Is the US Amateur tournament over before they have to return to their paid golfing positions ? Just curious if their amateur gig overlaps their professional responsibilities.

geoff,

i was at Pinehurst a few months ago for the first time, and can honestly say I have never been as disappointed in a golf course as I was in #2. Perhaps my expectations were inflated, but a "Doak 10" led me to expect greatness.

The greens are very cool, but you're bang on with the sod farm comments. It is such a shocking lack of vision and creativity. The mowing lines are tragic, and have eliminated so much of the intended strategy.

I was hoping to hear course chatter with the Amateur there, but its been pretty quiet.

Of course, #2 was 1000% better than the renovated #4. Whoa.

I'm glad I didn't pay $400 or whatever it is. Why go here as a "resort" when there are places like Bandon? I don't get it.

They're going to be exposing more sandy areas in the near future.

the subleties of #2 make it great. the green complexes make it outstanding.

if you're worried about mowing lines then you're right, "you dont get it."

Now we're criticizing No. 2 for having too much grass?

donald,

when your "strategies" are lost 20 yards into the rough, then yes, i am worried about mowing lines. and you should be too.

$ for $ course #2 may be the most over-rated out there - it surely is amongst the courses I've played.

$'s aside I'd take Bethpage Red 6 of 7 days in a week, $'s factored in I'd take the Red 365 days per year.

ES