Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Chambers Bay Postmortem

The 2010 Amateur was the unveiling of Chambers Bay. While the course was a stern test for the field (it can be stretched to 7700 yards) I don't know how it will fare when the US Open is contested at CB in 2015.

I don't see how CB can be groomed to US Open standards. The rough is wispy and doesn't receive irrigation, and bunkers line many of the fairways, in lieu of rough. The bunkers won't be as penal as the deep rough which has become a US Open hallmark.

The greens are severely undulated, requiring novel approaches which take advantages of the bounces to find the right level of the putting surfaces. If the surrounding turf was to be grown to US Open height, it would negate the banking required for shots to approach the hole, and detract from the original intention of the course. Conditions (wind, rain) didn't appear to play much of a factor.

What will make CB difficult? Length? The amateurs were hitting mid-iron approaches on 500+ yard par fours. I guess the course could be stretched (8000+?), but it needs to be configured in reverse. Figure out what club/shots should be hit for approaches, and place tees accordingly.

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