[David Stamm]

I realize that no two courses are exactly alike (momma didn't raise no dummy) and every course brings it's own unqiue nuances to the table, but when the courses are set up the way they are for the U.S. Open, does it really matter where it's held, aside from the links to past championships? They all have brutal rough, they all are long (for the most part), they all have hard, fast greens etc. When the courses are set up so similar every year (and I realize this isn't ALWAYS the case), does it really matter where it's held? Does the USGA setup stifle the real uniqueness of the individual course?

[PThomas]

Pinehurst gives more options around the greens

[Brent Hutto]

Does the USGA setup stifle the real uniqueness of the individual course?

Yes, absolutely it does. Fortunately, a course like Oakmont has enough uniqueness to shine through the setup. But there is a certain baseline sameness to narrow, sloping fairways and wicked fast greens bordered by nigh-unplayable rough.

[David Stamm]

Pinehurst gives more options around the greens

PT, I was going to site Pinehurst as an exception. Mike Davis cited PH as having to be setup a little differently because of the bermuda grass.

[George Pazin]

Do you feel that the 10 most recent tournaments have all been the same?

I can honestly say, in my opinion, there has been as much variety in tourney play at recent US Opens as there has been at recent Open Championships (which is high praise, to me).

It's harder for me to say that about The Masters and the PGA, and it's damn near impossible to say that about regular PGA Tour stops. The latter all certainly blend together, with the increasingly rare exceptions.

Give me baked out over lush, any and every day of the week. I'll accept narrow fairways and thick rough if firm and fast and challenging accompany them.

Would I prefer less rough? Sure. Is it gonna happen? Not that I can foresee.

[tlavin]

The variety of courses is an important part of Open tradition and I'm sure that the USGA will continue to bless the other parts of the United States (West of Pittsburgh) with an occasional championship.  Having said that, as a golf fan, I wouldn't be all that upset if they played it at Winged Foot, Shinny or Oakmont every year.  

[David Stamm]

Do you feel that the 10 most recent tournaments have all been the same?

 

Certainly not exactly the same George, but I think the setups seem to give that impression. I'm just not sure if these setups for the most part allow the individual courses uniqueness to shine through. 25 yd fw's are still 25 yd fw's. Thank goodness Oakmont greens, which seem to be one of it's biggest strengths, added a very challenging element. Let's hope the USGA doesn't ask them to flatten them like they have with other great venues. And I love the the way course looked after the tree removal program. All I"m saying is when the courses are all setup similarly and the players are forced to play a certian way all the time, the beauty and individual character of the course would seem to be stifled.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

The US Open has become more and more about the USGA and their course setup than about the players. The blue blazers get turned on by seeing the best golfers in the world struggle with high rough and ultra fast greens and not scoring birdies. It's become a grueling endurance test and sometimes very hard to watch. I don't think the PGA or the R&A care if par is broken and birdies are made. The Masters has already been covered in depth.

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