Mark Michaud is Innocent.......

« **on:** June 21, 2004, 01:03:03 PM »

In an effort to hilight the excellent job that Mark Michaud & company did at Shinnecock Hills, as well as back-up Kelly Blake Moran's post on http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=13718;start=50

Here is the following story regarding the story you didn't hear from the guys who had to play #7 as guinea pigs while the USGA was asleep at the wheel. As well, its interesting to see that the USGA was in fine form pushing it off on innocent parties.

This post is to celebrate the wonderful job that Mark and his guys did at Shinnecock and to congratulate them for their efforts. Lets give them a big GCA high five!

Watered-Down Controversy
USGA decides to do something about the seventh hole, but it's too late for the first two groups.

By Thomas Bonk, Times Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — After the first two groups played Shinnecock Hills' controversial seventh hole Sunday, the four players had three triple bogeys and a bogey.

But before the next group stepped to the tee, the USGA delayed play for 10 minutes and called for a crew to drag a hose to the green and spray it with water.

It was the proper, if not controversial and certainly completely surprising decision by the USGA championship committee and its chairman, Walter Driver.

By the time the green had been watered, the grass was nearly dead and the putting surface rock hard. Getting a ball to stop on the green was close to impossible.

Certainly that's what J.J. Henry and Kevin Stadler said afterward. Playing in the first group, they both made triple bogeys.

"Being the first group off, we were kind of like the guinea pigs out there," Henry said.

"Absolutely unfair."

Henry, who had a 43 on the front, rallied for a 33 on the back and shot 76.

Stadler didn't fare as well. He finished with an 85 and was not at all happy with the seventh.

"It was ridiculous," he said. "I had a two-foot putt for par and make six. It hit a spike mark, catches the lip and winds up in the bunker.

"I don't see how they can justify the golf course being equal for everyone. Maybe I don't have the right to say this, but I think it's unjust to make the golf course different for different people."

Driver admitted Saturday that the seventh green had been rolled before play, apparently by mistake. Jerry Kelly said he didn't believe it.

"They lied yesterday," he said. "They said 'We told them not to roll that one.' talked to the superintendent [Mark Michaud]. Superintendent said, 'Hey, I'm not getting in the middle of this. They told me to roll it.'

"They're trying to put the blame, because of their stupidity, on somebody who's doing a good job. It's not the superintendent's fault. This is the USGA's fault, and it is every year."

The seventh hole, a 189-yard par three with an elevated, sloping green, turned out to be only the fourth-toughest hole Sunday, playing to an average of 3.6 shots. The most difficult hole was the par-four 10th, which averaged five shots.

« **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2004, 04:58:48 PM »

AMEN !!!

« **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:13:03 PM »

No intent to put Donnie on the spot here, but I wonder how golf course superintendents across the world have reacted to the USGA's comment about the seventh green being rolled "by mistake".

I didn't believe that assertion for a minute, nor do I now. It's a very irresponsible assertion in fact. One that sort of asserts the maintenance crew at Shinnecock Hills screwed up. I don't believe that either.

« **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:15:06 PM »

I'd go farther than that. If David Fay knew the rolling of the 7th green was NOT a mistake, but rather part of the USGA's maintenance policy for the week, he should resign for publicly stating otherwise.

« **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:17:25 PM »

It's nice to see that Stadler is well on his way to becoming a successful tour player. He is in the first group off and blames his missed two footer and subsequent triple bogey on hitting a spike mark

. What happened on the other 79 shots? He must have had his ball roll in to some footprints that weren't raked in the bunkers. Give me a break.

« **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:29:58 PM »

Branden,
Nice to see you post such an overt comment for your very first post on GCA. I'll ask Ran to help deal with it.

« **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:37:52 PM »

Amen. Having been involved with a couple of "minor" USGA events and witnessed the control that was exerted over the superintendent and his crew, there is no way rolling took place by f...... mistake! Worse, is the crap the superintendent takes from the members after the show leaves town because the poor guy knows he's committing agronomic suicide and conditions will be awful for weeks afterwards.

Another reason why the keepers of the green should all be cannonized. What an unbelievably difficult job.

« **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2004, 06:20:23 PM »

This "rolled by mistake" stuff is actually representative of the USGA's leadership in recent years. Weak. So, no one should be that surprised.

« **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2004, 08:34:08 PM »

Jeff, not weak, perhaps confused. A lot of cooks trying to stir the broth perhaps. Maybe both Michaud and Fay are telling the truth. Mark was told to roll it, but the person who told him made a mistake. I do wish I had Tivo so I could go back and listen to these comments again.

« **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2004, 09:03:49 PM »

Tommy Naccarato,

How did Thomas Bonk make the agronomic assessment that the grass on the 7th green was nearly dead ?

