Koepka defends US Open title at Shinnecock Hills
Saturday’s slideshow subsides
by M. James Ward
SOUTHAMPTON, NY.With Brooks Koepka defending his US Open title the expected storyline for the 118th US Open provided the perfect counterpoint to the near travesty the United States Golf Association (USGA) caused with its ill-thought out preparation for host course Shinnecock Hills during Saturday's 3rd round play.
The 28-year-old American closed with a three-under-par 68 to win by one shot over Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who tied the low round ever scored in a US Open with a closing 63. Koepka becomes just the 7th golfer to successfully defend his title -- the last being American Curtis Strange in 1988-89.
In 2004, the last time Shinnecock Hills hosted the US Open, the USGA lost control of several of the putting surfaces, most notably the par-3 7th, with a lack of watering. The return to the iconic and storied layout in eastern Long Island was looked upon as a clear opportunity to demonstrate that new leadership within the governing body for golf in America had learned from past errors. The USGA leadership was quick to point out that several new elements from a science standpoint would also be incorporated into their efforts ensuring putting greens would be played at appropriate levels of speed and be able to hold approach shots when struck properly.
Saturday's 3rd round, particularly as it impacted those with afternoon tee times, resurfaced all of the storylines from the 2004 debacle. The USGA was quick to state its errors when play concluded Saturday. Admitting several super demanding flagstick hole locations were placed too near to green edges causing players to have their best efforts rejected. Nonetheless, the headlines that followed were predictable and scathing.
The Saturday imbroglio was further complicated by star golfer Phil Mickelson. The five-time major champion was not seriously in contention but when he intentionally hit his ball after putting it on the 13th holes the nature of the event was turned on its head. Complicating matters was the USGA's decision not to disqualify Mickelson for a serious breach of the rules but to levy a two-stroke penalty. The television storyline involving Mickelson simply countenanced the belief for a number of players that the setting up of the golf course by the USGA was reverting back to what had happened in 2004. Raw feelings were exposed with players such as Ian Poulter stating how the same people leading the event could remain in place with such outcomes. Extreme course conditions have happened beyond the connection to Shinnecock Hills and the USGA freely admits to pushing course set-ups as close as possible to the edge. The issue becomes when the edge is crossed and fairness in the presentation is hopelessly compromised.
Fortunately, Sunday's final round refocused the attention where it needed to be – on the players competing. Fleetwood's epic final round could have broken the all-time low round in a US Open with a 62, but he narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie at the 18th. Koepka began his final round tied with a trio of players including world-number-one-ranked Dustin Johnson. He played the bulk of his round knowing Fleetwood had finished with a 282 total -- 2 over par for the event. In the final nine holes Koepka made timely putts on several holes and was able to play the 18th with a two-stroke lead. His concluding bogey provided a one shot win and moved the Floridian to number four in the world rankings.
Returning to Shinnecock Hills for the 5th US Open was also a clear signal from the USGA that recent new venues such as Chambers Bay and Erin Hills in 2015 and 2017 respectively are now in the rear view mirror as future host sites. Classical designed courses such as Shinnecock Hills, 2019 site Pebble Beach and 9-time venue Oakmont form a core grouping of facilities serving as future hosts for the championship of American golf. Shinnecock Hills is already scheduled to host its 6th US Open in '26.
The meltdown on Saturday's course preparation signaled to a number of players that the USGA is simply unable to create a competitive balancing act that blends the concepts of tough and fair together. The ongoing relationship will likely remain one in flux. The only time competitively that the USGA and the world's leading professionals come together is at the US Open. Nonetheless, the USGA is intent on having demanding courses so that the winner is able to demonstrate significant skills across the board.
Caught in the crossfire again is Shinnecock Hills. The historic club is one of the founding members of the USGA and players uniformly had praise for the genius of its design. The USGA wisely expanded fairways widths from 26 yards during the three previous modern Opens to a width of roughly 40-42 yards. The rough was appropriately penalizing but when high winds occurred since the course is located so near to the Atlantic Ocean the USGA was not able to plan accordingly.
