MAMARONECK, NY – The sign reads “Mamaroneck” but Welcome to The Long Hot Grind over Dark Bloody Ground. U.S. Open week has arrived, where pars are the coin of the realm, birdies are an endangered species and double bogeys are ruthlessly doled out in fistfuls and stamped “paid in full” in the anguish of the contestants. Mind you, that’s before we...
Most savvy New Yorkers are taking the train to the U.S. Open this week. Metro North runs from Grand Central Station every half hour to Mamaroneck all day and even into the night to get those who came into the city for dinner back to their hotels upstate. Likewise, trains run every half hour from Mamaroneck back to Grand Central. The train station is only one mile...
Early reports from the “kinder gentler” Winged Foot with its intermediate rough to “make the punishment fit the crime” (Mike Davis quote) are showing high scores in the “punishment” department. Two golf writer colleagues of mine report the fairways so fast balls contain less in the fairway and when the ball rolls to the edge of the...
Thanks to the architects who appreciate my perspective on public golf and course design, the writers who have befriended me, my and most importantly, you my readers, I received press credentials to cover the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. I’ll provide stories from past Opens in the coming weeks. There will also be features on Pinehurst, other major tournament venues...