Which Major has the best venue in 2012?

[Michael Tamburrini]

Cruden Bay

What major is it holding?  I'll change my choice to Cruden Bay.  Sod Kiawah.

[Sean_A]

Kiawah in a landslide.  I don't care in the least about watching anything at Olympic - I would much rather play the course.  I will watch the Open at Lytham because its the Open, not because of Lytham - a course I have very little time for.  2012 is the one to look forward to Augusta more than most years.

Ciao

[Joel_Stewart]

I've been looking forward to seeing Olympic ever since I read Hogan's biography.  I'd love for it to be set up as it was in 55, with rough so deep it took Hogan three hacks to get his ball back on the fairway.  The 17th could barely even be reached in two by most players - only Fleck, hitting a 3 wood second, managed to hit on the green in two.  I'd love to see how the modern player coped with such a set up.

But I'll also be very keen to see Kiawah host a major so I'd probably tend towards it.  Overall I think it's a pretty decent line up of courses though - probably the best for a while.

1955 at Olympic with Hogan was the last year the USGA allowed the home course to be in charge of the setup.  The USGA was horrified at watching Hogan in the rough and took control the following year.

I also think Kiawah is the most compelling.  It has the potential if the wind blows to be a major train wreck.  The course does have tremendous flexibility on it's tees so if the conditions get really tough, I would expect the PGA to be somewhat humane and move the tees up?

So my choices are,
PGA
Masters
British Open
US Open

[john_stiles]

It will be interesting to watch play at Kiawah, when they have to post a score.

They moved the tees up for the  Ryder Cup at Kiawah.    Granted it was match play,  but there were tee balls everywhere.  Many picked up in situations where they were not trying miraculous recoveries or going at the pin but ended up where best expectation was easily a bogey.

[Sam Morrow]

I look forward to Kiawah and it helps that we have an insider on this site. I would like to play Olympic but it's not a course that I need to see on TV, as I recall from 98 it doesn't seem like a great TV course.

[Pete Blaisdell]

Having played Olympic , caddied there in 1981 for a good friend at the US Amateur, I vote for Olymoic. I love the course and its varirty of shots needed to score well. Besides, it's where Katherine Crosby dumped a glass of grapefruit juice down my back.

[Stuart Goldstein]

I just like the concept of watching a west coast Open in prime time here on the east coast.  That being said, Kiawah should provide plenty of f-bombs and entertainment, particularly if the wind is up.

[Garland Bayley]

Royal Liverpool, Blackwolf Run, Mountain Ridge, Turnberry interest anyone?

[Adam Clayman]

Just shocked no one has mentioned Dismal River

[Sam Morrow]

Just shocked no one has mentioned Dismal River

It's the best major that you and I are playing in.

[Scott Szabo]

I'm looking forward to another look at Olympic.  It appears to have narrow, tree-lined fairways, small greens, a typical US Open course.  I know it's highly regarded by many, so I'm curious to know what I'm missing.

[Tim Martin]

I love Kiawah Ocean but how hot is it in August? Really.

[Tim Gavrich]

The wind will help defray the oppressive heat at Kiawah, at least a little bit.  I can't wait to see how the PGA goes there.

[Andy Shulman]

I haven't played any of the three, but could it be the first time that all three of these majors will have over par winners?  You know that Olympic will be tough after last year, so all it may take is several days of strong winds at both Lytham and in SC.

As for which I'm most looking forward to, while I used to enjoy watching the pros struggle with the ultra-tough US Open setups, I now prefer the more playable conditions of the Open Championship and the PGA.  But, since Royal Lytham is one of my least favorite Open venues - at least as a TV golf watcher - Kiawah is my winner....basically by default.

[PCCraig]

The wind will help defray the oppressive heat at Kiawah, at least a little bit.  I can't wait to see how the PGA goes there.

The fact that the Ocean Course is actually on or very near the ocean will be it's saving grace, as if you're even a couple miles inland in the summer it can literally be a sauna on the course after 10am.

[Tim Nugent]

Having played all 3, I think it will be interesting to see who are the most consistant as each course will test different parts of their game. Olympic, with some fairways bending against the slope of the land will take Bomb and Gouge off the table.  The ability to work and shape shots will be critical.  Expect to see more 3-woods and long irons off the tee.  Throw in F&F fairways and long rough and the boys will be seperated from the men in short order.
L/SA's. It will be interesting to see if it can hold up to the length of today's players and how the numerous bunkers impact the outcome.  The Open is always my favorite to watch.
KI. That course at 7,500?  Are you kidding me?!  I just remember looking back at the back tees only to see another set in back of them!  If it is windy, that will be brutal. 

[Kirk Gill]

I don't find the PGA that compelling, generally speaking, but I'll look forward to seeing the pros play it on the Ocean Course.

[Howard Riefs]

I'm interested in how Olympic and TOC sets up for the spectator experience.  

