The Ultimate U.S. Open Course

Upon request from possibly the only person who reads this blog (thanks Bill), we are going to try to create the ultimate U.S. Open Course. The course will obviously consist of holes from past U.S. Open venues, but there is one small catch. In order to make the cut each hole must be the best in its position. Example: Oakmont's first hole will be considered the best opening hole. Selection will be determined on the hole's difficulty in relation to par, aesthetics, and history. Please let me know your nominations. Here we go.

HOLE #1
Oakmont Country Club
Par 4 / 482 Yards

Although it may not be the most "picturesque", it is considered to be one of the toughest par 4's in the world. What better way to start an Open? Imagine trying to stop a golf ball at the end of a marble bowling ally that is located on the downslope of a double black diamond ski run.

Seriously.

Honorable Mentions:

Cherry Hills Country Club (Palmer Drives Green and Birdies 6 of first 7 holes)

HOLE #2

Oakland Hills Country Club

Par 5 / 529 yards

When someone mentions the 1985 U.S. Open they more than likely know two things. Andy North won and T.C. Chen lost. Ahh yes. T.C. Chen. The ol' double hit on the 5th. But that was not Mr. Chen's only "double" of the Open. On a positive not he made another double on the 2nd hole during the first round. A double EAGLE that is. Chen holed a three wood from 265 yards to record a rare albatross.

HOLE #3
Winged Foot Golf Club
Par 3 / 216 Yards

With a scoring average of 3.37 in 2006, the 3rd at Winged Foot became the 7 hardest par 3 in U.S. Open history. The competitors in '06 should have taken a tip from Billy Casper who was victorious in the 1959 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Mr. Casper choose to lay up on the 3rd in every round to avoid the bunkers guarding the front of the green. He got up and down each time for par.

HOLE #4
Oakmont Country Club
Par 5 / 609 Yards

I've only had the great opportunity to play Oakmont one time (thanks for the invite Bill...not). My day there didn't start as expected due to the fact that I began my round on the back nine. Intoxicated by the entire experience, I walked up the 15th and said to my caddie "I thought they would be bigger?" He said "They are. These aren't the real ones." The real "Church Pew" bunker is located in between the 3rd and 4th holes at Oakmont and it is spectacular. Most people credit the 3rd hole as the location of second most famous bunker (#1 I'm guessing is the "Road Hole" bunker), but I disagree. From the third tee the bunker gets small the further down you drive the ball. From the fourth tee it gets bigger. Thus the 4th gets the credit, and the spot on my "Ultimate U.S. Open Course".

HOLE #5
Pinehurst Resort & Club (#2)
Par 4 / 476 Yards

The 5th at Pinehurst played as the most difficult hole during the 1999 U.S. Open (avg. score 4.55...5th hardest par 4 in U.S. Open History). After a great drive, one will find themselves with a 200+ yard approach to a green of which only about half of its surface is puttable.

"The best way to play #5 at Pinehurst is to birdie #4" -Anonymous

Honorable Mentions:
Canterbury Golf Club

HOLE #6
Oak Hill Country Club
Par 3 / 167 yards

Ok. Maybe not the most difficult hole...actually quite the opposite. The 6th at Oak Hill is on the list due to a historical note. During the '89 U.S. Open, in a span of 90 minutes, the sixth hole reliquished 4 Hole-in-ones. Doug Weaver, Mark Wiebe, Jerry Pate, and Nick Price all dropped it in with a 7 iron during the first round (I would have hit 8).

Honorable Mentions:

HOLE #7
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Par 3 / 107 Yards

"Colin Montgomerie was sitting in the Pebble Beach clubhouse in 1992 and feeling confident in his chances of earning the trophy for his first U.S. Open victory when Tom Kite stunned the Scot. With whipping winds in excess of 40 miles-per-hour plaguing golfers still on the course, Montgomerie's clubhouse lead looked like it would hold up. Instead, with an improbable birdie on the seventh hole of the final round, Kite positioned himself for the win. His ball was in the tall grass off the green, but he managed to dig it out with a shot that hit the flagstick and dropped into the cup. Kite went on to win by two strokes." (from NBCsports.com)

HOLE #8
Oakmont Country Club
Par 3 / 288 Yards

A par 3 that is unreachable for some participants has got "USGA" stamped all over it. During the 2007 U.S. Open, the 8th at Oakmont became the longest par 3 in the history of....golf (I may have made that up but I'm almost certain it's true). I was having a hard time not putting the 8th at Pebble in this spot until I read one fact. The 8th hole at Oakmont is the only bogey Johnny Miller carded during his final round 63 of the '73 Open (and it only played 244 yards then).