Saturday's misfire allowed Sunday's preparation to be handled in a far better manner. The brilliant golf displayed by Koepka in reclaiming the US Open title was a needed story element to showcase what the event is truly meant to do.
Just in the nick of time.
US Open’s mojo -- fear or frivolity? What will Shinnecock show? by M. James Ward SOUTHAMPTON, NY. When the 117th US Open was drawing to a close the grimaces were not on the faces of the players -- they were on the faces of officials from the United State Golf Association (USGA). Anticipating daily winds the fairways at Erin Hills were kept especially wide -- giving players more latitude to hit drivers with impunity. Coupled with recent rains the course played docile-like and eventual champion Brooks Koepka finished with an amazing -16 total -- equaling the most under par for the championship -- set in 2011 when Rory McIlroy won the event by eight shots at rain-ravaged Congressional. In recent years the US Open has lost the edge in being the most demanding and most pain-inflicting event on the golfing calendar. With the exception of Bethpage Black in 2002 and 2009 and the events held at Oakmont in 2007 and 2016 -- the upper hand has moved noticeably to the player's side. I can remember as a 17-year-old attending the 1974 US Open with my father at Winged Foot. The memories are seared into my brain. I watched professionals face a course in no mood to tolerate the least made error. The final winning total was seven over par and even the winner Hale Irwin looked like a punch drunk boxer. Many of the professionals howled long and loud claiming the USGA was out to embarrass them. The late former USGA President Frank "Sandy" Tatum countered with an epic retort -- "We're not trying to humiliate the best players in the world," the chairman of the USGA's competition committee declared that day. "We're simply trying to identify who they are." This year's event at Shinnecock Hills marks a delicate dance for the USGA. It's been 14 years in returning to the storied Long island club. Between 1986 and 2004 the club hosted three US Opens. But the debacle at the 2004 event left many to wonder what the USGA was thinking in not watering sufficiently several of the greens -- most notably the tilted 7th green. In the final round in 2004 no player bested par. The greens were fried -- just like the players -- and the egg was being wiped off the faces of the USGA for the train wreck they created. Not long after the results were known at Erin Hills the USGA reassessed the set-up strategy for Shinnecock and opted to move away from fairways in the range of 60 yards wide. Unlike the earlier Opens in 1986, 1995 and 2004 which featured fairway widths in the range of 26 yards, the 2018 event will be in the range of 40-42 yards wide. The USGA saw the folly in giving players added width because the penalties for mishits was not sufficiently deterring players from simply going full tilt from the tee. The re-establishment of accuracy is something the USGA is determined to demonstrate at Shinnecock Hills. The modern professional game has seen a clear major move towards power players. Those able to hit drives exceptionally long distances still shoot very low scores because rough is anything but the true meaning of what it should be. The balancing act of fairness for the USGA has meant players have too much leeway in opting for power with little worry about misses. The fairways are wider for this year's event than in previous host roles but the length and depth of the rough just off the fairways is meant to reintroduce a fear component. US Opens for many years had a fear producing impact. Players realized that quality driving -- length with accuracy -- had to be delivered in order to score well. Unfortunately, world-class professionals have grown accustomed to host courses allowing them greater liberty -- not less. The key for Shinnecock will be if wind and firmness are front and center. Weather forecasts for the balance of the championship look dry with wind making its presence felt at times. The key for the USGA is making sure that when pushing the course to the edge they do not go over it. The 2004 shadow looms large. The line between sanity and insanity is a hard one to pin down and players have a tendency to whine with the least bit of discomfort. The theater of the championship will be impacted by the quality of the leaderboard. Jack Nicklaus was famous in saying he enjoyed hearing the comments when entering the locker room as players complained vociferously about the over-the-top presentation. The Golden Bear took such comments in stride and realized those who had talked themselves out of competing were one less golfer he needed to worry about when the event started. The US Open is the only time the USGA and world-class professionals operate under the same roof. What the players see as "fair" and how the USGA views matters can be vastly different. The preparation for Shinnecock has meant significant yardage gains to just over 7,400 yards. The USGA has wisely decided to provide for closely mown areas off a number of the greens. Players who are too aggressive or slightly off line will need to show great dexterity in recovery situations. Those finding the rough will be in for a painful lesson – as it should be. Sowing fear into the minds of players comes from having the seeds of doubt germinate. The players are keenly aware that the stakes for this week's event are quite rightly extremely high. Patience can be in short supply. Winning the US Open can be both a physical and mental grind. Getting into the heads of the best players in the world is what made earlier US Opens noteworthy. Golf should not have such a rigorous examination each week, but a US Open title is far more than who can hit the ball the furthest. Finding the appropriate balance between outright fear and utter frivolity will be the test. The 14-year wait is now over – it's time to see if lessons learned from 2004 have truly been learned. A US Open title should mean nothing less than total command of all shots with accuracy being a central star in a leading role. We shall see.
