[Doug Braunsdorf]

All-

  Are any of you planning to come to Philadelphia for the US Amateur?  Besides the locals (Cirba, Wayne, Mayday, TE, Kyle, Jamie Slonis, Steve, Dr. Bill, Jason M., Mike T., and many more I don't know, etc.,) who is planning to come and what days are you planning to be on the courses?  

[TEPaul]

I guess I'll be there but frankly as of today I'm still quite shocked and disappointed they're going to actually make me pay real American money to go there and watch the Amateur---and not just real American money but a King's ransom of $15 a day MINIMUM!! I thought amateur golf was all about love of the game and no remuneration for it.

I tried to pay them in some Canadian paper currency I found in my wallet which I'll never use otherwise but they wouldn't consider that. Then I tried to negotiate with Merion on an "appearance fee" but that did nothing but evoke silent stares of incredulity on their part. I tried to tell them how much passion I have for golf and architecture and the great Merion East golf course and that my passion was so strong I should get at least a 90% discount down to an entry fee of no more than $1.50 a day but they wouldn't even consider that.

I'm very disappointed but I guess I'll get there somehow. It really pisses me off, though, and if I'd seen this rip-off coming I would've just paid the entry fee and qualified for the damn tournament! And if I had you guys would've been treated to a series of matches that would've been some of the best tortoise and hare matches of all time. By the back nine at least I could've driven any of these 350 yard driving young bucks crazy as I busted my 198 yard fade out there and snuck up on every hole before it saw me coming and made par after par. By the back nine any of those young super long competitors would've been running around in the fairways in little circles waving their arms wildly screaming "Get this f.... little gnat off me!"  

[Fred_C.]

Folks,

I'd like to attend the first day of stroke play at Merion on Monday, 22 August.  I'd love to meet some of you.

Best,

Fred Chandler
Washington, DC

[TEPaul]

The Phiily section qualifying results are in for the 105th Amateur at Merion.

I'm sorry to see Jamie Slonis miss by a shot. Buddy Marucci is the second alternate and probaby needs to take out a hit on two guys to get in. I'm very sorry to see Michael McDermott (multi-year GAP Player of the Year recently) miss the way he did by shooting 69 at RG and a 74 at his own course Llanerch to miss by a shot too. He probably bests that score at his own course 6 days out of the week. I don't know Ault but he shot a helluva score at RG (the competitive course record of 63) and was the two day medalist.

Chris Lange made it through a two for one playoff with LuLu's Mike Danner. Lange's a senior now and is the all time energizer bunny around here. He won the Philly Open last year, and the GAP Mid-Am this year to be the first player to complete the triple of Philly Am (a number of times), Philly Open and the GAP Mid-Am.

Billy Stewart (who was the opponent of the star in that movie shot at Rolling Green a couple of years ago) made it. He's amazing as he's so small but with extraordinary hand/eye coordination and physical talent. The other guys I don't know very well.

It'd be great for local interest if at least half these guys could make it into match play at Merion. Does Lange have some special local knowledge in match play qualifying? I'd say so as he beat all the local pros at Philly C.C. in the Philly Open there last year and he sure does know Merion East.

[Jason Mandel]

I don't know if and when I'll be able to get over there to watch, but I would love get together for drinks/dinner one night with fellow GCA'ers.  Can we try and set up a night that works for most and make this happen?

Jason

[John Foley]

I'm trying to arrange a day that week either before or after some business in the area. Let me know what happens and would love to hook up w/ a few.

[George Pazin]

I'm hoping to drive out sometime Friday and see play on Sat/Sun. I'd love to make it out earlier, as I feel like my week spent at Oakmont during the '03 Am was the best thing for my own personal GCA education, but work & personal commitments make that unlikely. I'll be looking up (read: stalking ) various members of our Philly contingent, but I'd love to meet up with anyone available.

[SPDB]

John O'Donnell, brother of Batboy  Chris O'Donnell, qualified out of Chicago.  Chris may show up just to see Merion (he's a GCA-head at heart) unless he's slated to bump that guy from Entourage for the Aquaman movie and we don't know it yet.  

I don't think anyone will have to twist Chris O'Donnell's arm to get him to Philly. Besides his brother competing, he's also a fairly new member of a so-so men's club roughly 25 miles SE of Ardmore.