"Driver please." - Joe Leenheer, PGA

Honorable Mentions:
Pebble Beach (8th hardest par 4, 4.53 Scoring avg. in 2000)
Pinehurst #2 (John Daly's infamous blowup)

HOLE #9
Interlachen Country Club
Par 5 / 530 Yards

Bobby Jones won the 1930 U.S. Open at Interlachen Country Club giving him the third leg of the "Impregnable Quadrilateral". This win was set up by the infamous "Lily Pad Shot" during Jones' second round. Distracted by spectators, Jones semi-topped his second shot which skipped across a water hazard and came to rest safely on the bank on other side. His good fortune resulted in a birdie and an eventual U.S. Open title.

Honorable Mentions
Pebble Beach Golf Links (4th hardest par 4)

HOLE #10
Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Par 4 / 509 Yards

During the 2002 U.S. Open the tenth hole at Bethpage required participants to carry their drives some 250-260 yards just to get to the fairway. Now some people might think "What's the big deal?" Well considering it's a 500+ yard Par 4 with rough that will chew up and spit out anything longer then a wedge. Combine that with some "naughty" bunkering throughout the entire hole....I'd say that's pretty tough. Players even joked about it wasn't the carry that was the problem, but the width of the fairway (they were referring to the caddy strip!) The USGA did change the required carry for the 2009 U.S. Open to avoid any controversy. A move which this purist would classify as "wussy". They should have made it longer.

Honorable Mention
Pinehurst #2

HOLE #11
Worcester Country Club
Par 4 / 400 yards

Worcester Country Club hosted the 1925 U.S. Open which was won by Willie Macfarlane. Who cares right? Well....how about this. He won the title in a playoff. Actually, he won it in a double playoff against the great Bobby Jones. How does this make the 11th hole the greatest 11th hole in U.S. Open history? Well this great playoff would have never taken place if it weren't for the unbelievable display of sportsmanship by Mr. Jones on the 11th hole. This was the hole were Jones famously called a penalty on himself when his ball moved slightly in the rough after he touched the grass with his club. That penalty stroke cost him the title, but when praised for his sportsmanship, Jones responded that he might as well have been congratulated for not robbing a bank.

HOLE #12
Oakmont Country Club
Par 5 / 598 yards

During the 1994 U.S. Open, the 12th Hole at Oakmont Country Club played as the 3rd hardest par 5 in Open history. It may have earned a higher position if played from the member tees at 667 yards. Unhappy with the 3rd place finish, the USGA and Oakmont went to work and during the Open in 2007 they earned the top spot with a scoring average of 5.41.

HOLE #13

Canterbury Golf Club
Par 5 / 490 Yards

In contention for his sixth career major title at Cantebury Golf Club in the 1946 U.S. Open, Byron Nelson was felled by a mistake not of his own making. In the third round, his caddie had accidentally kicked his golf ball while walking down the 13th fairway, resulting in a one-stroke penalty for Nelson. That penalty was the difference between winning outright and playing in a playoff, which is where Nelson lost to Lloyd Mangrum.

Honorable Mentions

HOLE #14
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Par 5 / 573 yards

As one of the less spectacular "inland" holes at Pebble (which is dumb because you can still see the ocean from anywhere on the hole), this Par 5 had the gold and silver on the list of most difficult par 5's in U.S. Open history until Oakmont's 12th Hole during the 2007 Open overcame it (scoring avg. of 5.38 in 2000 and 5.29 in 1992). What makes this hole so tough? Go to Pebble and find out (or read my blog about Pebble!)

