Cold Open
The year was 2009, and I walked Merion on crutches.
Why? To watch a young phenom by the name of Rickie Fowler tee it up for the last time in his Amateur career.
I didn’t really like golf at the time, but Rickie was the draw. He was the entire show, and he knew it. After a thorough beatdown of GB&I, Rickie signed his Puma deal in the Men’s locker room, a fitting finale to a week where none of his matches made it to the thirteenth hole at Merion.
What It's Like to Walk the U.S. Amateur
As I walked the fairways of Merion last week, I was blown away. The skill of the players, the fan and volunteer tabournout, and the conditioning of the golf course. Above all else, I had one thought which continued to surface:
The USGA has finally figured out that venues matter.
Not only do the players want to win at the cathedrals of the game, but the spectators show up in throngs to get a glimpse of history and tradition. It’s why you see future US Open anchor sites like Pebble, Oakmont and Pinehurst. It’s also why you see future Walker Cup sites that include Pine Valley. Venues matter!
While I cannot overlook the US Opens held at Chambers Bay or Erin Hills, it’s important to emphasize the role the historic courses play in our game. There will always be player and spectator demand for Merion. Merion was built to hold championships, and it has never stopped.
Why Amateur Golf Is the Last Sport Worth Walking
If you haven’t had the chance, I’d recommend walking the fairways of any high-level amateur tournament if you can.
As a casual bystander or spectator, is as close to the purest form of the game that still exists. While the professional game has gone largely corporate (Read up on The Masters this year), the US Am remains the final bastion of pure golf spectating. You can walk right up to the divot a few seconds after the shot was played.
You feel the turf give. You see how deep the rough actually is and sense the difficulty of each shot up close. No other event offers that type of intimacy. And with the players more skilled than ever, there’s a real chance it’s the last time you’ll see a guy like Miles Russell swing a club without throngs of people or tents impeding your view.
Where the Mid-Amateurs Went
I followed both Stew Hagestad and Christian Cavaliere as they played their matches on Thursday. It was a way of tipping my cap to a dying breed, the lifelong amateur. Having a few older guys in the mix at the events dominated by kids in their early 20s is essential. However, mid am success is increasingly rare to see given the financial upside of turning pro, coupled with the ease of regaining amateur status. Many of the “mid ams” you’ll see tee it up at the Lido in September will be former pros. Sad.
I love the fact that the Walker Cup team continues to put Stew on the team each year. Sure, some of the younger kids are equally as skilled and deserving, but Stew has a killer match play record and represents what is right with mid-am golf.
How Good Is Miles Russell, Actually?
The skill of the young players was immediately evident, but I was struck by how poised many of them were. How can these kids be this good and mature at such a young age? Is it even healthy? Miles Russell comports himself like a 30 year old, but has yet to matriculate at Florida State. Not only is he an incredible player, but he acts like a professional. He can’t even legally buy nicotine.
Merion
Merion has no peer. I spoke with a few volunteers who came from California just to help out. Their explanation as to why they made the trip?
“It’s Merion”.
I’m not sure how many other courses hold up when it comes to both hosting and the on-course product. The shot variety, strategy, and layout all make for compelling television. The weekend’s matches made for excellent viewing, and Jack Whaley is a deserving champion.
I’ve heard rumors that Club Historian John Capers took the rain jacket off of Jack’s back for the archives. A piece of Merion history.
The photography from the event is some of the best I can remember (I might be biased). I highly recommend taking a look at the above for some fascinating images.
Take Your Kid to a Walker Cup
If your kid is interested in golf, or if they haven’t caught the bug yet, I’d suggest taking them on the grounds to a US Amateur or Walker Cup.
I saw plenty of kids out there frolicking in the perfectly-mown fairways. It’s an easy way to get them excited about playing the game, even if they don’t seem too interested in the moment. There’s something about seeing high level golf close up that creates a visceral, emotional response from anyone watching, no matter the age.
I hope a few of the kids watching this week walked away with a sense of awe, as that will surely turn into passion some day.
Club Championship Mailbag
Last week I posed a question about the status of children of members, or “non-dues paying” members competing in club championships. I received more than a few thoughtful responses. Thank you to these readers for submitting:
The club champs question is a great one and I’m originally from Aus (now living in New York) and you’re not allowed to compete in Club Champs unless you’re a full dues paying 7 day member. Folks who have 5 or 6 day memberships or associate memberships are not allowed to compete which I think is fair.
If numbers allow, create a “Dependent Division” where the young sticks can battle it out and let the dues paying members compete for the title. Otherwise, I think you should allow anyone out of high school to play if they want, but I’d support any club that chooses not to do that. It’ll affect a narrow group of players, but I’m always torn between crowning the “best” player at a club and not wanting to cede the honor to a bunch of range kids who practice and play 10x more than most of the members. As it goes at most clubs, the network knows who the best few players are whether they have a trophy or not.
In regards to the juniors in the men’s club championship: growing up at a small town club we had to qualify for the men’s club championship. It was 3 rounds. After the first round if you made the championship flight, you could play if not, you were “cut”. That later changed to you had to win the junior club championship. Both were good but I do think letting the good, young players mix it up with the members, is good for everyone. It helps the kids learn how to act and compete, and keeps the older fellas on their toes! My thoughts for what it’s worth. Felt like it was great for me and my competitive growth. Cheers.
For this week’s discussion, I want to hear about the best Men’s Day games at your club, and why you enjoy the format.
Whether it be a Skins game or better ball, let me hear it in the comments or reply to this email.
3 Things I Know I Know
Merion has the most in-demand logo in the world. The merchandise lines on Friday and Saturday were insane. It’s the perfect marriage of peerless historic character with what makes the club unique, the broom and wicker.
Rain gear was necessary for the final stretch of the Am this weekend. It’s at the top of my “worthy investment” list for golfers. Kjus and Zero Restriction are two of the best.
I love the fact that Carter Loflin took a local Merion caddy, and the best one there is, at that.
How Good is Your Golfing Etiquette?
From the March 1982 Edition of Golf Digest. I’m not sure what this rubric would look like today, but I may have to compile a list of 18 modernized questions for next weeks post. Stay tuned.
Clandestine Golf Club of the Week - Golf de Vidauban
Robert Trent Jones Sr. fell in love with the site in the 1970s, bought it himself, and spent decades trying to build his personal masterpiece here.
The grand development plans for multiple courses and housing never fully materialized, leaving a single, superbly conditioned 18-hole course that feels like a private sanctuary
Membership is tiny (historically around two dozen “captains of industry” families, mostly non-French from Scandinavia, Belgium, the UK, Switzerland, etc., with slow, invitation-only co-option aiming toward a still-small number). There is no public green fee, no application process, and almost no commercial footprint.
Keep Reading
Thanks for reading. Talk soon.
-BTG