Poll: Should The U.S. Open Return To Chambers Bay?
/Before you cast a vote, I'd ask you to check out my evaluation at The Loop and Jaime Diaz's Golf World story on Chambers Bay.
Both make somewhat similar points: for all of its flaws, issues and missed design opportunties, Chambers Bay deserves another chance. The greens became an issue as we feared late last week, and not necessarily for the right or fair reasons. That's fixable.
Whether Pierce County and the USGA are willing to do what is necessary to make this venue work for fans and golfers, I haven't a clue. The USGA's working relationship with local governmental agencies is always vital in determining whether they or any golf organization brings their circus to town. In this case, getting to the course was not an issue. The issues can be solved, but it'll take more money and improved problem-solving vision than was brought to the table after the 2010 U.S. Amateur.
What say you?
I should note that no one is talking about a new slot in the lineup officially. Chatting with reporters last week, Mike Davis, the executive director of the USGA, did not commit one way or the other. Other USGA officials said there would have to be the promise of smoother greens for the Open to return to Chambers Bay. That would mean replacing the fine fescue, the type of grass on the greens now, with a different strain, likely a perennial poa (different from poa annua). Perennial has the ability to stay green and smooth even in the face of long stretches of intense sunshine. It was the strong sun that caused the fine fescue to go dormant and brown on the greens and even more so in the fairways and the rough. Officials said the ability for paying fans to see repeated shots and follow a golfer from start to finish would have to be vastly improved for the Open to return to Chambers Bay. All of that can happen.