Honorable Mentions:

HOLE #15
Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Par 4 / 459 Yards

While everyone was worrying about the 250 yard carry to get to the fairway on the 10th hole at Bethpage during the 2002 U.S. Open, they should have been thinking about how they were going to make par on 15. That year it played as the second hardest par 4 in U.S. Open History with a scoring avg. of 4.60 and followed that with an avg. of 4.47 in 2009 again playing as the most difficult hole on the course.

Honorable Mentions:

HOLE #16
Olympic Club (Lake)
Par 5 / 607 Yards

The 16th at Olympic has played as the 4th and 5th Hardest Par 5 in U.S. Open history (scoring average of 5.25) and for me has been the hardest hole to find a picture of......thanks Google Maps! Considered one of the hardest par 5's in the world, this hole cost Arnold Palmer the 1966 U.S. Open. Attempting to draw his tee shot, he snap-hooked his ball into a tree a mere 150 yards away. Then stubbornly trying to hit a 3 iron out of the U.S. Open rough, he managed to advance the ball another 100 yards down the crescent shaped hole. After holing his bogey, his lead slipped to one. He would eventually loose to Billy Casper in a playoff.

HOLE #17
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Par 3 / 208 Yards

"Foul!" You say? How can you not have the 17th at Pebble as the greatest 17th hole in U.S. Open History? Hello..Tom Watson. Jack's 1 Iron. Not to mention in 1992 it played as the second hardest par 3 in U.S. Open History (3.44 scoring avg.) only behind #17 at Pebble Beach in the 2000 U.S. Open (scoring avg. 3.46) Yeah, that's what I thought. Quit complaining and make your bogey.

Honorable Mentions:
17th at Olympic Club (1st and 3rd hardest par 4 in U.S. Open History)

HOLE #18
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Par 5 / 543 yards

The greatest finishing hole in golf. Period.

"I'm surprised you don't have to walk through pearly gates between 17 green and 18 tee."

-Joe Leenheer, PGA

Honorable Mentions:

Pinehurst #2 (5th hardest par 4, Payne Stewart's Putt)

Oakmont Country Club (2nd highest scoring avg. for par 4's in 2007 Open, 4.602)

Winged Foot (Phil Mickelson's "oops")

Interlachen C. C. (Bobby Jones sinks 40 foot birdie to win 1930 Open by two and achieves the "Impregnable Quadrilateral")

ULTIMATE U.S. OPEN COURSE STATS

Par: 75

Front Nine: 35

Back Nine: 40

Yards: 7791 yards

Front Nine: 3404 yards

Back Nine: 4387 yards

Distance Between Holes:

19830 Miles, 20 yards

307 Hours, 38 Minutes, 25 Seconds

Front Nine: 9024 Miles / 140 Hours & 38 Minutes

Back Nine: 10,806 Miles & 20 Yards / 167 Hours & 25 Seconds

Inverness Club

1920, '31,'57, &'79 US Opens

Course: 18 Hole Private
Architect: Donald Ross

Founded: 1903
Location: Toledo, OH
Web Site: www.invernessclub.com
Date Last Played: May 12, 2008
Score: 80...ish

There's no "I" in Open....or is there?

"God measures men by what they are

Not by what they in wealth possess

This vibrant message chimes afar

The voice of Inverness"

Pretty good huh? Those words are inscribed on a clock that was donated to The Inverness Club by the Golf Professionals who participated in the 1920 U.S. Open Championship. This gift was inspired by an action that hits very close to this writers heart. During the U.S. Open that year, Golf Professionals were invited into the clubhouse of a hosting venue for the first time in championship history. This invitation created a historic swing in the status quo of the Golf Professional/Member relationship. The U.S. Open returned to Inverness three times with significant lapes between contests (1931, '57, and '79). Unfortunalty technology has forced Inverness into the "too short" club of historic venues and the hopes of a U.S. Open returning are bleak.

The big "I" (as commonly referred to by locals) is a classic championship course that has maintained its "old school" charm throughout the years. I would like to believe Donald Ross would still enjoy his course even after a couple tweaks by renowned architects Arthur Hills and Tom Fazio.