Shinnecock’s superb short holes - 118th US Open by M. James Ward The greatness of Shinnecock Hills comes from its collective presentation. There is no one special hole or cluster of holes that stand apart. The sum of the William Flynn design is the total connection from the moment golfers arrive at the 1st tee until leaving the 18th green. The quartet of par three holes certainly merit special attention, as each is totally different from the other. Players will be forced to hit a full array of different shots -- often determined by the ever-varying wind velocities that can whip through the property at any moment. 2nd Hole / 252 Yards The overall distance has been increased 26 yards since the '04 championship. Generally, the hole plays with the prevailing southwest wind but if that should change the added length will likely have a significant impact. In downwind conditions -- look for players to hit mid-irons. The hole features a small upslope in the very front of the green. Approaches not hit sufficiently will not likely get deep into the green. There are fall-offs to the sides and in the rear area that are closely mown and can propel such shots a greater distance away from the hole. Birdies will happen but they will not be plentiful. Getting off to a good start is central to scoring well at Shinnecock and getting through the 2nd hole will be a major plus in keeping the momentum going forward. 7th Hole / 189 Yards The most infamous hole from the 2004 championship. The USGA fumbled the ball in a big time way by refusing to sufficiently water the green. The result? Players were unable to keep the ball on the green and scores ballooned. The debacle almost ended the relationship Shinnecock Hills had with the USGA concerning future host roles for the US Open. The club and USGA have placed that matter in the rear view mirror, however, how the 7th plays for the duration of the championship will be keenly watched. The Redan Hole is vexing -- especially when encountering headwinds which are the prevailing type from the southwest. The green slopes from front right to back left. There is a major dropoff to the right for those players unable to flight their approach correctly. Those finishing to the right of the green are left with a fiendish pitch to a green tilted severely away from their position. The green is quite deep so different clubs will be needed and handling the trajectory of one's shot from the tee will be an absolute must. Many who come to Southampton marvel at the 4th hole at the National Golf Links of America -- Shinnecock's esteemed next door neighbor. That Redan hole is also a replica of the famous 15th at North Berwick and is quite special, but the 7th at Shinnecock is no less impressive in its own right. 11th Hole / 159 Yards Among the more truly noted "short" holes in championship golf includes the 12th at Augusta National, the 8th at Royal Troon and the 7th at Pebble Beach. Joining that conversation is the treacherous 11th at Shinnecock. The demands come immediately when standing on the tee. The green is elevated slightly higher and this position allows for the full impact of the wind to heavily influence club selection. Generally the prevailing wind is helping from the left at the tee and failure to flight one's ball correctly can mean a clear mishap resulting in bogey or worse. The green has no backdrop to give players guidance. The putting surfaces slopes from back left to front right. Three bunkers eat into the right side of the hole and missing right allows for some sort of recovery if one can secure a playable lie. Those missing the green to the left will find a next to impossible recovery as the green falls abruptly away from that side. There is an expanded rear pin position where only the brave -- or foolish -- will attempt to flight one's ball to that location. Should wind conditions change -- the 11th is equally demanding with a wind blowing either into the golfer's faces or worse yet with a devilish cross wind coming from the northeast. 17th hole / 180 Yards The last of the par-3 holes occupies the penultimate hole position. The green was expanded in the rear left area. This has added overall depth of the green resulting in a series of different club selections depending upon pin location and velocity of the wind encountered. The prevailing breeze generally comes across the hole from the left. Those missing the green right can find a deep bunker guarding that side. The contours of the green are varied and those finishing too far away will be under tremendous pressure to avoid a late round three-putt. The par-3 17th for the '04 championship was a fairly benign hole. The improvements have smartly added more decision-making to the equation and given the hole's position in the round the need to flawlessly execute will be thoroughly tested. Read more about Shinnecock Hills