Did he personally inspect the 7th green ?
What are his agronomic credentials ?

Did he have an independent agronomist inspect and assess the 7th green ?

I'm curious with respect to how a reporter, probably a baseball writer convering golf, would be able to judge from the press tent, the agronomic condition of the grass on the 7th green ?

Inquiring minds want to know

« **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2004, 09:13:59 PM »

Patrick,

You may well have asked me that question about Pebble Beach in 1992. At home, we have a small acreage that is grassed and my dear wife is the expert on its conditioning. I get on the tractor, put on my John Deere hat and go up and down cutting it. I must say it is a lot less taxing than selling stocks and bonds. What I am trying to say, is that I am no agronomist and when I see plain dirt on a green without grass then I assume the wretched green is about to expire. I don't need an advanced degree to express my opinion about it.

Bob

« **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2004, 09:21:23 PM »

Bob Huntley,

Granted my vision is impaired, but I didn't see any dirt, just yellow/brown/green grass.

As TEPaul will attest, when NGLA gets their greens around 12, in the summer, they look remarkably similar.

I'm hoping to get there later this week to see for myself.

« **Reply #12 on:** June 22, 2004, 12:27:14 PM »

Quote from: Tommy_Naccarato on June 21, 2004, 01:03:03 PM

Watered-Down Controversy
USGA decides to do something about the seventh hole, but it's too late for the first two groups.

By Thomas Bonk, Times Staff Writer

"It was ridiculous," he said. "I had a two-foot putt for par and make six. It hit a spike mark, catches the lip and winds up in the bunker.

A friend just pointed out that since Stadler was in the first group of the day, how did he "hit a spike mark"

« **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2004, 12:31:27 PM »

Well spotted, John's friend!

And yet, maybe the guy surreptitiously rolling the greens was wearing spikes?

« **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:27:15 PM »

That is a very good point!

« **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:30:14 PM »

Maybe the redanman was running over the green with his 9MMs on.

« **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:31:21 PM »

Bonk may have been among the media throng gathered around the 7th green that Sunday morning. I was there for hours and it looked like a funeral. Everybody was there.

« **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:35:08 PM »

Nice to hear that they got off their butts, pulled themselves away from the buffet and out of the media center for a while. The sun might do them some good.

« **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:35:37 PM »

Quote from: John Vander Borght on June 22, 2004, 01:30:14 PM

Maybe the redanman was running over the green with his 9MMs on.

Another great point! One I didn't even think of.

« **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:51:53 PM »

Alright John and Tommy,

One of you needs to get a different logo, it is funny how you associate someones logo on here like recognizing their face. When I scroll down and see the logo out of the corner of my eye I automatically think that I know who's post I am reading I dont even look at the name itself, and now we have two identical Dodgers logos. How confusing, I was reading posts that I thought came from someone else and was getting confused. It wasnt until I saw the two posts in a row that I noticed they were from different people.

Tommy, how about getting a Lakers logo, they could use a little good karma right now. My wife is getting on me pretty hard about how the empire is emploding before my very eyes. Shaq for T-Mac and the #1 pick would be the sweetest deal I could imagine possibly coming from this, but it appears T-Mac is heading for Houston.

« **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2004, 02:00:15 PM »

Turboe, I was speaking with the Emporer last night and informed him of my love of the Bums and he suggested I use his logo also. Sorry to confuse you. I'll look for another one.

« **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2004, 02:10:54 PM »

John, I'll get you another one here in a second.

Always, always display those Blue colors!

Turboe,
Rudy is in town today. I think they are making a horrendous blunder.

« **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2004, 02:36:09 PM »

Thanks for the new logo Tommy. Otherwise I would have had to go look for a UCLA one.

« **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2004, 03:37:59 PM »

Here is an article where Mark Michaud talks about how happy he is with the way everything came out last week.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/usopen/ny-spopen0622,0,6650294.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines

« **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2004, 03:46:31 PM »

Tommy Naccarato, et. al.,

Please note the comments about the composition of the winds from the SW and NW, moist versus dry.

I loved watching this years Open, it went right down to the
71st hole.

Only the media are disappointed because it was in their best interest for Phil to win.

News:

Tommy_Naccarato

Donnie Beck

Jeff_Mingay

Rick Shefchik

Branden_Thompson

Tommy_Naccarato

Ed_Baker

Jeff_Mingay

JohnV

Patrick_Mucci

Bob_Huntley

Patrick_Mucci

JohnV

ForkaB

Tommy_Naccarato

JohnV

Brad Klein

JohnV

Tommy_Naccarato

Daryl "Turboe" Boe

JohnV

Tommy_Naccarato

JohnV

JohnV

Patrick_Mucci

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