I have had the opportunity to play Inverness on three occasions all of which were Northern Ohio PGA Tournaments. Each time I retuned I looked forward to playing two holes. Numbers 1 and 10. This is not to say that the other 16 holes are not special in their own right. But to be honest with you, I can only remember a handful of them without looking at a course map. Holes 1 and 10 have a very memorable and distinct look to them. This look was created by merging the fairways of each hole creating a "front lawn" feeling. It is truly unique design. I also like this design feature for another reason. Two fairways doubles my chances of actually hitting one off the first tee! I have a tendancey to get a little "snappy" when starting my round so having a fairway right next door (actually left next door) is very comforting.

Notable Holes: Let's start with the 4th Hole. A lenghty par 4 which features a HUGE green. Wait. I though all these old courses had small greens? Although most of greens at Inverness are delicously small (bite size if you will), the green at the 4th is large and udulating. With the green sloping severly from front right to back left, finding the green here is more difficult than you may think.

For our next notable hole we don't have to go far. The 5th at Inverness is a tasty dogleg left which demands length and control off the tee. A wayward drive will more than likely force a player to lay-up or bail-out left to avoid the water hazard which runs the entire length of the hole and defines the right hand side of the green.

Now, I don't want this to come out the wrong way, but for me the rest of the holes are just "ok". It's not that I don't really like some of them, but they just don't wow me.

One thing that does wow me is the history and tradition that the Inverness Club has to offer. Even the great Donald Ross thought so highly of its design that he choose to single out Inverness in his book "Golf Has Never Failed Me" (he only mentioned 7 courses of the 400+ he designed). I hope that the USGA doesn't forget about the big "I" and brings the U.S. Open back their for some more big history.

Pebble Beach

1972, '82, '92, & 2000 US Opens

Course: 18 Hole Public/Resort

Architect: Jack Neville & Douglas Grant

Founded: February 1919

Location: Pebble Beach, CA

Web Site: http://www.pebblebeach.com/

Date Last Played: Dec 28th, 2006

Score: 86ish....let me explain

"A Match Made in Pebble"

If I were the CEO of MasterCard my next commercial would go something like this... Overnight stay at "The Lodge": $500 a night. Greens fees and caddie fees at Pebble Beach Golf Links: $600 (plus gratuity). One sleeve of golf balls to sacrifice to the Pacific: $15. A four and a half hour walk around heaven: PRICELESS!

With approximately 32,000 golf courses scattered around the world, it is seemingly impossible to think that one person could tee it up on each and every one. There is however, one course that every single one of the estimated 61 million golfers should play: Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, CA. To my defense, I do have a small, personal reason why I feel so strongly about these 18 magical holes (a story in which I will indulge you with shortly). It is however, hard to argue with the greatest golfer of all time.

"If I had one last round, I would likely choose Pebble Beach." - Jack Nicklaus

Like myself, Mr. Nicklaus also has a few sentimental reasons for his lifelong love affair with Golf Digest's #1 public course seeing that he did win a few small tournaments there (1961 U.S. Amateur & 1972 U.S. Open). But even the everyday hacker whose only major achievement in golf may be finishing a round with the same ball he or she started with would admit to having a bit of a school yard crush on these historic links.

Built in 1919 under the watchful eyes of Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, Pebble Beach is considered to be an exceptional golf course on a magnificent piece of land. A combination which this golfer believes is the perfect receipt for...well, perfection. The course possesses a subdued greatness which demands every shot in your bag, but yet does not overpower the golfer so not to distract from the absolute jaw-dropping views of Carmel Bay. Case in point, the famed 7th hole.

As one of the many masochistic golfers who tortures themselves (and their scoring averages) by backing it up to the tips when visiting any course, I can count on one hand how many par 3's I have hit a wedge into (not counting second shots of course). Measuring 107 yards from the championship tees, the 7th at Pebble is the shortest hole in U.S. Open history and on the PGA Tour. But what this hole lacks in size, it more than makes up for in beauty and difficulty. I can imagine that Dr. Jeckle would consider this his signature hole. Depending on the weather conditions, a par can either be disappointing or rewarding. I think the phrase "Good things come in small packages" finds a new meaning here.

