Open Thread: 2016 U.S. Open, Your Kneejerk Reactions
/In the interest of remaining on the topic at hand let's just get all of our high praise and deep affinity for rule 18-2 out in the open, and then go from there.
When one comes to the quality of the bunkers and other hazards we pass into realm of much dispute and argument. Primarily bunkers should be sand bunkers purely, not composed of gravel, stones or dirt. Whether this or that bunker is well placed, has caused more intensely heated arguments outside of the realms of religion, than has ever been my lot to listen to. C.B. MACDONALD
Available via Amazon (US): Golf Architecture For Normal People
Barnes And Noble (online and in stores)
Bookshop.org option to support local independent bookstores.
Reviews:
"Golf Architecture for Normal People . . . should be required reading for those who are not ashamed to admit they know little about the subject, and for those who think they do . . . . Golf course architecture geeks have trouble slimming their thoughts down to bite-sized chunks, but Shackelford has achieved a remarkable success here." —Independent (Ireland)
"From the relative newcomer who’s slowly getting hooked to those that have played the game for most of their lives and think they know a thing or two, Golf Architecture for Normal People provides a solid and sober perspective that will help everyone recognize why some golf courses are worth playing more than once while a single trip around others is all you’re ever likely to want or need." —Links Magazine.
“It’s a wonderful book. An easy read that arrives just in time for your summer reading list. If you’ve never thought about how an appreciation for course design could heighten your enjoyment of the game, you must check this out.”—The Peterborough Examiner
"As in his prior publications, in his newest book Shackelford shows a deep appreciation for what can be done to create a golf course that appeals to the broadest possible golfing audience…Shackelford’s prose is succinct, often witty, and accessible."—Cape Gazette
"Author, blogger and golf architecture expert Geoff Shackelford, who helped Gil Hanse design Rustic Canyon and restore 2023 U.S. Open host Los Angeles Country Club, taps into his passion by creating a guide that helps every golfer understand the nuances of course design. Published by Tatra Press, the 164-page hardcover book is a must-read for every golfer to better understand the game they love." —Golf Pass
"Shackelford provides an informative picture [and]...sprinkles in history lessons about those who planted the game's architectural roots, defines common terms and helps you hone your eyes when it comes to identifying some of the tricks of the trade."—FORE Magazine
"This new book does a great job demystifying golf course design ideas for average players, but can also be a beneficial read fro PGA Professionals and other golf course employees to get a better understanding of their home courses." —PGA Magazine
2016 U.S. Open Final Round Poll & Comment Thread
/Final day U.S. Open pressure notwithstanding, the leaderboard setup
Read MoreA Few Shane Lowry Reads Before The U.S. Open Final Round
/Before his 3:30 pm ET tee time with Andrew Landry (!), Shane Lowry probably needs some introduction before he attempts to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Here is Doug Ferguson's game story on the conclusion of round three that saw Lowry open up a three stroke lead.
Ryan Herrington on Lowry prior to the restart and how much the stoppage helped the Irishman.
Brian Keogh of the Irish Golf Desk has covered the former Irish Open winner (as an amateur) and covers Lowry's self-called penalty. USGA researchers are trying to determine if it is historic first should Lowry go on to win.
In the morning he banked some crucial karma when he called a penalty shot on himself on his seventh hole, the par-three, 16th and did well just to make bogey and slip back to two over for the day.
“I addressed the ball, and the ball moved back,” he said. “I had to penalise myself. It’s very frustrating in a tournament like that.
“I actually holed a great eight-footer for a bogey on that hole. I think, if I had missed that, it would have been difficult to get back from there.”
Alex Miceli has post-restart quotes from Lowry, who says he would have been happy with four pars.
The pairing with unknown Landry will be interesting, and Rex Hoggard says the blue collar showdown is fitting in Pittsburgh.
Kyle Porter with various notes on Lowry including the records of those with a four-stroke-or-more lead.
Lowry's clutch 18th hole par putt:
This is what it feels like to shoot 65 and head into the final round of the #USOpen with the lead. pic.twitter.com/skdaaK8N8a
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2016
Oakmont: It Still All May Come Down To 17th Hole
/While Shane Lowry holds a four-stroke lead and would appear tough to beat
Read MoreWhy U.S. Open Rounds Are Taking (Seemingly) Forever
/Joel Beall went out to the 16th hole Saturday to take a
Read MoreMLB Takes Priority! Fox Sends U.S. Open Coverage Back To FS1
/After an incredibly taxing and downright heroic 11.5 hours straight of bonus-infused coverage on Fox Sports 1 and Fox, the network sent the final 49 minutes of third round coverage back to its less-visible cable channel.
