Southern Hills Still Hopeful For U.S. Open

Ken MacLeod reports on where 2020 U.S. Open hopeful Southern Hills goes from here now that Winged Foot landed the national championship.

"It was disappointing," said Southern Hills General Manager Nick Sidorkis. "We knew it was coming down to us and Winged Foot. "They are two great courses with great tradition. Obviously Tulsa is not the same as New York when it comes to corporate hospitality potential, but we know that we can hold a successful championship."

Sidorakis said Southern Hills remains committed to the pursuit of another U.S. Open Championship and is hopeful about 2021 or 2022. He said the club would not give up and pursue other majors or tournaments unless told by the USGA that it was not interested, which has not happened.

Comments

[Doctor]

Southern Hills upsides:
-- Stern, solid, well-balanced test.
-- Has some tradition. (Thank heaven for Tommy Bolt in '58)
-- The south-central location keeps balance in the rota, geographically.
Southern Hills downsides:
-- It's dreadful looking on TV. And you can only do so many pans of the majestic Tulsa skyline, bobbing oil derricks and cattle cascading into a stockyard.
-- Holes are not memorable. It's a course where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
-- Bermuda is June is not most players' cup of tea.
-- Weather likely to be hell hot. Same can be said for many U.S. Open courses, but still it looms as a downside factor for fans and volunteers.
-- Lingering bad mojo from screwup on 18 the year Goosen beat Brooks. Shinnecock is still recovering from the scars left last last time.
-- Tulsa just doesn't generate a buzz, not among players, fans or corporations. The food and hospitality are fantastic (underrated, in fact), but there's are few ancillary attractions.
On balance ,the downside has the edge. I can understand why it didn't get the nod.

[DTF]

But it's the only club that had a notorious hit take place in the parking lot ;0) I'd give 'em one more on that alone!

[fyg]

June is better than August for Tulsa. Southern Hills is worthy.

Also, why should Southern Hills and Shinnecock have bad mojo from their last Opens? Southern Hills didn't miss that gimmee on 18 and Shinnecock didn't misjudge the conditions.

I always have thought that if Mickelson instead of of Goosen wins that stretch duel at Shinnecock, then there is a whole different spin applied to the success of that event.

[Ted Ray's Pipe]

agree with fyg - it is the USGA - not Shinnecock or Southern Hills, that was responsible for course conditions. proper set up would not have yielded those problems with greens, etc.

[Jeff Smith]

Trees all the way down the left side. Trees all the way down the right side. Whether it's Baltusrol, Medinah, Oakland Hills or Winged Foot, they all look the same. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I'll take Southern Hills anytime.

[Steve]

Jeff...not sure if you watched (in person or on TV) the Ryder Cup at Medinah, but they took out about 1/2 of the trees and trees are really only a factor on a handful of holes (and usually only if you miss the fairway by 10-15 yards). You still see a fair number of trees in the images, but 90% of them are now out of play. WInged Foot did something similar about 10 years ago and, again while you see trees on every hole, they are often well out of play other than bad shots. Do a google maps view over Winged Foot and you will see just how few trees there are on many holes. From what I hear, Oakland Hills is starting a vigorous tree removal program to bring the course back to its original design.

[Hod]

Best steak I ever had in my life was in Tulsa. Sure, let's go back.

[Ted Ray's Pipe]

Tulsa is a great city. Lived there for a decade-plus.

Fine eating, culture, music, golf - and all very affordable. Great people. Of course there is the midsummer heat...but in June it won't be too bad.

Hope the USGA does take the USO back there at some point. But not the PGA in August! 1994 was crazy hot & humid.