But the golf course alone is not the primary reason why Pebble Beach is a must stop for golfers. It is the history. The shots. Nicklaus' one iron that rattled the flag of the 17th hole during the '72 U.S. Open. Tom Watson's version of a walk-off home run on the very same hole ten years later. Joe Leenheer's par putt on the 18th that was never holed. What? Who plays Pebble Beach and doesn't finish their round on the most famous finishing hole in golf? Let me explain.

Youngstown, Ohio. December 28th, 2002. At an undisclosed location, I unknowingly booked a tee time for two at Pebble Beach. This was the night I met my future wife, Jana. To us, December 28th is the day both of our lives began. We celebrate that date every year by surprising each other with a special "get away". Jana began the tradition with a hot air balloon ride over San Diego in 2003. I followed that in 2004 with a helicopter trip to Catalina Island and she delivered again in 2005 with a dinner boat cruise around San Diego Harbour. After four years of dating, I had come to the conclusion that not in my wildest dreams would I ever find a more perfect girl. I needed to lock her down before she realized how "too good" she was for me.

On December 27th, 2006 Jana and I ventured up the California coast. On the way we stopped in beautiful Santa Barbara for lunch and site seeing. Continuing on, we arrived at The Lodge at Pebble Beach under night fall and my "surprise" started to reveal itself. The next morning entailed breakfast overlooking the first tee, a little gift shopping, and a quick warmup session. I was able to secure the final tee time of the day to ensure a beautiful sunset finish. Standing on the first tee I felt as if I was 12 years old again teeing off in a junior tourney while 50 other kids watched. Moments like that force every golfer into the "Hail Mary" of golf..."Please, Lord...just let me make contact". My drive found the left rough and after a 7 iron that clipped a tree, a wedge that missed the green left, a pitch that dribbled on, and four stellar putts, I was only two shots back of Jana (who had been playing golf for less than two years at the time). Fast forward four and a half hours.

On the 18th at sunset

As the sun was setting over Carmel Bay, I lay three on the back edge of the 18th green. My focus however was not on getting up and down for par on the greatest finishing hole in golf, but on something a bit more memorable. My chip nuzzled up some 4 feet from the hole, but I had no intentions of making the putt. My caddie handed me my putter (which I quickly used to scoop up my ball). I waited anxiously for Jana to hole her last putt. The round now complete, I took Jana by the hand and walked her to the center of the green. Dropping to my knee, it was now obvious to my caddie why I handed my camera to him for a "special moment" on the green. It was there on the 18th at Pebble Beach that I asked Jana to spend the rest of our lives together.

Pebble is much more to us than an amazing place where golf history has been made time and time again. It is a place where Jana and I made our own history. That day will forever be remember as one of the happiest of our lives. But enough about me, let's talk about the course.

Jana on the 4th Green

Notable holes: all of them...just kidding. Avoiding anymore talk about 18, I'll start my list with the 4th hole. This 327 yard Par 4, in my opinion is the best two shot hole on the course. Hard to fathom with holes as infamous as 8 and 9, but with the short length and strategic bunkering, there are numerous ways to make birdie or bogey. It allows every player to play to their strength unlike many "great" holes. The ones that demand great length off the tee and pin point accuracy on a lengthy second shot which commonly draws the question, "This is a par 4?".

Next up is the 14th. The real reason why this hole made my list is because of an amazing up-and-down that Jana made for par. An up-and-down that was so amazing that it earned her a beer from our caddie. The putting green on the 14th is one of the most unique green structures I have come to encounter. The green features a tier in the front left that slopes from front to back and from left to right creating a nub like shape that is protected by a fiercely deep bunker. I imagine the green was designed on a late Friday afternoon when Neville and Grant where tired from a long week of work. They approached the area, saw the dirt that had been piled, and one of them said "That'll do."