118th US Open - Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Behind the architectural curtain Interviews with M. James Ward After a fourteen-year absence, the championship of American golf -- the US Open -- returns to iconic Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, NY. In 2004, the event was hampered by poor decision making in not ensuring sufficient water was applied to the putting greens -- most notably the par-3 7th. The United States Golf Association (USGA) has expressed confidence such a situation will not happen this time around. Shinnecock Hills is rightly lauded as one of the top five courses in the world. The eastern area of Long Island is also a hotbed for golf and served as the foundation for golf in America in its earliest days. Among the more noted layouts near to Shinnecock Hills include such stalwarts as The National Golf Links of America, Maidstone and Southampton. With more recently opened and noted layouts such as Friar's Head, Sebonack, The Bridge, Atlantic and East Hampton joining the golf scene. Getting expertise from several different architects sheds additional insights into what happens behind the scenes. The unknown factors remain to be answered. What lessons did the USGA learn from Erin Hills in 2017? How will Shinnecock Hills play? What will the weather and wind conditions be like? How firm and fast will the William Flynn design play? Will Shinnecock provide high golf drama featuring the game's elite players? A founding member of the USGA, Shinnecock Hills will host its 5th US Open -- making the club the only one to have hosted the championship in three different centuries. The stage is set -- the curtain is about to rise. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being "perfect" -- what number grade would you give the USGA in prepping the courses that have recently hosted the US Open? Dana Fry: 7 or 8. Obviously at Chambers Bay they had issues concerning the greens and the tough time spectators had walking the course. At Erin Hills, which I designed with Mike Hurdzan & Ron Whitten, the players had favorable comments for the most part but some writers and fans were concerned with the low scoring. What all this proves to me is just how difficult it is to set up a course for a US Open. If the wind had been blowing everyday 20+ mph everyday at Erin Hills I can assure you the results and comments would be far different. Nathan Crace : A 9 -- nobody's perfect. Hosting a tournament on that scale is a tremendous undertaking and you really have to hand it to the superintendents and their staff members at those courses. They have to walk a fine line working with the USGA to balance playability with challenging the best players in the world. When it comes to the US Open, I like to see the world's best be tested by par. Marc Westenborg: I cannot provide a specific number because having only watched the US Open on TV, it is not possible to form an accurate opinion on the prepping of the golf courses. Tripp Davis: Prepping and setting up a golf course for a US Open is a very tough thing to do. They've done an excellent job of providing test that doesn't favor anyone type of player, so I would give them a 9. Jeffrey Blume: I think that the USGA has done a remarkable job of customizing each year's open to the design and conditions of the host site. As an example, the wider fairways at last year's open at Erin Hills were appropriate due to the length and difficulty of the course. Tightening the widths at a place like Merion was also spot on. I am curious to see how the wider fairways at Shinnecock Hills will change the strategy for the players. Overall I would give the course set up at recent US Opens a solid 8. The only negatives have occurred when the courses have gotten overly firm and fast. If you could name one specific course, irrespective of logistics that has not already hosted the US Open, which one would you choose and why? Jeffrey Blume: I would love to see an Open hosted with 100% warm season grasses. With the talent of players that come out of the states of Texas and Florida, I think it is time for the US Open to be hosted by a facility in one of these states. Perhaps Seminole or Colonial would be appropriate. I know the heat in the south is a negative, but we Texans and Floridians play in hot weather all the time. Nathan Crace : Since the USGA is headed to Long Island for this year's US Open, how about National Golf Links at some point in the future? It's literally adjacent to Shinnecock, hosted the inaugural Walker Cup in 1922, and is perennially one of the top-rated courses in America. Dana Fry: Chicago Golf Club. There are many reasons why. It is a founding member of the USGA in 1894, it's an architectural masterpiece and a throwback to the old school of golf architecture, for historical reasons and mainly because I believe it could. The course sits on close to 200 acres so they have the room to add length to the course and the greens are perhaps the