Dottie: USGA, Stop Messing With U.S. Open Courses

Of course we all know the reason the USGA has to meddle, massage, tinker and push its U.S. Open venues to the brink. But it's enjoyable to see so many people becoming aware of why it's happening: they've lost control of distance and it's the last resort.

Dottie Pepper at ESPN.com lays out the various steps the organization has taken in recent years to emasculate venues, and she's seen enough.

If the new mantra is being "innovative," why not be truly innovative and stop messing with these courses? Move the tees back to the tips, let mother nature dictate the condition of play (we don't play golf in a dome after all) and let a four-day slugfest produce a winner.

People aren't glued to the World Series, NBA Finals or Super Bowl to watch the referees or hear the messaging about changes to the field of play and its sustainability. What's not sustainable is 150 plus superintendents keeping Oakmont in form for U.S. Open week.

What is the harm in checking our egos and messaging at the front door and simply letting the best players in the world showcase their talent to identify the champion?

Absolutely nothing.

Comments

[ol Harv]

Exactly Dottie. I've said it for years. These are the greatest golf courses in the world. Put the tee markers back and let them play. Scores are going to be lower than in the past because of the distance gains that the USGA say haven't occurred in the last 20 years, but so what, let the great players shine. And don't fight the weather. Sure, most of us want to see firm and fast for the US Open, but not a rigged firm and fast and no "fluffed sand" Mike. Get used to lower numbers and stop the manipulation on these (most of them) great golf courses.

[V60]

Stop worshiping par. Let some birdies in the front door. slow down the greens so balls don't move with vibrations from the center of the earth. And please drop your ego at the door and stop being the story, it's not about you, USGA.

[BrianS]

If the winner after 4 rounds was -10-15, would that be awful.? Works fine for the other majors.

[Jordans Towel]

Grow the game:
1. The USGA builds its own course where every year the usopen is played.
2. The usopen course is maintained in the same condition the year round.
3. The usopen course has no members and no real estate, but has a small simple hotel and a big clubhouse with cheap food.
4. During the year, every able golfer (hcp < 28?) can play (and embarrass herself) once or twice for a greenfee of $50. And a nights stay at the hotel for €50
5. Best scores by "amateurs with a real 9-to-5-job" will be posted and the lowest 100 every year will get free access to the usopen as 'patrons'.
6. Lots of golfers will make their yearly pilgramige to test themselves and enjoy shared humiliation with their buddies.

[dsl]

I started watching golf when Tiger started on the Tour, so I haven't been around that long. That said, hasn't the US Open always been a 5-ring circus of cartoonish rough, tiny fairways, long holes, converted par 5s and fast greens?

I mean, everyone talks about how they like the US Open because they like to watch the pros struggle. Surely that opinion by John Q Golfing Public isn't a new one. It's always been that way. I get the distance thing, but I think the US Open is bad because the US Open has always been bad. That's what they want.

[Loop4u]

Dottie is a much better writer than on course reporter. After getting bashed for her blow up at the Solheim Cup several years ago all she does now is agree with others and speak in clichés.