The 17th Green

Lastly, I must mention the 17th. The Blue tee yardage measures 178 yards. That's the longest 178 yards you will ever see. The green looks about as wide as the top line of Jack's 1 iron...and it is. Match that image with the Pacific Ocean crashing against the shore in the backdrop and you start thinking about how you are going to make 4.

While you are walking up the 18th, I can guarantee that you will not be thinking about the cost of your round or room, or the score you are about to humbly record. You won't be thinking at all. You will be immersed in the peaceful tranquillity of crashing waves and breathtaking views as you stroll in awe towards the end of a great day. Do not go to Pebble Beach expecting to play golf. Go to experience how golf is meant to be played.

Fairways and Greens,

Joe

Torrey Pines

2008 U.S. Open
Course: Municipal, 36 holes, both par 72
Architect: William F. Bell with Redesign by Rees Jones
Founded: 1956
Location: La Jolla, CA
Web Site: http://www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com/
Date Last Played: Summer of 2006
Score: I know I broke 80.

"A Tour of Torrey"

In April of 2003, I drove 2,430 miles nonstop from Brooksville, Florida to San Diego, California for one reason and one reason only. Now, this story would be much more poignant if I did that to play Torrey, but that is not why I clocked all those miles behind the wheel of my beloved green Jeep (which was lost in the great flood of 2008 in Canfield, OH). The real reason for the drive was to move closer to my then girlfriend, soon to be fiance', and now wife, Jana.

Living in San Diego had many benefits other than countless sunny days and endless beaches. San Diego is home to wonderful collection of beautiful golf courses, the likes of which could rival any area in the nation. Courses such as La Jolla CC, Del Mar CC, Aviara, Rancho Santa Fe GC, Fairbanks CC, and The Bridges to name a few. Although most of these are private clubs that may be difficult to access, where there is a will there is a way and many of these are worth a lot of "will".

One course that may be just as hard to get onto as any private club is the South Course at Torrey Pines. Torrey Pines is a municipal golf course that is located on the Torrey Pines Mesa in La Jolla, CA. It actually lies on the original grounds of Camp Callan, a military training site used from 1941-1945 to prepare troops for World War II. In 1956, 100 acres of the Torrey Pines Mesa was set aside in order for two municipal golf course to be built. The courses designer, William F. Bell Sr., died before construction began, but his son William Jr. looked over the project to ensure his father's vision was carried out properly.

In 1999 Torrey Pines took on something that many people and things go through in California, a face lift. The City of San Diego put into place a 5 year strategic plan to improve the quality of the course in order to draw a better field for the Buick Invitational and with hopes of attracting a major. Renowned architect Rees Jones was hired to oversee the renovations. Two of his major changes included the moving of four green structures and adding ten new tee boxes to lengthen the course from 7000 yards to 7600 (note: this course is at sea level...it's long). One interesting thing I remember about this renovation was that the city purchased sod from the club I was working at to be used on the South Course. More than likely it was placed somewhere far off in the rough...which is where Tiger hit many of his great shots from....hmmm.

While living in San Diego, I managed to find the time to play the South Course twice. Being a municipal golf course that I estimate does about 1.2 million rounds a year, the big joke about Torrey was that this is the one course where you didn't want to "keep your head down". Due to high traffic, the conditions were normally poor and the rounds long. On a positive note, this did give you plenty of time to take in the spectacular Pacific views. On the way to the course for my first time my expectations were very low. I was anticipating a course that resembled the ones I played during my adolescent days. Ones that more resembled cow pastures than golf courses. I can't tell you how wrong I was.

The South Course's conditions were surprisingly good. The fairways were manicured, bunkers well maintained, and the greens rolled nicely. I could easily see that with some good R & R this course could be easily elevated to a "tour quality" level. My first round was played with my father and two other PGA Professionals who were visiting from Connecticut. I don't recall the score that day, but I am pretty sure Torrey won this battle. My second time around was better. More than likely my performance was elevated due to the fact that we "tipped it out" playing the full 7600 yards...at sea level. As you most commonly hear at the billiards table, "That's a lot of green".

