While the U.S. Open is not my favourite major (the British version holds that distinction), I highly doubt that more, and better, thought is put into the setup of a course than that done by the United States Golf Association.
Mike Davis, the association’s senior director of rules and competitions, says the basic philosophy was established in 1950.
The parameters included "firm and fast conditions, relatively narrow fairways, penal rough and fast putting greens. The idea was to test all aspects of player shotmaking abilities under difficult setup conditions. A byproduct of this tough test was that players’ mental and course management skills also were rigorously tested."
While many fans and players unjustly criticize the U.S. Open course setup as merely encompassing sidewalk-skinny fairways, knee-high rough and concrete greens, there is much more to it. The process takes years.
That process will be evident this week at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif. Seven years ago, the USGA brought in noted architects Rees Jones and Greg Muirhead to do a $3.3-million redesign. The challenge was a tricky one, because they had to contemplate the fact that the course is open to the public when it’s not hosting a PGA Tour event (the Buick Invitational) or a major championship.
All of the greens were redesigned, and some were repositioned to optimize the danger factor of the cliffs and canyons, according to Jones. Contours, terraces and tongues now are a common theme on the putting surfaces, tempting players to hit to dangerous targets if they want a chance at birdie.
Two of the par 5s are more than 600 yards, while the 550-yard 18th offers a classic risk-reward challenge: A player wanting to go for the green in two must carry water on his second shot.
Speaking of risk-reward, Jones points to the short par-4 14th as a prime example. At 280 yards from the forward tee, players will have to carry their tee shot over a canyon if they want to try for eagle on the terraced green.
At more than 7,500 yards, with the USGA’s gnarly graduated rough and Stimpmeter readings from 11 feet to more than 14, this week will certainly prove to be the exhaustive test of all facets of a player’s game.