BBC US open thread.

[Tashyboy]

Just read a thread on the BBC site that was on about the US open and how the ball has now got to change. The ball is flying to far and making The game to easy for pros. The blame lies firmly with the balls according to the story. He goes onto say that it will not be long before 8,000 yd courses will become the norm. But is it all down to the Ball?
I was reading the story and it said the fairways were generously wide. Why?
I was reading that some of the distances that players where hitting the ball is bunker distance on other courses. Why were there no bunkers there then.
I was reading that on the last day, because it was windy they watered the greens to make them more receptive. Why?
Am not saying the balls are better than ever, but reading the piece my first thoughts were that the courses need more work than the balls do.
The bottom line for me is are courses being made to easy for the pros.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I believe the course was also 1000ft above sea level...that will help the ball fly further..which may have been why there were no bunkers at some distances.

End of the day, the technology etc in the clubs, as well as the efficiency of strike with swing speeds that tour players generate, they are always gonna hit it further. I think I saw some stats a while back that seemed to show the average driving distance has actually dropped a bit in recent years, and has only increased by a few yards in the last 10/15.

Courses don't need to be long...just tricky. Look at Harbour Town. You have to position yourself in the right places. Make the fairways narrower, bunkers bigger, rough longer....then let's see people 'bomb it'

 

[Deleted member 16999]

All this is being led by an american commentator who is being ridiculed by the Pro's.

If they are that easy why aren't the world's best making the cut, personally I enjoy it when it's a bit more than just 3-4 of the same players competing.

Harman, who finished 2nd was a short hitter in comparison to the field and they kept giving him credit for his course management. Justin Thomas had a 13 or 14 shot swing over the last 2 days.

They like to make out it's the toughest major to win, sometimes it just isn't.

It's a bit like the football experts in the studio, they talk a lot better than they ever performed.

 

[Mugs]

Cutting back the rough was a mistake in my opinion

As for the balls then people want to play the same courses, clubs, balls and clothes as the pros and not many sports allow that

You can only lengthen a course so much, have so many bunkers, run off areas and a stimp of 14+, so in reality it may be time to restrict the ball although I'm not in favour of that myself but then again what are the real options for those that think scores are too low or it's a distance sport now

 

[the_coach]

Just read a thread on the BBC site that was on about the US open and how the ball has now got to change. The ball is flying to far and making The game to easy for pros. The blame lies firmly with the balls according to the story. He goes onto say that it will not be long before 8,000 yd courses will become the norm. But is it all down to the Ball?

I was reading the story and it said the fairways were generously wide. Why?
I was reading that some of the distances that players where hitting the ball is bunker distance on other courses. Why were there no bunkers there then.
I was reading that on the last day, because it was windy they watered the greens to make them more receptive. Why?
Am not saying the balls are better than ever, but reading the piece my first thoughts were that the courses need more work than the balls do.
The bottom line for me is are courses being made to easy for the pros.

as ever there's a whole bunch of real questionable stuff being said by some folks in the media who have had there nose put out of joint a tad a number of things - different & new broadcast entities different & new announcers etc - won't go into that take too long & require naming names

ball development means the ball travels a tad more & at average height above sea level across erin hills being almost 1000ft it will travel a tad more
- that said they had yardage options to make it up to 7,900+
- on saturday they cut the yardage down some to encourage attacking golf - in an era when participation of the game is falling making a major more exciting through giving opportunities to score makes a bunch of sense - opposed to seeing everyone struggle to break 75 - if you want to grow the game

plus I guess what's hard to pick up with the tv coverage for folks is the 'hills' part of the name is something it live up to as it's a whole bunch uphill/downhill/sidehill - there's few if any flat lies on any fairways it's real undulating land (glacially formed) ... it's no easy walk in all you goin to walk 7+ miles per round

there's usually a fair old breeze that can gust about some there and normally the fairways are pretty firm - they would have been a ton firmer than they ended up but for a whole bunch of rain that fell just prior to tournament week - that rain hadn't fell & the usga had prepared 25 yard fairways they'd be slated now for presenting an unplayable course

I was at erin for the week as a guest walked with mcilroy's group day 1 & it wouldn't have been too long into his round when he must have been regretting the quote he gave after practice day "they've given us a landing strip .... if you can't hit them ..." etc - he went on to miss rightfield & leftfield by some margins at times!

some of the fescue was cut back - but not a whole bunch - more been made of this than was there to be honest

