"And there’s that little thing called earthquakes."
Larry Dorman helms a New York Times 30-second Q&A with David Fay following the U.S. Open at Bethpage.
Q. It rains a lot in the Northeast in June. West Coast Open venues looking better?
A. After a week like the last one? Sure, dry clothes and clean shoes are a plus. But while you may not deal with rain and thunderstorms on the West Coast, fog can gum things up. And there’s that little thing called earthquakes. I like the idea of the Open and all our championships being movable feasts.
I'm always fascinated by the earthquake excuse for hosting fewer majors in the west...wait, that's a new one!
Seriously, the Open has outgrown many courses for a variety of reasons. Is it so big now that maybe it's outgrown places where the weather is less predictable?
I did enjoy his answer on this. And because of our little economic downturn, it's starting to happen more and more.
Q. You have been designated the golf god, and whatever you say goes. Speak.
A. American golfers expect the doors of private clubs to fly open when they travel to the U.K. and, by and large and thankfully, that’s what happens. Wouldn’t it be nice if some of our great clubs had the same approach? The golf course doesn’t ask your income or your status. Treat the course with respect, play quickly, and replace all divots and tidy up the bunkers. Oh yeah, and pay your guest green fee. Simple, eh?
Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 05:00 PM
Reader Comments (15)
1 significant quake per 30+ years.
Pull the other one; it's got bells on.
They are going back to Olympic -- didn't Mark Twain comment that the worst winter of his life was one summer that he spent in San Francisco?
In the US, most of us well never see any of the top private courses.
Come to Philadelphia. You can see a lot of Merion just by driving on Ardmore Avenue and Golf House Road or visit here this September to see the Walker Cup or visit in 2013 to see the US Open. You won't be able to play Merion unless you know a member and can play with him/her. That's the way it is in the US. Live with it already.
EVERYONE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THE SKY IS FALLING! Run David, RUN!
Here's an idea: lobby the USGA to call Ms. Claus, and request that she have a sitdown with Mother Nature, Heat Miser, and Freeze Miser, and maybe everyone will get the weather they want for the US Open.
Almost nonexistent....a pathetic effort! Spare me the...well the host course picks the logo...who shares in the profits!?
Mr Fay mentions that caddie scholarships help. He WAS a caddie...yet doesn't have a clue. Caddie scholarships are a BYPRODUCT of strong programs...something the USGA has spent virtually nothing on to strengthen or support in a concerted effort.
The idea that "cart revenue" is some sacred cow that must be placed ahead of supporting caddies and the walking game is BS, unless you're narrow minded and concerned only with money. That mentality NEVER grew the game...and it's a major reason the game is in the freefall it now enjoys.
Anyone knows that caddies cost money and only certain facilities can support that experience. To not make every effort to support it where possible, on the other hand, is a dereliction of duty for those who claim to be about the games traditions or experts in the game.
Just plain stupid. Not ignorant mind you. But stupid.
On courses out West holding majors:
Are the highly-talked-about-new-Colorado courses (Colarado Golf Club and Ballyneal) capable of holding a major? (I know it's not technically "West Coast." But it's close, and I think there'd be less excuse about rain or earthquakes.)
In response to Steven T.:
We've learned to live with it. But it does seem strange that you can go to Britain or Australia and play their finest, but you can't come here and do the same. And as you suggested, I bought a ticket to the Walker Cup a few years ago just so I could see Chicago Golf Club. And it was well worth it. What a gem. But it was a bummer knowing that I'd probably never get to play it.