• We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas from all at Golf Monthly. Thank you for sharing your 2025 with us!

Chambers Bay

Personally I think the way the US Open has been set up in the past has been a bit ridiculous and a bit OTT, with very narrow fairways and deep, thick rough catching anything not on the fairway or on the green, making the next shot a hack out and a lottery where it will end up. And all this business about par being a score good enough to win - why?

I agree that the top players need to be challenged, but I want to also see the reason why they are playing at the level they are at, i.e. inventive shot making, either from on or off the fairway, risk being rewarded etc. Doesn't have to be a birdie-fest and the winning score at -20, but at least make it exciting. I think the only time the US Open has been that way has been the last couple. Hopefully that will be the same this year.

Hard, challenging, but a fair test - yes please.
 
I love the US open. I love to see the top pro's struggle and find the game tough. Just like it can be for us mere mortals.

...and Chambers Bay looks absolutely glorious.
 
PieMan said:
Personally I think the way the US Open has been set up in the past has been a bit ridiculous and a bit OTT, with very narrow fairways and deep, thick rough catching anything not on the fairway or on the green, making the next shot a hack out and a lottery where it will end up. And all this business about par being a score good enough to win - why?

I agree that the top players need to be challenged, but I want to also see the reason why they are playing at the level they are at, i.e. inventive shot making, either from on or off the fairway, risk being rewarded etc. Doesn't have to be a birdie-fest and the winning score at -20, but at least make it exciting. I think the only time the US Open has been that way has been the last couple. Hopefully that will be the same this year.

Hard, challenging, but a fair test - yes please.
Click to expand...

I like to see shot making too but I don't see why they should still easily (in perspective) make a GIR & putting for birdie when they wildly missed the first target

Shot making is for when you're out of position or shots that rolled into the 1st cut (maybe 2nd) it isn't shot making to be able to go for the green from in the trees & full rough, that means the 'hazard' of these things isn't tough enough

Narrowing the target landing area is a fair test for a major & I'd like to see more 'hourglass' fairways for the major events
 
Berger said:
More likely a 3-4am finish for us. The official website says the last pairing on Sunday will tee off at approx 3pm which is 11pm BST.
Click to expand...

That'll be 3pm EST, in order to fit in with peak east cost US TV coverage. Same as previous west coast Opens such as Olympic Club (Webb Simpson) and Torrey Pines (some bloke with a bad knee).
 
Slab said:
Shot making is for when you're out of position or shots that rolled into the 1st cut (maybe 2nd) it isn't shot making to be able to go for the green from in the trees & full rough, that means the 'hazard' of these things isn't tough enough
Click to expand...

Sorry got to disagree with you there. Shot making to me is still being able to pull off shots even if you're way out of position or in trouble. Seve, 18th at Crans Sur Sierre 1993 European Masters springs to mind, as does Langer's from a tree at Fulford. For those not old enough to remember those, then Justin Rose from the bush at the Ryder Cup last year and Victor Dubuison on a few occasions from the desert at the Accenture Matchplay. I agree that courses need to be tougher for the pros in the majors, but I can remember US Opens where good drives missed the fairway by about a foot and the player had no option but to just hack out sideways - that's ridiculous and boring to watch IMO.
 
PieMan said:
Sorry got to disagree with you there. Shot making to me is still being able to pull off shots even if you're way out of position or in trouble. Seve, 18th at Crans Sur Sierre 1993 European Masters springs to mind, as does Langer's from a tree at Fulford. For those not old enough to remember those, then Justin Rose from the bush at the Ryder Cup last year and Victor Dubuison on a few occasions from the desert at the Accenture Matchplay. I agree that courses need to be tougher for the pros in the majors, but I can remember US Opens where good drives missed the fairway by about a foot and the player had no option but to just hack out sideways - that's ridiculous and boring to watch IMO.
Click to expand...

I get that, its just the impression nowadays is that every pro can hit their drive with impunity knowing they'll still be on in regulation. Everyone's doing it and the courses have to get tougher so that the creme from the current crop can still showcase their skill
 
Got to agree with Pieman on this. The US Open is more often than not grim to watch. Any course setup where the pro misses the green from anywhere and can just pull the lob wedge out without even seeing the lie of the ball isn't entertaining IMO.
There's no imagination from the PGA, USGA etc on how to setup the golf course to make the pros think.
 
Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing the course. By all accounts it is spectacular and will be a stern test. It's different from what these guys play on each week and change scares too many of them.

Reading up on the course they reckon that anyone who attacks the course will stand the best chance of winning.
 
More excited than usual because the course seems to be offering something different. As much as I like seeing the majors that return to seminal places, I also think it's important to throw new places and challenges into the mix to push the players further.
 
Really looking forward to watching the golf from Chambers Bay oddly more than I've looked forward to ANY US Open. I just keep thinking "Thank God it's not at boring old Pebble Beach". Course looks amazing.
 
went to the Ryder cup at Medinah, where the "rough" was basically a fairway by any other name.

Mickelson in particular was 100 yrds off target on loads of occasions to find himself with a lob wedge out of the "rough" onto the green.

A bad tee shot, should not result in a birdie chance - it should result in a scrambled par being the best you can hope for, or on very rare occasions a miraculous birdie. There is nothing wrong in having to accept that you cant always go for the green, regardless of where the ball lands.

for what its worth, the most exciting golf imo is played when the winning score is around 8 under for the tournament - birdies are out there, but not given away.
 
I read that Spieth's caddy used to carry there when he was working/training as a teacher in the area, and Spieth played the US Am' there (shot an 80 iirc).
But with his recent form and the insider knowledge he could be in with a shout once again.
 
it's a real super interesting test over 18. in 2010 Spieth (17) shot 72, 83 (but to be fair to him good number of rounds in the 80's) so he didn't make it to knock outs. seems his game a little out of shape currently but could turn that round some.

but in 2010 the greens not so good, grass coverage little ways sparse & the weather conditions meant it was running real hot fairways & greens. had to play for the bounce in, lots of undulation into & on the greens made that a good ways difficult, was a real battle. but course will be in the best shape this coming week if the winds blow it will be real tough for sure. it's fescue grass right the ways through, so rough, fairways, teeing grounds & greens.

someone with real good 'imagination' & shot manufacturing ability should be up there come Sunday. bunch of times you're aiming away from flags to have the land take it close as bunch of greens don't have so much of a straight line in to get it close. so if any of those 'usual suspects' rack up on their game should be a fine spectacle of golf. whoever it is will have to have their putting boots on for sure.

1st & 18th can both be par 4 or 5's think they may well even switch which is the par 5 or par 4 on the day depending on weather conditions. have the land there & bunch of teeing grounds to make it a real monster, but would expect if to be somewhere around 7500 to 7600 so not as long as they could make it.

looking real forward to it, hope the conditions don't get too wild.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

bradleywedge
Spectator strategy and tips for the open
2
Replies
22
Views
2K
bradleywedge
bradleywedge
B
Can you reach?
2 3
Replies
49
Views
7K
SteveW86
SteveW86
Junior
Driving range practice drills
2 3
Replies
55
Views
5K
bobmac
bobmac
Norrin Radd
Do you have a warm up routine
2 3
Replies
41
Views
3K
kp17
kp17
Arthur Wedge
British and Irish Lions Tour 2025 - Australia
3 4 5
Replies
84
Views
6K
irip
I
Top