For those who were at the US Open in 87 and/or 98, how was your experience watching the action on the course?  Were there key holes that provided views of multiple greens and/or tees?  

As for The Ocean Course, I don't see how the course can accommodate too many large grandstands adjacent to greens.  For example, the 18 green (photo below) is surrounded on three sides by waste area, the putting green and the beach.  The clubhouse is just northeast of the green.  Does the PGA shoehorn a small grandstand to the north of the waste area?  And, if it does, is it reserved exclusively for only those sponsors/advertisers who hold specific badges?  

[George Pazin]

I'm happy with all 3, having not had an HDTV last time they were at Olympic, Lytham or Kiawah.

I'm most looking forward to attending the Senior Players...

[PCCraig]

Howard,

I'm guessing that they are going to be putting grandstands just north of the 18th green in your screencap. When I was there last month, there were bulldozers in that area.

Of course, they also moved the tees on 18 closer to the dunes, and have flattened the old teeing area around the pond. I'm guessing there will be more sky boxes thrown in there as well.

I forgot the exact number, but Kiawah (Mike V) has said that they aren't selling nearly as many tickets as other modern majors, so it won't be like there is 50,000 people crawling all over the dunes like they were in Kohler last year.

[David_Tepper]

"For those who were at the US Open in 87 and/or 98, how was your experience watching the action on the course?"

Howard Riefs -

I did attend the US Opens at Olympic in '87 & '98. The Lake Course is not especially spectator friendly, due to the sloping nature of the property. If you are on the low side of a fairway, you cannot see a whole lot. Pebble Beach has the same problem on a number of holes.

The good news for next year's US Open is that the Lake Course has had a substantial number of trees removed over the past 3-5 years. This has opened up the views of and from the property. It will also make it easier for spectators to move from hole to hole around the course. The hillside behind and to the right of the new par-3 8th hole will provide a very nice viewing amphitheater for that hole.

DT      

[Howard Riefs]

I'm guessing that they are going to be putting grandstands just north of the 18th green in your screencap. When I was there last month, there were bulldozers in that area.

Of course, they also moved the tees on 18 closer to the dunes, and have flattened the old teeing area around the pond. I'm guessing there will be more sky boxes thrown in there as well.

I forgot the exact number, but Kiawah (Mike V) has said that they aren't selling nearly as many tickets as other modern majors, so it won't be like there is 50,000 people crawling all over the dunes like they were in Kohler last year.

Thanks for the insight.  Kiawah is selling approx, 27,000 badges to each round.  As you note, Whistling Straits was a bit of a madhouse last year with 40,000+ spectators climbing the dunes and, ahem, bunkers.

You're right about skyboxes at Kiawah: there's one targeted for behind 17 green, according to the PGA ticket site.  Only $700/round for a seat, food and beverage: https://ems.pgalinks.com/ticketing/index.cfm?sale_id=91  

"For those who were at the US Open in 87 and/or 98, how was your experience watching the action on the course?"

Howard Riefs -

I did attend the US Opens at Olympic in '87 & '98. The Lake Course is not especially spectator friendly, due to the sloping nature of the property. If you are on the low side of a fairway, you cannot see a whole lot. Pebble Beach has the same problem on a number of holes.

The good news for next year's US Open is that the Lake Course has had a substantial number of trees removed over the past 3-5 years. This has opened up the views of and from the property. It will also make it easier for spectators to move from hole to hole around the course. The hillside behind and to the right of the new par-3 8th hole will provide a very nice viewing amphitheater for that hole.

DT      

David,

Thanks for the insight on the Lake Course and how it compares to Pebble with sloping fairways.  Bethpage was similar in some regards, too.

Look forward to connecting in June.



hr

[Joel Zuckerman]

Just played TOC yesterday for the first time in several years.

Always amazed at the variety of tee boxes on each hole..not just runway style, but scattered east-west, north-south, with numerous options/angles on most every hole.

I doubt the heat will be a real factor this August.  Even a puff of breeze mitigates the temperature substantially, and TOC isn't exactly known for a "puff."

Apparently there can be days out there with almost no wind, but just like Mel Gibson sans cocktail in hand, it's a notably rare occurence!

[Tim Passalacqua]

Olympic!!  It will play incredible next year.  Number 1 will play as a par four and number 17 will finally be a par five.  There have been a bunch of shaved short game areas added around the push up greens to add some real excitement for the short game.  The shaved area on 17 is unbelievable.  Anyone going for the green in two and misses right will roll 20 or 30 yards down and right of the green leaving an impossible third.  I am curious to see who complains about a par five just over 500 yards!  The set up will be great.  A true ball strikers course.  You have to work the ball both ways off the tee and into the greens.

[Kevin Pallier]

UK Amateur at Royal County Down beats them all 

Given it hasn't been on TV for so long US PGA at Kiawah followed by US Open at Olympic.