Merion East post open rennovations work

[Ed Brzezowski]

Well I did not see any evidence of collapse in any bunker, some of them still have significant depth to them. I am just over six feet tall and when standing in some of them only the top of the basket was visible. Everyone I saw was in nice shape.

For you Merionphiles what would be the reason for the removal of the mounds right of number four landing area? Thought their demise was very odd. I hope they don't mess with the pimple on 12 fairway, neat little feature.

Great place.

[Nate Oxman]

Carl, I disagree about the recovery shot being "much harder" from the bunkers. The rough beyond the bunkers is typically very thick and unfriendly. The ball tends to really sit down and when it appears to be a decent lie (this is usually their first encounter with Merion's rough so they try to take a more lower-lofted club than they should), many average players on their first visit try to hit a hybrid or long iron and end up in the massive fairway bunker further up on the left or leave it in the left rough short of that bunker.

Good players can recover from the rough or bunkers without much of an issue. Average to poor players and any player with low clubhead speed would struggle more from the rough than the bunker, unless of course their long-distance bunker play is subpar.

I've played from the back tees and hit a poor tee shot into the largest of the three bunkers only to easily hit an 8-iron back to the fairway.

[David_Elvins]

Carl, I disagree about the recovery shot being "much harder" from the bunkers. The rough beyond the bunkers is typically very thick and unfriendly.

The length of the rough at Merion varies greatly throughout the season and from year to year. Lies in rough and bunkers vary too, obviously.  It is very hard (pointless??) to make a general architectural argument as to whether it is better to be in a bunker or the rough at Merion, IMO.  Sometimes the bunker will be better, some times the rough.

[David_Elvins]

Regarding the second hole -

What would be the disadvantage of extending the fairway cut to the front of the first series of fairway bunkers on the left?

And extending fairway cut to the base of the trees further up on the left?

MM

I agree that it would look better but the site is small and redirecting the playing line to the left may create safety issues with 5 fairway and 6 tee.    I also suspect that Dustin Johnson could bomb it up near the second bunker.  I am not sure the bombers should be given too much comfort on the tee shot.

[Nate Oxman]

David, you're right that sometimes the rough will be easier to play from and sometimes the bunker will be easier. I wasn't creating an argument. There's just no way that the bunker is "much harder" to play from than the rough based on a lot of personal experience. Year in and year out, the rough in that spot is difficult to play from (for the average player). It's a constant. It doesn't change all that much in that spot. While the rough does vary throughout the year, as evident from my good fortunes in other areas Sunday, that spot was still tough. I watched my dad advance the ball 20 yards from that spot on what seemingly was an ok lie. Not enough club head speed, I think.

[Matthew Mollica]

I agree that it would look better but the site is small and redirecting the playing line to the left may create safety issues with 5 fairway and 6 tee.    I also suspect that Dustin Johnson could bomb it up near the second bunker.  I am not sure the bombers should be given too much comfort on the tee shot.

When did Dustin Johnson join Merion?

MM

[David_Elvins]

David, you're right that sometimes the rough will be easier to play from and sometimes the bunker will be easier...

Thanks Nate.  Good insight.

[David_Elvins]

When did Dustin Johnson join Merion?

MM

Just an example, Matt.  Merion will always host high grade amateur or professional events with long hitters. 

 Giving those that choose to bomb too much room is not ideal, IMO, because the closer you drive to the green with your tee shot, the quicker you can stop your second shot and the less incentive there is for driving near the out of bounds.  By requiring a slightly more controlled drive, the tee shot creates more strategy by emphasising the need to be closer to the out of bounds for a slighty longer approach.

[Sean_A]

Folks are talking about the left side, from my visit, it is the right side of #2 that is more pushed to the road.  The fairway now is straightish.  Before it was a double curve, encouraging folks to hit away from the road. 

 

 

Merion remains my #1 best course despite the cut lines, diminished bunker efficiency and plain old drabs of monochrome green rough.  These criticisms should tell folks how good the design!

Ciao 

[Mark McKeever]

they can make two fairway as wide as they want.  I'll still hit that lame block fade down Ardmore Ave. every time....