It seems that someone needs to inform the golf gods that life exists outside of New York, and not just on a once-in-a-while basis.
After hosting a US Open just 2 years ago, the Open returns to New York at Shinnecock Hills. Sound familiar? Well, it ought to. The Open was here back in 1996. And 1986. I guess the USGA thought 10 years between golf courses was too long, at least as far as New York is concerned. Another venue in New York returning 7 years after it hosted is Bethpage Black, which will be back in 2009. But New York residents don't have to wait that long to see an Open in the between years, as Winged Foot gets the venue hosting rights in 2006. This is an absolute crime in itself. Why, Winged Foot hasn't hosted a major since...1997, when it hosted the PGA. Somebody obviously slipped up here.
New Yorkers don't have to travel very far to see at least one of the next few years' majors. This year, the Open. Next year, the PGA is in New Jersey. In 2007, it goes to Oakmont in PA. Not until 2008 are NY and surrounding residents "shut out" from a major venue of one kind or another. Not until 2007 does a major come even remotely close to Texas, and then it is once again in Tulsa at Southern Hills, where the Open was in 2001.
This suggests the idiotic notion that there is only 1 golf course within easy driving distance of major Texas cities, and only about 4 in the entire Southern US, that are worthy to host a major championship. Or it suggests that, with few exceptions, the golf gods are northeasterners who don't believe much in life outside the northeast. Or it suggests that only certain courses need apply.
I would like to attend a major, but because my wife's not real interested in golf, I could burn a day or two, but not an entire vacation. I realize June and August in Texas aren't very appealing weather wise, but if they are trying to make the course challenging, heat and humidity, in addition to high rough and small greens, would be one way that takes no effort. Besides, there are ways to get around the heat, and Tulsa, in the summer, isn't that much more comfortable than Austin. The Nelson and Colonial in mid and late May, on the regular tour, aren't exactly played with long sleeves.
After hosting a US Open just 2 years ago, the Open returns to New York at Shinnecock Hills. Sound familiar? Well, it ought to. The Open was here back in 1996. And 1986. I guess the USGA thought 10 years between golf courses was too long, at least as far as New York is concerned. Another venue in New York returning 7 years after it hosted is Bethpage Black, which will be back in 2009. But New York residents don't have to wait that long to see an Open in the between years, as Winged Foot gets the venue hosting rights in 2006. This is an absolute crime in itself. Why, Winged Foot hasn't hosted a major since...1997, when it hosted the PGA. Somebody obviously slipped up here.
New Yorkers don't have to travel very far to see at least one of the next few years' majors. This year, the Open. Next year, the PGA is in New Jersey. In 2007, it goes to Oakmont in PA. Not until 2008 are NY and surrounding residents "shut out" from a major venue of one kind or another. Not until 2007 does a major come even remotely close to Texas, and then it is once again in Tulsa at Southern Hills, where the Open was in 2001.
This suggests the idiotic notion that there is only 1 golf course within easy driving distance of major Texas cities, and only about 4 in the entire Southern US, that are worthy to host a major championship. Or it suggests that, with few exceptions, the golf gods are northeasterners who don't believe much in life outside the northeast. Or it suggests that only certain courses need apply.
I would like to attend a major, but because my wife's not real interested in golf, I could burn a day or two, but not an entire vacation. I realize June and August in Texas aren't very appealing weather wise, but if they are trying to make the course challenging, heat and humidity, in addition to high rough and small greens, would be one way that takes no effort. Besides, there are ways to get around the heat, and Tulsa, in the summer, isn't that much more comfortable than Austin. The Nelson and Colonial in mid and late May, on the regular tour, aren't exactly played with long sleeves.
