Should majors in the U.S. not be played in June, July, or August?

[Steve Kline]

It is almost always going to be ridiculously hot in these months. Today's maintenance standards make it difficult to maintain a course at a major championship level in the heat and humidity of these months. To get greens to the desired speed they must be kept soft. Therefore, the courses play easier for top players. Then the members and others cry that the course is too easy and it needs to be lengthened.

But what if the majors were played in April, May, September, and October when most courses were in peak condition and firm and fast conditions were easily maintained? Would the courses be naturally harder for the top players? It wuld certainly be less likely that courses like Congressional and Inverness would suffer from soft conditions that top players can tear up.

Would this lead to fewer courses being lengthened just to make them "harder?" Isn't it obvious that truly firm and fast conditions result in tougher courses and higher scores for the pros than extra length? Would this keep the pressure off of so many courses to lengthen their courses?

Of course this has virtually zero chance of happening because it would break with tradition. The U.S. Open has carved out a great tadition of finishing on Father's Day. The Tour schedule is somewhat set. TV would not be for it and it might hurt golf's ratimgs - how would the U.S. open do against college and NFL football if played in September?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Steve,

What part of the country do you live in ?

April and May are HORRIBLE months for golf in the Northeast.

September and October are Baseball, college and pro football months.

Start another topic 

[Adam Clayman]

HORRIBLE? Does that mean there's mother nature to combat, too?

I'm all in favor in getting away from the formulaic scheduling. It's sexist to have our open on Father's day. It's boring to watch these guys play with very little wind, found in most of the majors.

As for competing with other games on TV, why not break from the tradition of weekends, while we're at it?

[Frank M]

I am sorry, but I do not see the link between sexism and a U.S. Open falling on fathers day.

Firstly, Fathers Day is on different dates around the world, and the truth is, the U.S. Open, although maybe held on different dates, is older than Father's Day.

I simply don't understand the logic. Is it also discriminatory against Christian religions because it ends on a Sunday? How about against Judaism because they play on a Saturday? Should the LPGA not hold tournaments when it's Mothers Day? Should The Masters not be played when it falls on Easter weekend?

[Kalen Braley]

HORRIBLE? Does that mean there's mother nature to combat, too?

I'm all in favor in getting away from the formulaic scheduling. It's sexist to have our open on Father's day. It's boring to watch these guys play with very little wind, found in most of the majors.

As for competing with other games on TV, why not break from the tradition of weekends, while we're at it?

I am sorry, but I do not see the link between sexism and a U.S. Open falling on fathers day.

Firstly, Fathers Day is on different dates around the world and the truth is, the U.S. Open, although maybe held on different dates, is older than Father's Day.

I simply don't understand the logic. Is it also discriminatory against Christian religions because it ends on a Sunday? How about against Judaism because they play on a Saturday? Should the LPGA not hold tournaments when its Mothers Day? Should The Masters not be played when it falls on Easter weekend?

Frank,

Its all good,

I think Adam was just being sarcastical!! 

[Frank M]

I would hope so.

[Adam Clayman]

C'mon, This distasteful father's day tradition was created in the 50's. Women today are a big market in the golf biz. In the 50's the corporates wanted to sell women toasters and ovens, because they were so sexist, they believed the kitchen was their place. What a bunch of hooey. Sticking with this date, as has been postulated by  the originator of the thread, is a boring time of year to highlight a large aspect of the sport, interacting with mother nature. But ya know what, The sport is what we do, the game is what the pros do. I for one have given up on them as a group.
I rescind my suggestion to change it, they just are not worth the effort, anymore.

[Mark Johnson]

golf cant compete against football in the US and the PGA's biggest two TV partners (ESPN and CBS) are both in football in a big way.   There is a reason that noone has seriously challenged NBA for Ryder Cup rights; they dont want to impact their NFL/NCAA packages.

Discussion over.

[Dan King]

The players don't like variables they can't control and the ruling bodies long ago decided to give the players whatever they want.

The PGA should just move their game indoors where they can control all variables rather than just most. The majors should follow. Leave golf courses to those that still enjoy the game because it is played outdoors with many variables that can not be controlled.

Once the game is indoors the majors can be played whenever it works best for TV.

Cheers,
Dan King

The old style courses were designed to make a player hit a variety of shots -- high, low, draw, fade, bump and run, floating chips. Now with a lot of the new courses, our only choice is to hit it high and soft.
 --Corey Pavin

[Rory Connaughton]

Late May could work in the north east.
not sure about field size for majors vs. Tour events but daylight seems like it would be an issueafter August.

[David_Tepper]

To beat the heat, humidty and thunder showers, you could play the US Open and/or the PGA at Pebble Beach, the Olympic Club or Torrey Pines each summer. Problem solved!

[Patrick_Mucci]

Late May could work in the north east.


Rory,

Where do you live ?

The Travis Tournament is held in late May.

