money and pride. I doubt everyone would be happy to do it, especially the older guys and their wives.

The tournament also beats up a course. I used to belong to a course that held a TOUR event. The rough is trampled down, the fairways had a zillion divots, and the practice tee was either resodded or closed for it to heal. It is a sacrifice that not many are willing to make, so good on 'em.

[Mark_Fine]

Merion is one of my favorite golf courses on the planet.  Played it many times but with all due respect, don’t love the photo used of the 16th hole. 

Anyway, just hope they don’t change it too much more as time goes on and also wish they would consider not pinching down all the fairways all but forcing every player to play from the same spots. 

[Michael Dugger]

I wonder if Baltusrol will make it back into the Rota again?


And considering how much I enjoyed the event, I would also like to see them get back to Oak Hill.

[Paul Rudovsky]

I wonder if Baltusrol will make it back into the Rota again?


And considering how much I enjoyed the event, I would also like to see them get back to Oak Hill.

So the USGA simply loves anniversaries for their events (for example, 2038 Open At Brookline is 125th anniversary of Ouimet's win).  How about the following:? 

2036 would be the 100th anniversary of the US open being played at Baltusrol...on the Upper Course.  Only time Upper Course hosted an Open.  Many folks now believe Upper is better than Lower, and Hanse is right how renovating Upper.  There might be two issues: (1) PGA vs USGA as Lower is holding the PGA in 2029, and (2) the USGA typically wants to try out course that has not been used for many years by "top quality" players...and to test the facility's ability to host a big event.

Issue (1) would also affect Oak Hill.

Other possible ones IMO might be Shinnecock, Congressional, and Scioto (all of which have similar issue or issues)

[Tim Martin]

I wonder if Baltusrol will make it back into the Rota again?


And considering how much I enjoyed the event, I would also like to see them get back to Oak Hill.

So the USGA simply loves anniversaries for their events (for example, 2038 Open At Brookline is 125th anniversary of Ouimet's win).  How about the following:? 

2036 would be the 100th anniversary of the US open being played at Baltusrol...on the Upper Course.  Only time Upper Course hosted an Open.  Many folks now believe Upper is better than Lower, and Hanse is right how renovating Upper.  There might be two issues: (1) PGA vs USGA as Lower is holding the PGA in 2029, and (2) the USGA typically wants to try out course that has not been used for many years by "top quality" players...and to test the facility's ability to host a big event.

Issue (1) would also affect Oak Hill.

Other possible ones IMO might be Shinnecock, Congressional, and Scioto (all of which have similar issue or issues)

Paul-Some courses that were once perennial U.S. Open sites such as Baltusrol Lower and Oak Hill are now holding the PGA. Bethpage Black seemingly has followed suit with the Barclays, 2019 PGA and the 2024 Ryder Cup. I don't see any of them listed as future U.S. Open venues.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Isn't it weird that they are allocating sites over a quarter of a century in the future?  Who knows what the game of golf will look like in 2051?

[Paul Rudovsky]

Paul-Some courses that were once perennial U.S. Open sites such as Baltusrol Lower and Oak Hill are now holding the PGA. Bethpage Black seemingly has followed suit with the Barclays, 2019 PGA and the 2024 Ryder Cup. I don't see any of them listed as future U.S. Open venues.


I think I said in my post exactly what your first sentence says.  But the reality is that in today's world (for better or worse) old alliances sometimes break apart and new one formed.  For example...WF held a PGA Champ in 1997 and has gone back to hosting USGA events.  And Brookline, a USGA founding member club held  Ryder Cup in '99 and then a US Am and US Open in '13 and '22.  Same back and forth has/will happened at Oakland Hills.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Don't forget that Merion has the 2030 US Open. *g*

[Tim Gavrich]

Isn't it weird that they are allocating sites over a quarter of a century in the future?  Who knows what the game of golf will look like in 2051?

If any organization might have an idea of what golf will or might look like in 2051, it's the organization whose reason for existing is to administrate golf.


A lot of the complaints about what's going on around professional golf include the charge that the powers that be (i.e. the PGA Tour) don't seem to have a long-term future plan. Well, the USGA seems to be thinking in decades, rather than days.

[MKrohn]

Presuming taking the US Open to a public course occasionally was under a previous administration?


Not sure given the freight to play that Pebble could now be categorised as public.




Oops.........missed Rahm at TP........back to Merion