most challenging greens in the U.S. If Merion which sits on 126 acres can host the US Open then I am confident Chicago GC can. Tripp Davis: Pine Valley. I have played competitive golf there and there is no other course in the world that does as good a job of testing every part of your game, and it does not favor any one type of player. Marc Westenborg: Pine Valley. Its history and reputation as a tough highly strategic golf course along with what I would describe as “proper hazards”; unmaintained areas of sand. Allowing members of the public to experiences the golf course as spectators or TV viewers would be great for the game of golf. There has been internal debate within the USGA regarding the appropriateness of wider fairways for the championship. At Erin Hills, much wider fairways were used. At Shinnecock, the fairways will be wider than what was done at the three previous modern championships. Average width will be 42 yards. Can wider fairways really test the world's best players and is accuracy really being undermined by such a practice? Marc Westenborg: It very much depends on what hazards border the fairway. If strongly penal just off the edge then wide fairways are more justified. It could be argued that the wider the fairway, the greater number of possible angles of approaches to the green which only adds to the strategy and challenge of the golf hole. Narrow fairways very much result in similar angles of approach but a stiff challenge if dense trees or long rough borders them and this may encourage the use of more accurate irons and henceforth the requirement for longer approach shots. Jeffrey Blume: It depends on the individual course and its design. If wider fairways allow for optimum angles for approach shots, or bring certain hazards into play, then wider fairways can have a tremendous impact on strategy. Width for no reason would have a negative impact on the quality of the tactical examination, but done correctly and thoughtfully wider fairways on individual holes can create greater variety in shot making and test accuracy without the use of unnecessary rough. Tripp Davis: Wider fairways, with the right set up in firm/fast greens and tough hole locations, make it not just important to hit the fairway, but the proper part of the fairway to get the best angle and distance for the following shot. How that width is used is subjectively important in that you can add more width on the side of the fairway that does not leave a very good angle to the green, or you can cut that width off at certain distances from tees so length is not a dominant factor on too many holes, better testing every part of the game and not favoring anyone type of player in identifying the best player in the entire field. Nathan Crace: I think there's an important distinction between "playing width" and "fairway width." Widening playing corridors for the average golfer is a good thing because it increases enjoyment of the game, provides different angles from which to play a hole, and increases interest. But for a major being contested by the best golfers in the world, I like to see a blend of accuracy and shot making -- not one extreme or the other. Dana Fry: Everyone knows now that after Erin Hills the USGA had just over 7 acres of fairways removed at Shinnecock because of this very concern. The fairways this year will still be far wider than they were in 2004 the last time they had a US Open at Shinnecock when they were around 26 yards wide. It will be very interesting this year and I for one can't wait to see the outcome. I think ultimately the weather conditions will be the deciding factor. If the course plays soft and their is little wind I think the scores will be low but if the wind blows everyday and it plays fast and firm watch out for high scoring. What role should an architect play if called upon to assist with a US Open site? Nathan Crace: It depends on the course. I like the trend toward adding more public venues in recent years. But as with any project, the primary goal is to assess and meet the needs of the course and the client. We have a duty to them first and foremost. The US Open may only come to that course once every 10 or 20 years -- or perhaps only once at all. We have to think about who the golfers are that will be playing the course on those days in between and what best suits them. Dana Fry: In the case of Erin Hills the USGA was involved before it was awarded a USGA event. All issues were discussed ahead of time with focus being on tee locations, green contours, bunker locations, fairway widths, chipping areas, hospitality and access issues, turf grass varieties to be used, etc. The USGA did not tell the architect what to do they just made suggestions. It is imperative the USGA have an architect involved on issues concerning design integrity and they are great to work with. Marc Westenborg: I worked together with the R&A preparing Royal