I recall playing in the rain in 38 degree temperatures.

Do you want to reconsider your statement ?

not sure about field size for majors vs. Tour events but daylight seems like it would be an issueafter August.

[Rory Connaughton]

Pat
I thought you knew SE PA.
Early May can be dicey I agree but we typically have great conditions by mid may.
Obviously the further north you go the longer the wait.

[Garland Bayley]

Playing in the Pacific Northwest in June, July, and August is all good. Come and enjoy the weather.
Chambers Bay, June 2015 US Open

 

[William_G]

Playing in the Pacific Northwest in June, July, and August is all good. Come and enjoy the weather.
Chambers Bay, June 2015 US Open

 

How about September, October? 

[Kalen Braley]

I would certainly guess/make the case that...

...scores would actually go up and courses would be "tougher" relative to par... if we returned the greens to 6-7 on the stimp meter as opposed to waiting for better conditions so they can be run at 12-13.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat
I thought you knew SE PA.
Early May can be dicey I agree but we typically have great conditions by mid may.
Obviously the further north you go the longer the wait.

Rory,

On May 15th in Philadelphia, PA the average low is 49 and the average high is 69.
Not exactly the great conditions you cite.

I didn't look at the average participation for that day, but, any rain combined with a 49 degree temperature wouldn't make for ideal conditions.

[Kalen Braley]

Pat
I thought you knew SE PA.
Early May can be dicey I agree but we typically have great conditions by mid may.
Obviously the further north you go the longer the wait.

Rory,

On May 15th in Philadelphia, PA the average low is 49 and the average high is 69.
Not exactly the great conditions you cite.

I didn't look at the average participation for that day, but, any rain combined with a 49 degree temperature wouldn't make for ideal conditions.

That's the point though pat,

49 and drizzle may not be ideal, but its better than 95 and 90% humidity.  At least the course can be left fast and firm

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat
I thought you knew SE PA.
Early May can be dicey I agree but we typically have great conditions by mid may.
Obviously the further north you go the longer the wait.

Rory,

On May 15th in Philadelphia, PA the average low is 49 and the average high is 69.
Not exactly the great conditions you cite.

I didn't look at the average participation for that day, but, any rain combined with a 49 degree temperature wouldn't make for ideal conditions.

That's the point though pat,

49 and drizzle may not be ideal, but its better than 95 and 90% humidity. 

NO, it's not.

At least the course can be left fast and firm

There is NO course that i know of in the Northeast, that's fast and firm in Mid-May, especially when it's raining.

Could you name five that are fast and firm on May 15th ?

[Kalen Braley]

Pat,

Out West  Sure....   

All 4 at Bandon, Wine Valley. There is ur 5.  I played Wine Valley in march and it was bouncy as all get out!

[Patrick_Mucci]

Pat,

Out West  Sure....   

All 4 at Bandon, Wine Valley. There is ur 5.  I played Wine Valley in march and it was bouncy as all get out!

Kalen,

This was about course conditions in the NORTHEAST, not out west.

Could you name five courses in the Northeast that are fast and firm on May 15th ?

[Kalen Braley]

Pat,

Out West  Sure....   

All 4 at Bandon, Wine Valley. There is ur 5.  I played Wine Valley in march and it was bouncy as all get out!

Kalen,

This was about course conditions in the NORTHEAST, not out west.

Could you name five courses in the Northeast that are fast and firm on May 15th ?

Pat,

Once again, this is the point.

There needs to be a paradigm shift by the USGA.  The world does not live or die by the Northeast!!

Its time for the USGA to burn thier suits and ties and start thinking outside the box!!

[Ben Sims]

Five out of five Sundays between September 26 and October 17 last Fall in New Jersey and on Long Island were , levsome of the most perfect days for golf I've ever experienced.  Low 70's, one club wind, leaves starting to turn.  It was idyllic every weekend for a month.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Five out of five Sundays between September 26 and October 17 last Fall in New Jersey and on Long Island were , levsome of the most perfect days for golf I've ever experienced.  Low 70's, one club wind, leaves starting to turn.  It was idyllic every weekend for a month.

Ben,

Every sports fan in the nation was watching baseball, the playoffs and world series AND college and NFL football.

Please, get in touch with reality.

Kalen,

Obviously you're not familiar with the economics of hosting an Open or PGA Championship as it relates to the demographics.

Like it or not, the sports world and the media centers revolve around the NE and LA, with Chicago a distant third.

The USGA and the PGA thinks pretty clearly on these issues, but, since you think their reasoning is flawed and you know more than they do, name the time of year other than the summer and site for your next 10 US Opens and PGA Championships

Thanks

[Ben Sims]

Pat,

I'd say I'm much more firmly rooted in reality based solely on how many of your threads start, "today at NGLA with a friend". 

And as someone from a area of the nation that actually knows what good college football is, I can tell you that I could pull myself away from SEC football to watch some October golf at Shinnecock.