I have been taping the US Amateur the past few days and watching it in the evening. "Only" 6800 yards, but giving some pretty good golfers a very rough time. Supposedly the length of the course has taken Merion out of the running for a U S Open, but watching the play the past couple of days I'm not sure. Looks like Pine Valley from what I see on TV. Any of you guys out that way ever play the course? Any opinions as to whether the course would still provide a challenge to the pros? Dave
I've been watching it too. How good does that course look? It is fabulous looking. I hope that the "big boys" can play there soon. The members decided to toughen it up to make it championship caliber by adding 300 yards. And it's still only 6800. I would love to play there. Looks like what golf should look like.
Totally agree Mr 12 piece. I've been to Augusta twice and both times watched them trimming the bunkers with scissors! It's really perfect, but there is something "natural" about bunkers with jagged and untrimmed edges, scraggly rough, etc. Expect to see Old Tom Morris walk out of the woods at any time. Narrow fairways, heavy rough, elevation changes,collection areas---would play there in a heartbeat (and probably shoot 100!) Dave
I was lucky enough to play there several years ago, maybe 1988. We played the members tee, relatively short, but you have to navigate your way around. The greens were small and the rough was tall. I shot 81 or 82 as I recall and was very happy. Nice day, nice lunch., nice guys. Life is Good.
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A mile from the place that golf calls home
I grew up within spitting distance of Merion. As a teen, I looped at the local CCs, and even worked in the kitchen/dining room at Merion one summer. Merion is sumptuous with history. And not just the well known stuff, but decades of great names, and their sidelights, lowlights and highlights as they challenged the East Course. As I understand it, the caddies are still trained with knowledge of the stories passed down and can still act as somewhat of a historical guide as you play, if you ask.
You can stand and see exactly what Jones saw as he teed his ball to win the hole and US Amateur, complete the Grand Slam and never swing a club in competition again. You can also putt from the exact spot that Walter Hagen putted a ball out of bounds.
There are several reasons the big boys don't play there anymore. The first one is money. I'm pretty sure the second reason is money. And I'll have to check, but I believe the third reason is money. Merion doesn't have the space for the PGA corporate circus tents and Lolapalooza Show. It is surrounded by estates, houses, Cobbs Creek, and the P&W tracks/Haverford Rd on the north. And the course was designed for golfers.
It was said that Nicklaus singlehandedly obsoleted Merion East in the 60-70s because of his distance and the height he could hit the ball. I never understood that. Because as Nicklaus blasted the ball, Trevino carved his shots to fit the course as Hugh Wilson had designed it . http://wpdilworth.com/Merion%20History.htm
I don't know how you can obsolete a course upon which you got your ass beat by a shorter, lower hitting ballstriker.
Merion still hosts many Amateur, Juniors and Qualifying events.
Thanks so much for the Merion info, Charlie. I was hoping one of you guys out east of me had some first-hand knowledge of the place. When I come up with the $65,000 to join Oakmont I'll be happy to invite you! I figure if I work for another 30 years I can pull it off. Thanks again, Dave
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