"Now it's a survival hole"

Teddy Greenstein loves the Rees-ification of Cog Hill, and I must say, it sounds like a good thing that it's next BMW Championship will be a playoff event, otherwise the boys would stay home. Thanks to reader Nick for the story, which includes this item on the new-look finishing hole:

The par 4 at Cog Hill's signature course was difficult, playing to a 4.135 average during the 2007 BMW Championship, but still lacked a certain fear factor.

The greenside pond looked good on TV but was barely visible to the pros. They made only eight double bogeys in the event's 260 rounds played.

"Now it's a survival hole," touring pro Garrett Chaussard said.

On a recent cool, windy day, Chaussard marched back to a new tee box that stretches the hole to a sinister 501 yards. He flushed a drive and still needed his 2-hybrid to reach the green from 220 yards out.

Chaussard, a University of Illinois product whose 2008 highlight was qualifying for the U.S. Open — though his 80-82 missed the cut by 13 shots — said the hole's new design makes it far more intimidating.

As part of Rees Jones' $5 million redesign, the tee box at No. 18 was moved back and to the left, making the pin visible — if you have 20/20 vision.

The green was lowered, thinned out and brought within spitting distance of the pond, leaving two bad options for the long approach: short (water) and long (deep bunker).

Jones' brilliant redesign is aimed in helping Cog Hill land a U.S. Open. Numerous bunkers have been added, deepened or reshaped to add ferocity to the layout, which could play at more than 7,600 yards.

Sounds so creative and inspired!

"We've been approached by several groups, let's put it that way."

Confirming what has been long rumored, Mark Herrman reports that Sebonack is in the running for a significant tournament.

"We've been approached by several groups, let's put it that way. But there's nothing definite yet," said Michael Pascucci, the club developer and owner, who went to high school with Jim Brown at Manhasset and is chairman of Channel 55.

Mike Davis, the senior director of rules and competitions for United States Golf Association, said Pascucci called even before the course opened in 2006 and that the two have met at the site. "Nothing really is set," Davis said. "I'd say right now we're really in the investigative phase." He did add that the whole golf landscape in that part of Southampton "is kind of a magical place."

Well, except in the middle of the night!

I smell a U.S. Women's Open. 

"There have been preliminary discussions about Erin Hills hosting the event in 2017"

There wasn't much new ground to cover, even for a pro like Gary D'Amato who filed a Golf World profile of Erin Hills. I believe it's the 400th piece recounting the history of the public gem outside Milwaukee designed by Hurdzan-Fry-Whitten. Except this:

The USGA has made no secret it is trying to identify a Midwest course for the U.S. Open, and Erin Hills meets all the criteria. There is plenty of land for infrastructure; it's a public course (green fees are $160); the sandy sub-soil encourages a firm, fast turf; and it can be stretched to a titanium-testing 8,266 yards. (Indeed, multiple sources tell Golf World there have been preliminary discussions about Erin Hills hosting the event in 2017.)

I find it a bit hard to believe they would go there so soon after Chambers Bay, especially since the course needs some pretty significant changes, according to my sources.

The Future of Majors

There's another Golf World/ESPN poll worth checking out in the righthand column of the ESPN.com golf page:

Should majors be given to new courses such as Chambers Bay and, potentially, Erin Hills before hosting high-level tournaments.

You can comment here to get your remarks in Golf World. 

Bobby Gets A U.S. Open Before Rees!

Bradley Klein reports that the awarding of Chambers Bay near Tacoma makes it three muni's in the unofficial U.S. Open rota. Hopefully by 2015 the weird Close Encounters of the Third Kind dunes scraping look will have disappeared. Chambers also gets the 2010 U.S. Amateur.

More interesting is that Robert Trent Jones gets a U.S. Open awarded to one of his original designs before brother Rees. That ought to spice up an already heartwarming feud!  (Even though we all know Bruce Charlton and Jay Blasi did the real work on Chambers Bay, it's still going to enhance the brotherly dynamic.)

Also intriguing is the news in the press release print that Erin Hills gets the 2011 U.S. Amateur, which surprised me because only recently I've heard from USGAers that the course needed a lot of work before they would award a big prize there. So either the course will see some big changes, or the U.S. Amateur isn't a "big prize."