Liverpool for the 2014 Open. We concentrated on the finer details, new back tees, length of carries and fairness of bunkers; ensuring that balls would not end up in unplayable lies close at the foot of their revetted faces. We also re-profiled some of the green surrounds and areas between fairways, ensuring a variety of differing stances and angles and type of shot. However, it must be said that all these adjustments, were also for the membership; not specific to the Open. Hoylake hosting the Open was in many ways the catalyst to carry out improvements to the golf course. Jeffrey Blume: If the original architect of a course is involved in course set up, then I think his/her perspective on the course design is of prime importance. No one else would have a better understanding of the intricacies and intent of the design. If the host venue is a classic course where the original architect has passed on, then the study of the course by a modern architect can provide the same insight.. Tripp Davis: First would be to work with the USGA and the Club to possibly add tees, move tees, add or move bunkers, or modify greens to provide hole locations that better test the players. A good golf course architect is not only an expert in design, but in how to get desired results via a variety of construction and maintenance methods. Second, an architect that understands the game can be a part of the team that sets the course up day to day for the tournament, mostly to provide insight as to how far set up can push design.. When watching a golf telecast -- especially the US Open -- what do you pay particular attention to? Jeffrey Blume: I love to look at the bunkering of a course. How it describes the strategy of shot making, how the players adapt to bunker placement depending on the playing conditions of a given day, and how the bunkers can be used to challenge players strengths and weaknesses. The bunkering of every course is its most visible fingerprint, and how an architect uses the bunkers says a lot about their individual style, strategic philosophy, and aesthetic preferences. Marc Westenborg: One can never get a true understanding of a golf course by watching TV; undulations and changes in gradient are particularly hard to decipher. However, much of my current work is bunker renovations so I do enjoy seeing their different styles and ways they are landscaped; the bunkering at Erin Hills was of particular interest. Also of interest are the ball trackers and choice of golf club the golfers are using and the huge difference between amateurs and the professionals. Dana Fry: For me I pay most attention to weather conditions. If you have dry, windy and firm conditions the odds are you will have higher scoring. If you have soft conditions with little wind and good putting surfaces you will have much better scoring. The other issue that comes into play is the width of the fairways and height of the maintained rough. If you have the "old style" US Open fairway widths of 25 to 30 yards wide, cut at 4+ inches and fast, firm, windy conditions watch out because the scoring will be high. . Nathan Crace: I tend to get caught up on the details of green complexes, bunker placement, where the water hazards are, positioning of tees, and how they all fit together (or don't) in one big life size jigsaw puzzle of nature. I gravitate toward angles and strategy, but TV doesn't do justice to many courses because you're viewing a 3D landscape on a 2D screen. That said, the aerial footage and new tracer technology both add a dimension for viewers that helps see the big picture. Tripp Davis: The course set up and how players are choosing to play the course, strategically. I also like to watch the type of shots they are playing when being aggressive. The USGA and R&A have publicly indicated they are watching closely the impact of greater gains made from enhanced technology tied to golf balls. Is there an issue of concern and how realistic do you see a future action be jointly taken that actually rolls back the distances modern professional golf is achieving? Nathan Crace: I think that genie has long been out of that bottle. As much as I hate to see some of the classic courses being impacted by the length the Tour players can hit the ball, the fans like the longer ball and you still have to get the ball in the hole to score. The USGA and R&A might try to dial back advances in the ball going forward, but I think we are where we are right now. I'm not a fan of bifurcating the rules, but that might become a reality down the road.. Jeffrey Blume: I think the issue of how perceived length is affecting the modern game is one that certainly needs to be studied. I commend the USGA and R&A for their approach to looking into this issue without any pre-conceived notions. The issue is much more complex than simply looking into how far professionals can hit the golf ball. Of far more importance to me