US Open - Municipal Course?

[Basher]

Just watched Rory tee off the 1st. Nice 3 wood drive ........ which landed in a bloody divot!!!!
Looking at Rory's landing area there were numerous divots, obviously from previous 2nd shots.

As it's one of the top tournaments of the American golfing calendar, in places the course looks more like a muni! Why the hell aren't they replacing divots after play? Saying that, surely the caddies could replace them?

 

[birdieman]

A lot of the courses they play the US Open are are munis! Torrey Pines is anyway!

 

[brendy]

The divots are shallow skims rather than heavy clods at muni's. they are filling them with sand/seed mix unlike Augusta where they use coloured stuff.

 

[Mungoscorner]

The problem with replacing divots, is that unless they are "pegged" crows and gulls will turn the divots over looking for worms.
Lots of the US Open course's are "municipals" Bethpage Black etc,but they are far from your local council run muni,and play is very limited in the mionths leading up to the tournament.

 

[viscount17]

just watched the slo-mo of Rory's shot into the 2nd.
if you realised beforehand just how much the shaft flexed would anyone get anything other than x-stiff?

 

[sweatysock41]

One some US Courses replacing divots is discouraged because of the type of grass - not sure if this is the case at the congressional. We had one of our work colleagues a 3 handicapper from the US over and he was amazed that we replaced divots as none of the local courses to him in Florida allowed it.

 

[TXL]

At the US courses I have played at players are told not to replace divots but to use the sand that is provided in "bottles" on the carts. The reason for this is that the grass grows back far quicker than a replaced divot takes to re-root itself. You also find that the divots you take often disintergrate so would be almost impossible to replace.

 

[Mungoscorner]

I'd imagine the divots v seed argument is down to local conditions.On most UK course's,where the fairways are not irrigated,a root zone and seed mix would take longer to germinate than a divot would take to re root.

 

[shanker]

A lot of the courses they play the US Open are are munis! Torrey Pines is anyway!

Correct. This is an interesting thread. I´ve played lots of golf with Americans. Excellent company and they tend not to replace divots but use the soil mixture that comes with the buggy. Our friend Basher clearly has something against our transatlantic buddies. His problem, not theirs!

 

[TXL]

I'd imagine the divots v seed argument is down to local conditions.On most UK course's,where the fairways are not irrigated,a root zone and seed mix would take longer to germinate than a divot would take to re root.

Actually, there is usually no seed in the mixture as there is no need for it. The grass round the area of the divot will grow back over the sand within a few days.

 

[upsidedown]

We all have to carry sand buckets down here and there 3 places on the course where you cab re-fill them, soon grows back .

 

[Junior]

A lot of the courses they play the US Open are are munis! Torrey Pines is anyway!

I think Pebble Beach is too, but looking at the clubhouse, I dont think Congressional is !!

 

[goldenbare]

these top courses, including pebble beach are municipals, but google the green fees and you might think twice about taking the opportunity to play them

 

[kinhell]

Congressional is a private members clcub. You have to pay 10K to join the waiting list !

 

[Basher]

Our friend Basher clearly has something against our transatlantic buddies. His problem, not theirs!

Not entirely true Shanker.

Our cousins from across the pond have been very supportive of Rory and everyone else, regardless of country of origin.
The only thing I don't like about American golf is the constant whooping and "get inda hole" shouts.
Monty mentioned that they're getting a bit too excited and shouting on Rory's downswing.

I have learnt something new from this thread. I had no idea that many American golf courses were municipal.

By the way. I noticed Rory and Yangs caddies replacing divots a few holes back!