Here's the full release, which oddly is not up at USGA.org yet *now posted (but annoying videos that play unprompted now are!):

_{USGA AWARDS 2015 U.S. OPEN, 2010 U.S. AMATEUR
TO CHAMBERS BAY IN WASHINGTON STATE AND 2011 U.S. AMATEUR TO ERIN HILLS GOLF COURSE IN WISCONSIN
 
Far Hills, N.J. (Feb. 8) – The United States Golf Association has announced that it has awarded the 2015 U.S. Open Championship to Chambers Bay, the spectacular municipal links course located on the scenic lower Puget Sound in University Place, Wash.
          
The USGA also announced that Chambers Bay, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Bruce Charleton, will play host to the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2010.
 
Chambers Bay will be the third municipal course to play host to the U.S. Open, following Bethpage Black in New York (2002, 2009) and Torrey Pines in California later this year.  Chambers Bay will be the first golf course in the Pacific Northwest to hold the U.S. Open.
 
"We are excited to take the U.S. Open Championship and the U.S. Amateur to such an awesome site,” said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA Championship Committee. “This is the first time the U.S. Open has been to Washington and we are confident that the golf course will provide a challenging test for the best players in the world, as well as a great spectator experience for those who attend the event and watch it online and on television.
 
“The local leadership provided by Pierce County has been superb and we look forward to partnering with them and the great sports fans in Washington to host a truly unique Open Championship. And, the U.S. Amateur will give us great insight into the golf course architecture and championship setup. For the first time, the National Open will be played on fine fescue grasses, including the putting greens,” continued Hyler.
 
Chambers Bay, opened in June 2007, is the centerpiece of a 930-acre park purchased by Pierce County, Wash., in 1992 that today features scenic trails and coastline vistas where a sand and gravel quarry once stood.
 
“Our hard work has paid off as we have done everything possible to attract the attention of a prestigious championship,” said Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. “Even so, we never dreamed we’d be chosen by the USGA to host both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open championships. Especially not so close to the opening of the course. It is a true honor.”
 
“Chambers Bay golf course is a jewel for the entire state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. “The U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championships will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of our state and share it with golf enthusiasts from around the globe. I applaud County Executive John Ladenburg for his hard work on delivering the championship events to Pierce County.”
 
The USGA also announced that Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin will play host to the 2011 U.S. Amateur. Erin Hills is located in Hartford, Wis., about 30 minutes northwest of Milwaukee, and is also home to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in 2008 – a USGA championship awarded to Erin Hills before the golf course had opened in 2006.
 
Erin Hills is a links-style championship course designed by Mike Hurdzan and Dana Fry of Hurdzan-Fry Architects, and Ron Whitten, Architecture Editor of Golf Digest magazine. Golf Magazine named Erin Hills its Best New Golf Course in January 2007.
 
“Erin Hills is a wonderfully unique golf course that really takes a minimalist approach to the golf course design and architecture,” Hyler said. “The course is cleverly routed on a great piece of golf landscape. The venue will be a terrific test for the competitors in the U.S. Amateur.”
 
“On behalf of the entire state of Wisconsin, we look forward to the incredible opportunity to host the 2011 U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills Golf Course,” said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. “As a public course open to all, Erin Hills fulfills the USGA promise and is a world-class facility that showcases Wisconsin’s future as a premier golf destination.”
 
“Everyone associated with the journey of Erin Hills is pleased and we look forward to the unique opportunity to host the 2011 U.S. Amateur,” said Bob Lang, owner of Erin Hills.
 
The awarding of championships to Chambers Bay and Erin Hills was approved by the USGA Executive Committee at its Annual Meeting in Houston. The formal approval of all three championships is pending contractual agreement.} 
 

"I'd be mightily disappointed if both were not Open sites by 2020 or 2021."

Jerry Tarde devotes his September editor's letter to previewing the Erin Hills v. Chambers Bay spread and shares this:

Erin Hills is featured in this issue along with Chambers Bay as two spectacular, new public courses that are being considered as U.S. Open venues (see "Erin Hills vs. Chambers Bay"). Says one highly placed USGA insider: "I'd be mightily disappointed if both were not Open sites by 2020 or 2021."

Well, good to know where the Executive Director stands! 