[Pete Buczkowski]

I'll be in town for Mike Sweeney's charity outing on that Monday, and planned on taking in the Amateur either Tues morning or afternoon.  I have to head back to Orlando on Tues night, so unfortunately won't be able to meet up for a group dinner.  I'll echo that I'd love some GCA company for my walking tour of Merion.

Pete

PS to Jason Mandel - I'll give you a call tonight or tomorrow so we can set up a round for Saturday.

[Dan Herrmann]

We're shooting for Saturday.  We have an AJGA at French Creek that we're voulenteering for on Sunday.

We gotta get some GCA golf shirts made up so that we can spot each other!  

Shivas:  25 miles SE of Ardmore?  Do you mean PV?

[mike_beene]

If one flew into Philly and caught the train at the airport,would you go downtown and catch train to Haverford?Years ago my sister in law lived in a garage apartment near there and that's my recollection of how we got there.How far is Merion from the station?It sounds like a long day trip,but it might be worth it to see the course.

[Kyle Harris]

Mike,

Take the R1 to 30th Street Station, then grab the R5 to the Ardmore station.

OR... grab the subway at 30th Street Station out to the 69th Street Terminal, then grab the 100 High Speed Line to the Ardmore Avenue Station, which drops you off about a block from Merion's East Course.

[mike_beene]

Thanks Kyle.Would this take approximately an hour?This sounds more appealing if temperature is reasonable.Hopefully a cool forcast is coming.Of course,anything beats this furnace.

[Kyle Harris]

Mike, it'd be a bit longer with the two transfers I would imagine.

1.5 hours tops.

[TEPaul]

Who in the hell is Chris O'Donnell? Does he date that young chippy Paris Hilton or something?  

[Craig Disher]

Does anyone have an idea how large the crowds will  be each day?

[Doug Braunsdorf]

I'm taking off from work on the Tuesday and Wednesday.  Figuring on either one course in the morning, one in the afternoon, then elbow-tipping and chasing Philly women at night up & down the Main Line

OR-

One course each day, mixed in with a round of golf and skirt-chasing afterwards.  The Irish bar down 1 near RG and Llanerch is very nice, and merits serious consideration for post-Am/golf merriment.  

I've also heard of a diner out near Newtown Square that's supposedly very popular with the locals  

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Anyone desirous of playing LuLu or Cobbs Creek during Am week, let me know by IM. I'm taking the week off.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Does anyone have an idea how large the crowds will  be each day?

Based on attending Winged Foot last year and Pebble Beach a few years ago, less than 1000 people. It is mainly competitors friends and families. I parked accross the street from Winged Foot last year on the street. Probably the easiest, as in the past at Merion, is drive to Villanova University park in the big lots there and take the P&W train to Ardmore Avenue.

I believe that Mark Rowlinson is traveling, but I think he mentioned he was going on Thursday.

[Jim Franklin]

Chris O'Donnell played in Scent of a Woman with Al Pacino. His brother played golf at UCLA I think. I met them both at that men's club last year. They seem to be great guys, not arrogant at all. I hope John does well.

[Mike_Cirba]

I hope to meet/see many of you at Merion.  I will likely be there during the finals weekend, and possibly skip over to see action on other days as time permits.

If folks are getting together some evening, I'd enjoy being included.  

Pray for dry, cooler weather and a nice breeze the week of the tournament.

Thanks,
Mike

[Jim Franklin]

Mike -

Can we quote you on that forecast?

[Mike_Cirba]

Mike -

Can we quote you on that forecast?

Jim,

You'll note that I used the word "pray".  

Merion could use a break!  Apparently, they have a lot riding on this tournament with the USGA and I'd hate to see everyone's impression of the course be diminished by moist, sludgy weather.  

Hope to meet you when you're in town.  I'm sure it would be a pleasure.    

[Jim Franklin]

Mike -

Doh! I read it quickly as "plan". My bad. You are right, Merion needs a break as do a lot of our mid-atlantic friends.

With my third child due on August 23rd, I do not think I will be able to make the 90 minute drive north. I do look forward to watching it though. Let me know when you can make the journey south to play as well.

Jim

[TEPaul]

We're going over to both courses today. Anyone want to know anything in particular about the conditions? If you want to know if it's hot around here I can tell you right now it's hotter than hell.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()