Although every hole at Torrey has it's greatness, there are three that stand out in my mind. The 3rd hole is widely considered the "signature hole" on the south course and rightfully so . From the back of the back tee box, you cannot see the green nor the flag. Let's just say it is a little difficult to pull the trigger on a 200 yard, one shot hole when all you are looking at is the Pacific (notice Tiger is at the front of the tee and you can barely see the top of the flagstick).

The other two holes are the 13th and 14th. Watching the Open in 2008, I was in awe of how large the 13th green looked on television. In person one would be second guessing if they were going to be able to find this severely elevated, well bunkered green in regulation from any yardage (let alone knocking it on in two with an iron and then draining it from 70 feet for eagle in a U.S. Open...thanks Tiger). Follow that hole up with a short little par 4 (435 yards) with a green that is so close to the edge of a cliff that it will more than likely need replaced if the area is hit by any big tremors. I'm surprised the City of San Diego hasn't erected fencing behind the 14th green to protect people from falling to a rocky demise.

Sadly the South Course will more than likely not be remember as a great course that hosted the U.S. Open, but as a course that played host to U.S. Open greatness. If you are in San Diego, and you have a free 6 hours, I highly recommend taking a "Tour of Torrey" as this facility is not only a place where U.S. Open history was made, but is also an amazing U.S. Open Venue that is open to the public.

Fairways and Greens,

Joe

Worcester CC

1925 U.S. Open

Course: Private, 18 holes, par 70
Architect: Donald Ross
Founded: July 1900Location: Worcester, MA
Web Site: www.worcestercc.org
Date Played: Summer of 2001
Score: N/A

"Walking in Worcester"

In 2001, I took my first job as a golf professional at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, MA. Located one hour west of Boston, I was surrounded by amazing golf courses. Golf Courses that I could have easily accessed if it wasn't for the fact that I was working 80+ hours a week! Although it was very difficult to muster up the energy to golf on a day off, I am very happy that I did so when invited to play at Worcester Country Club.

Host of the 1925 U.S. Open won by Willie MacFarlane, this historic venue has played host to numerous major events including the 1927 Ryder Cup, 1939 Massachusetts Open (won by Byron Nelson), and the 1960 Women's U.S. Open.

Unfortunately for us, I was not concerned or aware of the great golf history that had taken place at Worcester. At the time I was more concerned with where I stood with par rather than who stood there before me. Not completely blinded by score, Worcester is where I saw my first historical plaque on a golf course. I believe the plaque was located on the third hole where during a practice round for the 1925 US Open, Walter Hagen recorded his very first hole-in-one. This plaque sparked my interest in historical golf courses and events and to this day I always look closely to find similar items at any golf course I have the honor of playing.

Another distinct memory I have of Worcester C.C. is Ross' great use of the lands natural undulation. Considering cart use was only permitted for those who could not physically walk the course, every hill and valley became steeper and deeper as the round went on. I vividly remember one hole where the green complex elevated itself from the fairway some 25 feet in a

matter of yards. Any shot coming up short would most surely plummet down the front of the green and leave one with a pitch that would make Phil grip down a little tighter on his 64 degree wedge. Just another reason why Donald Ross is regarded as one of the greatest golf course architects of all time and this golfers absolute favorite.

As I look back on my days in New England I am happy that I took advantage of this opportunity, but I deeply regret not playing more of the amazing golf courses that surrounded me. As I continue on my quest, I have chosen to replay Worcester at some point so that I can truly appreciate this great club and report back to you on my findings.

Fairways and Greens,

Joe

Welcome to the Trail

Dear Readers,

If you have ever had the opportunity to feel the ocean breeze while walking up the 18th at Pebble or curse the greens at Oakmont as your ball trickles by the hole, then you know what U.S. Open Golf is all about.

"The Truest Test of Golf" is not just about growing up the rough and speeding up the greens (or slowing them down in Oakmont's case), it is about the great golf venues that host this championship. Places where history has been made and the champions of yesterday and tomorrow meet. Join me on my journey in an attempt to play all of the courses that have hosted the United States Open Championship along with a couple others.

Fairways and Greens,

Joe