The conflict?
The network's Major League Baseball game of the week pre-game show prior to featuring Cubs-Pirates in much of the country. In the New York market, it was the Mets vs. the lowly Braves.
Given that golf fans are used to majors staying on network TV through the completion of play, the Twitter outrage over the Fox network broadcast of a major championship shifting to a network seen in fewer homes was swift and directed at the USGA.
Did FOX just leave the US Open for a baseball game!! What a dumb thing the USGA did selling out to those guys.....
— Sammy Lane (@samm1968) June 19, 2016
@FOXSports @FS1 dumbest thing ever - switching to a premium channel. Nice move. @usga never use Fox for golf
— Scott Schnaars (@schnaars) June 19, 2016
Fox playing musical networks w/ Major Championship golf for regular season baseball is exactly why the USGA didn't think, only looked at $$$
— Jason Reid (@JReidOneNiner) June 19, 2016
@gatekicker99 @FOXSports @FS1 the worst. They cut to pre-game programming. Could have seen at least 2 more holes. @USGA #fail
— Barry Clegg (@cleggthis) June 19, 2016
Update on 2016-06-19 04:18 by Geoff
**Martin Kaufmann at Golfweek.com had some issues with Fox's storytelling approach and lack of coverage of many players.
Whenever Buck or Shane O’Donoghue would say, “Let’s go to Holly Sonders,” my first thought is: Let’s not. That meant two things: we were leaving action, and we probably were going to see more of Brooks.
Later in the day, Fox lost track of Jason Day, who was chasing Johnny Miller’s 63. Fox belatedly caught up with Day on the 14th tee, when he was 5 under. (He shot a 4-under 66 to get back in the hunt.) We also saw little of Branden Grace, who shot 66 to move into sixth place, and Bryson DeChambeau (T-8), and I don’t think we saw any of Kevin Streelman (T-12), one of only five players to post two subpar rounds this week.
Rory Exits Stage Left, Takes Some Heat
/I'm going to chalk this one up to how much access the top players give
Read MoreVideo: Spencer Levin's U.S. Open Tantrum
/I just can't get enough of this childish meltdown during round one's Friday wave of play at Oakmont.
"We're at a point where driving distance has become a joke"
/Add ESPN.com's Kevin Van Valkenburg to the list
Read More2016 U.S. Open Day Three This, That And Comment Thread
/It's Saturday and we're on pace to complete round two at Oakmont
Read MoreThursday Scare: Lightning Strike At Oakmont, Irrigation Blowout
/Gil Hanse and Holly Sonders explain what happened.
Read More2016 U.S. Open Day Two This, That & Links
/After 2.3 inches of rain, including 1.2 inches overnight, Oakmont opened
Read MoreFox Sports Adjusts, Televising 13 Hours Friday From Oakmont
/Pray for a restful night's sleep for those Fox crews, they have a ridiculously long day Friday thanks to the rain delays.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Date Program Time (ET) Network
June 17 First & Second Rounds 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM FS1
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM FOX
DIGITAL STREAMING SCHEDULE
Date Channel Time (ET) Platform
June 17 Featured Holes 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM USOpen.com
Featured Groups (Ch. A) 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM USOpen.com
Featured Groups (Ch. B) 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM USOpen.com
FS1 stream 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM FOX Sports GO
Featured Groups (Ch. A) 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM FOX Sports GO
Featured Groups (Ch. B) 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM FOX Sports GO
Featured Holes 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM FOX Sports GO
FOX stream 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM FOX Sports GO
Video: Ken Brown Introduces Mad Scientist To The Stimpmeter
/Briliant bit on today's first round U.S. Open telecast
Read MoreOakmont 2016: Giving Larry Nelson His Due
/Dave Kindred tries to find any sign of former Ryder Cup captain Larry Nelson or any recognition of his epic 1983 win here at Oakmont.
He writes:
Anybody seen Larry Nelson? The greatest golfer who ever walked the point of his infantry company in a Vietnam jungle – and the only one who ever won three major professional championships, including the 1983 U.S. Open here – is also the greatest golfer no one knows. Figuring he might be on the grounds as a past champion, I asked a media official, “Do you know, is Larry Nelson on the grounds?”
Here a cloud of puzzlement moved across the official’s eyes.
Then he said, “Who does he work for?”
