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RSantangelo

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Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« on: October 18, 2015, 08:23:55 PM »
Speaking of US Opens, does anyone know what changes are expected for the US Open set-up at Oakmont? 


Matt Frey, PGA

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2015, 06:21:49 PM »
After speaking with a PGA assistant professional there, I don't believe any major changes will take place prior to the championship, aside from making the setup more difficult (rough length, green speed, general firmness).

RSantangelo

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2015, 06:40:19 PM »
Thank you

Kalen Braley

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2015, 06:40:26 PM »
After speaking with a PGA assistant professional there, I don't believe any major changes will take place prior to the championship, aside from making the setup more difficult (rough length, green speed, general firmness).

Matt,

You forgot the obligatory, "slowing the greens down for the pros" that they always like to allegedly claim.... 

I hope they do a before and after segment so we can believe them this time.   ;D

Joe Bausch

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2015, 08:03:46 PM »
Loved the speed of the greens when I was there last month.  Fast, but manageable. 

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Oakmont/
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The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

RSantangelo

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2015, 08:32:14 PM »
Joe

I was there also a month ago and agree.  What u was taken by was how firm and fast the fairways were, without being noticeably dry or sandy...really confusing to me

Did you notice that and do you have an understanding how they achieve that?

Bill_McBride

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2015, 09:07:38 PM »
Loved the speed of the greens when I was there last month.  Fast, but manageable. 

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/Oakmont/


Great you got to play there, world class course still in my personal top 10.   The members would love to have us believe the course is softened for the Open.  I loved the greens at normal speed, holy cow!

Phil Lipper

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2015, 09:24:18 AM »
They may not slow them down compared to everyday play there, but I have been told by several members its slower than a member/guest or club championship

JESII

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2015, 07:47:36 AM »
My only frame of reference is my father who had played in a couple PA Amateurs at Oakmont in the 80's...he went back to watch a bit in '94. As he walked through an entrance gate by the 3rd green Els was putting from a spot that required absolute caution and touch. He said Els took the putter back so far he expected the ball to go off the green...and it ground to a halt right next to the hole.

George Pazin

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2015, 12:42:58 PM »
My only frame of reference is my father who had played in a couple PA Amateurs at Oakmont in the 80's...he went back to watch a bit in '94. As he walked through an entrance gate by the 3rd green Els was putting from a spot that required absolute caution and touch. He said Els took the putter back so far he expected the ball to go off the green...and it ground to a halt right next to the hole.


I remember this Open fairly well. It was unusually hot and humid in the Burgh that June. I have a friend who worked the grounds crew during that Open and he has some fun videos of the event. He did say there were crew men standing by each green, ready to syringe if necessary, and that as the last group passed each hole, they were quick to start watering the greens to keep them (barely) alive.


I have a few recollections from watching his video. One was how many trees there were. :) Another was watching someone shoot back and forth across the green on some roller thing, rolling the greens.


I suspect many of the stories surrounding green speeds at Oakmont are urban legends of a sort. They are undoubtedly fast, all of the time, but are probably quicker in one's mind than in any reality, past or future.


I sure don't recall ANYONE'S putts stopping next to the hole, at any event I've attended at Oakmont. More than any place I can recall seeing, it just never seemed like anyone's putts ever stopped near the hole. In it, sure, but other than that, it seemed like everyone's putts settled at best about 3 feet away.


Of course, I may be suffering from one of those aforementioned urban myth recollections...
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Peter Pallotta

Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2015, 12:51:09 PM »
George - OT, but I've been wanting to ask you this for years. Please tell me, confirm for me, my hope and belief that you have had at least once chance to actually play your beloved Oakmont!  There is no one on this board who deserves to play a specific course more than you deserve to play Oakmont -- and if you haven't, not only will I be disappointed in the people of Pittsburgh (I thought them the friendly types) but I am going to come over there and kick the asses of every single member of that Club! (Of course, since some of those members might be former Steelers, I'm hoping that you will spare me the need to confront them....)
Peter

MCirba

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2015, 12:53:21 PM »
I was at the US Open in 1983 for both the Saturday and Sunday rounds.   Along with the recollection of all the trees and the incredibly deep rough, I do recall a number of balls running out on the greens for considerable distances.

If memory serves, most of those were the greens like 1 and 10 which flowed front to back.   We spent a good deal of time at #2 as well, which had so much back to front slope that almost all competitors were playing to the front of the green.   

I have no way of knowing if these were slower speeds than normal daily or competitive as I've never had the opportunity to play Oakmont, sadly.   
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Ben Wolfe

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2015, 01:31:59 PM »
There aren't any major changes between now and the Open but since 2007 they have renovated all of the bunkers, expanded the back of #6 green (Fazio) to allow for more pin placements. All of the trees to the right of #12 and right of #7 green have been taken out. If the wind is up, it will affect the tee shot and approach on 7 making it even more beastly.

Course has been firm and fast all year, will be fun to see how the pro's handle it next June.

Britt Rife

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Re: Oakmont - US Open Set Up
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2015, 04:19:30 PM »
I recall that when I was there, trying out the practice green, I almost walked off the grounds prior to even playing the actual course.  I just could not get the ball into the hole.  Then I remembered that practice greens are always a bit tougher.  Ended up playing far better than "my usual game" there.  But I've never putted greens anywhere near that fast.

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