is how length affects the amateur game and the footprint on which the game is played. Changes in technology and golf ball distance is nothing new to the game, and golf has adapted to these changes in the past. I am sure that those of us in the golf industry will adapt again, whatever the USGA and R&A study reveals. Tripp Davis: Players are longer than a few years ago. How realistic a roll back may be is a better question for the USGA and the R&A. I do think design can be somewhat effective in “rolling the ball back” by making it less of advantage to hit it really long. In that we do have to value the precise players as much as we do the longer players. Dana Fry: I agree with what Jack Nicklaus has been saying -- we need a tournament ball. I spent a lot of time with the players the week before the US Open last year and quite a few told me they can easily fly the ball 300 yards in the air and if needed can fly it up to 320 yards in the air. I watched as several of them carried the bunkers that were 320 yard carries in the air then hitting downslopes and getting additional roll. Do we just keep adding distance? I hope not but is it the right thing to do to make every US Open course have 25 to 30 yard fairways and force the majority of the field to use long irons or utility clubs to hit the fairways? I don't think that is right either. I think the Master's is the only place that could implement a tournament ball and hope in the future it will happen. Marc Westenborg: The distance professionals are achieving does not concern me. Only a tiny portion of golfers worldwide can be described as professionals yet the advance in technology has benefited them significantly more than amateurs. If professionals continue to gain distance that is fine with me; just so long as it’s a “level playing field” for all. Spectators love the huge distances professionals are capable of and it must be remembered that the further the golf ball travels, the greater the need for accuracy. We must design new and adapt existing courses such that they challenge professional golfers without penalizing the amateur. There will come a point where technological advances reach a natural conclusion so I am of the opinion that the USGA and R&A’s time and money is better spent working together in growing the game of golf. Above photo identifications: *The first photo shows the demanding par-4 9th hole at Shinnecock Hills. *The second photo listed by the second question is the 10th hole at Pine Valley. *The third photo listed by the 3rd question is the 10th hole at Shinnecock Hills. *The final course photo is the iconic Stanford White clubhouse at Shinnecock Hills. The participating architects Dana Fry – Started in the business in 1983 working for Tom Fazio. Among his most noted design efforts include Erin Hills Golf Course-site of the 2017 US Open, Devil’s Pulpit, Devil’s Paintbrush, Calusa Pines Golf Club, Naples National Golf Club, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Farmlinks Golf Club & Shelter Harbor Golf Club. Jeffrey D. Blume – Blume is President of the American Society of Golf Course architects and managing general partner of Jeffrey D. Blume, Limited, a golf course architecture firm based in Houston, Texas. He is also a former General Chairman of the Shell Houston Open. Over twenty eight years in the golf course design profession, he has completed commissions both domestically and internationally. Some of his more notable designs include Grand Pines Golf Club at Bentwater, Sterling Country Club, and the renovation of The Golf Club at Texas A&M. Tripp Davis – Since starting his own design firm in 1994, has created 19 original designs around the world, including China and Mexico, and is one of the leading golf course renovation and restoration specialist in the US. Most notable original design include the Old American Golf Club near Dallas, Texas, recent and future host of the LPGA Tour, and his most notable renovation/restoration has been Oak Tree National in Oklahoma, which hosted the 2014 US Senior Open following his work. Marc Westenborg – Started his design career with Hawtree for whom he worked for 14 years before founding Westenborg Golf Design. Worked on over 50 projects worldwide; his most high profile being Dun Laoghaire, Dooks, Cobh and Cork in Ireland, Rockliffe Hall in the UK and La Zagaleta in Spain. A Senior Member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects the company is based in the United Kingdom. Nathan Crace – After attending Mississippi State University and graduating from their Professional Golf Management program, he went on to work for an upstart design firm before founding his own firm eight years later. Designing courses for nearly 25 years--including Copper Mill Golf Club near Baton Rouge, Louisiana named Golf Digest's "Best New Public Course in America" in 2004. Crace is a native of Louisville, KY and raised in Charlestown, IN.
