Is Doc leading the Open?

[Ben Stephens]

Here is a great video by Sam Cooper (Golf Badgers) of Doc Hiseman's approach to the last hole at Hoylake with his trusty 5 wood!


https://twitter.com/sd_cooper/status/1665789666170228747?cxt=HHwWlsC-qYW4iZ4uAAAA


Have any of you had experience playing Open or US Open/PGA courses with the stands up?

[Mark Pearce]

Have any of you had experience playing Open or US Open/PGA courses with the stands up?

Yes, Hoylake in 2006 (Wednesday after) and Muirfield in 2013 (before the Open) and 2022 (before the Women's Open).

[Ben Stephens]

Have any of you had experience playing Open or US Open/PGA courses with the stands up?

Yes, Hoylake in 2006 (Wednesday after) and Muirfield in 2013 (before the Open) and 2022 (before the Women's Open).

Carnoustie 1999 and 2007 before the Open 

[Ben Stephens]

Here is a great video by Sam Cooper (Golf Badgers) of Doc Hiseman's approach to the last hole at Hoylake with his trusty 5 wood!


https://twitter.com/sd_cooper/status/1665789666170228747?cxt=HHwWlsC-qYW4iZ4uAAAA


Have any of you had experience playing Open or US Open/PGA courses with the stands up?

Doc birdied the last hole and said it will be playing 620 yards for the Open

[Tom_Doak]

Here is a great video by Sam Cooper (Golf Badgers) of Doc Hiseman's approach to the last hole at Hoylake with his trusty 5 wood!


https://twitter.com/sd_cooper/status/1665789666170228747?cxt=HHwWlsC-qYW4iZ4uAAAA


Have any of you had experience playing Open or US Open/PGA courses with the stands up?

I played Augusta in 1983 the day after Seve's win, and more recently played Memorial Park for the Renaissance Cup the two days after the Houston Open.  It wasn't really a different feeling, apart from the hammering and demolition that was starting to occur.


In contrast, playing in the pro-am part of the Dunhill Links, with people outside the ropes, was quite intimidating for someone who is not used to that.  Luckily I managed not to hit anyone!

[Ally Mcintosh]

I played Troon just before the 2016 Open… it was great once… but will be making a specific effort to avoid playing links with stands up in the future - takes away from the course.

[Ben Stephens]

The 18th at the Opens for most of us can feel claustrophobic when the stands are up however it can be a unique experience plus free drops if a wayward shot ends up in them. Birkdale, Lytham and Carnoustie are really wide open without them from experience of being a spectator and playing them.


St Andrews is probably the only one that has stands 'outside' the course boundaries. LACC looks like that the clubhouse is not obstructed by the hospitality and stands based on the No Laying up video.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I played Baltusrol two weeks before they had their last PGA. The stands were 90% up. When I was a member, I played Sedgefield before and after the Wyndham. I hated it. The stands were a distraction.

[Marty Bonnar]

Only if they’re playing it off mats!

[Edward Glidewell]

I've played with stands/boxes up at a couple of courses (Sedgefield and East Lake).


They're annoying. They also feel vaguely claustrophobic in places where they're barely off the green.

[Thomas Dai]

Theres a Tiger comment that he found TOC difficult to play without the stands etc in place. Less to aim at apparently. Oh to be in that position!
atb

[Tim Martin]

I’ve played a couple PGA Tour courses where I was happy to get a free drop that I wouldn’t have been afforded without the bleachers/boxes.

[Ira Fishman]

I played PH2 a few days after the 2005 US Open. The stands were gone. On the first hole, we had a couple of balls in the right rough, and even with caddies lost at least one of them. And the caddies told us that they had cut the rough at least once since the tournament. It is probably the only course that I have played before and after restoration—what an amazing difference. It went from I glad I had the opportunity to play to one of my top 5 favorites.


I also played Congressional a week after the 1997 US Open and a few weeks before the 2011 US Open. Immaculate greens. Other than that, it never has done much for me. I will try the most current version at some point since I live 10 minutes away.


Ira

[Ken Moum]

Played Hazeltine 8 days before the Sr. U.S. Open, no stands but omigod fast greens and cups cut on slopes avoiding tournament locations.


Then Played TOC shortly before it closed for the 2015 Open. Stands were 90% complete.


Both were cool experiences.

[mike_beene]

Played Oakmont a few days after one of the US Opens. Seems like they were taking down on the holes on opposite side of turnpike