I have played erin hills a couple of times in competition - believe me it's no easy course

with respect most average index players would struggle to score 100

there's approx 138 bunkers some so deep with such irregular shapes that most folks would need a guide to get out of

may remember few years back (Goosen won) when the open played at shinnecock hills (it's there next year) the greens were so shiny that a whole bunch holes/greens were virtually unplayable with balls being blown away

the forecast for sunday was 25mph+ winds - greens had 'some' water put on them

are courses being made too easy for elite level players .... no
same number of players missed the cut by a whole bunch - whole bunch over par - but you dealing with the very top level players so every week a number of them are goin to play real well

it was still a true test of golf in all aspects of the game
congrats to brooks

 

[gmhubble]

Somebody on tv made the point that all tennis players use the balls that are provided at each tournament

Doesn't stop us buying whatever we want but Federer doesn't serve with his balls then Murray serve with his ......

 

[Tashyboy]

as ever there's a whole bunch of real questionable stuff being said by some folks in the media who have had there nose put out of joint a tad a number of things - different & new broadcast entities different & new announcers etc - won't go into that take too long & require naming names

ball development means the ball travels a tad more & at average height above sea level across erin hills being almost 1000ft it will travel a tad more
- that said they had yardage options to make it up to 7,900+
- on saturday they cut the yardage down some to encourage attacking golf - in an era when participation of the game is falling making a major more exciting through giving opportunities to score makes a bunch of sense - opposed to seeing everyone struggle to break 75 - if you want to grow the game

plus I guess what's hard to pick up with the tv coverage for folks is the 'hills' part of the name is something it live up to as it's a whole bunch uphill/downhill/sidehill - there's few if any flat lies on any fairways it's real undulating land (glacially formed) ... it's no easy walk in all you goin to walk 7+ miles per round

there's usually a fair old breeze that can gust about some there and normally the fairways are pretty firm - they would have been a ton firmer than they ended up but for a whole bunch of rain that fell just prior to tournament week - that rain hadn't fell & the usga had prepared 25 yard fairways they'd be slated now for presenting an unplayable course

I was at erin for the week as a guest walked with mcilroy's group day 1 & it wouldn't have been too long into his round when he must have been regretting the quote he gave after practice day "they've given us a landing strip .... if you can't hit them ..." etc - he went on to miss rightfield & leftfield by some margins at times!

some of the fescue was cut back - but not a whole bunch - more been made of this than was there to be honest

I have played erin hills a couple of times in competition - believe me it's no easy course

with respect most average index players would struggle to score 100

there's approx 138 bunkers some so deep with such irregular shapes that most folks would need a guide to get out of

may remember few years back (Goosen won) when the open played at shinnecock hills (it's there next year) the greens were so shiny that a whole bunch holes/greens were virtually unplayable with balls being blown away

the forecast for sunday was 25mph+ winds - greens had 'some' water put on them

are courses being made too easy for elite level players .... no
same number of players missed the cut by a whole bunch - whole bunch over par - but you dealing with the very top level players so every week a number of them are goin to play real well

it was still a true test of golf in all aspects of the game
congrats to brooks

Coach, excellent reply and many thanks, your second last paragraph answered my next question. Another point I picked up on somewhere was this was the seventh differant winner of the last seven majors. Am all for that, makes a change of reading about the last big three, the current big three, or the next big three whoever media would lead us to believe they are.

 

[patricks148]

not sure about the US open as i didn't see most of it. But the pro golf i have seen in the flesh, the pro's and the organisers like you to think the pros hit it much further than they do.

When i went to the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen a couple of years ago there was a board behind the tee on the 3rd which is a par three saying 240, the course radio was raving about what short irons the pros where hitting off here. We walked up behind the tee and to get there we walked past the stone marking the back tee and and the 240 yard mark. it was at lest 30 yards behind where the pros were teeing off.

i played with the course manager from Castle Stuart, (whos a member at ours) in a comp at the end of last year and he was telling that years scottish openand told about the 13th which off the back is 441 yards. after the first round where there was a bit of wind. most of the pros complained the hole was too hard as most were hitting 3 wood for the 2nd shot and still couldn't reach. so they moved the tee up and played the rest of the comp off the front of that tee which is only about 360. viewers where still led to believe they were playing 440.

yes these boys hit it a long way, but some times there is a bit of kidology involved and perfect conditions