Cherry Hills Invites U.S. Amateur

Anthony Cotton reports that the club would like to host one, while Coore and Crenshaw's new Colorado Golf Club is doing all it can to attract USGA events.

Erin Hills And The U.S. Open?

Gary D'Amato says Erin Hills is looking decent for the U.S. Open, perhaps 2017, though buried deep in the piece is this from the USGA's Mike Davis.

"But it really is so premature it would be unfair to comment other than to say they have the infrastructure there to do it."

Official This Week: Pinehurst In 2014?

Newsday's Mark Herrmann looks at Shinnecock Hills' slim hopes of grabbing a U.S. Open hosting bid anytime soon, with this from the Club's GM Gregg Deger:

Deger acknowledged what USGA executive director David Fay said last year, that his group and the club are discussing another Open. But, Deger added, "It's not too intently. It hasn't been active."

Marty Parkes, senior director of media relations and communications for the USGA, said, "Conversations are still going on, but I don't know of anything imminent."

Time's a-wasting. The USGA has booked the Open for the next six years, including 2009 at Bethpage Black. Already, Shinnecock has missed its once-every-nine-years call (after 1986, 1995, 2004) because Merion has been awarded the 2013 event.

Fay probably will announce the 2014 site this week, with speculation leaning toward Pinehurst No. 2. The Journal-News of Westchester reported that Winged Foot, which was lauded for being tough but fair with a 5-over par winning score last year, has asked to host in 2015.

Shinnecock U.S. Open Return Depends On Installation Of Barbed Wire Fence, Prison Yard Lighting Around Maintenance Yard

Mark Herrman reports that the USGA is discussing a possible return to Shinnecock Hills. But first they better deal with those "middle of the night" security breaches.

Merion Here We Come...Next Week

Joe Logan makes sure to point out that the Daily News got it wrong and that Merion will get its Open next week when Walter Driver and David Fay greet the media Wednesday. Logan also has details on how some of the site constraints will play out in terms of corporate tent placement (I know you were losing sleep over this.)

Thanks to reader John for the heads up on this one. 

Merion Here We Come?

Mike Kern says to expect an announcement today on Merion.

Another Merion Confirmation

Mike Kern in the Philadelphia Daily News says Merion in 2013 is a done deal.

PGA To Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Epic Micheel-Campbell Showdown With Return To Oak Hill for 2013 PGA

Sal Maiorana has the details...

Perfect Bedfellows?

The USGA and Donald Trump...sounds like a winning combination!

NEW JERSEY’S TRUMP NATIONAL GOLF CLUB TO HOST 2009 U.S. JUNIOR AND U.S. GIRLS’ JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Far Hills, N.J. – Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., has been selected by the United States Golf Association to be the site of the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships. The dates of the championships are July 20-25. This will be the third time that these two championships have been hosted concurrently at the same club.

The original course was open for play in 2004. Designed by Tom Fazio, Trump National was routed through more than 500 acres of rolling farmland and horse pastures, with plenty of water hazards and demanding green complexes to negotiate. There are options with varied avenues for approach shots on almost every hole. Scenic wetlands and restored farm buildings dot the landscape.

Since its opening, Trump National has received numerous awards, including “Development of the Year (2005)” and a place among the Top 100 golf courses in the country.

The second course, being designed and constructed by Tommy Fazio, nephew of Tom Fazio, and his company, Tom Fazio II, will open for play in the spring of 2008.

“The USGA has given our club a tremendous honor by selecting Trump National Bedminster to host these two prestigious championships and we are committed to conducting the best Junior Championships ever staged,” said Donald Trump, chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization.

Within its grand scale, Trump National fittingly is dedicated to developing a top junior golf program for ages 5 to 17, with weekly clinics and four-day sessions offered each June and July.

“Junior golf is the cornerstone of our club here at Bedminster,” said Ashley Cooper, president of Trump National. “We are extremely proud to be associated with the USGA. Hosting two of its national championships is not only a crowning achievement for our club but for the Trump organization as a whole.”

The USGA announcement has drawn the attention of Bob Holtaway, mayor of Bedminster Township, a small town located in the picturesque central portion of the state.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Bedminster to be on golf’s national stage,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming the best junior golfers and the USGA staff to our town.”