After the first round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, we are once again talking about the setup.
It seems fans are never pleased with how the USGA sets up this historic golf course. In 2004, they lost the course, making it too dry, and too difficult. In 2018, the same again. But after the opening round this year, now the golf course is too easy.
Because of the expected windy conditions on Thursday, the USGA lowered the speed of the greens to 10.5 on the stimpmeter to ensure that the course would be playable. But the wind died in the afternoon, and Wyndham Clark ended the day at six under par.
These benign conditions are expected to continue into Friday, so will the USGA react and ramp up the difficulty?
USGA will not change their plan with Shinnecock Hills setup
The USGA have a clear plan of action so they don’t lose the golf course this week. They are very concerned about the wind making the course unplayable, so they are keeping the greens slow.
John Bodenhamer, who is in charge of the course setup for the USGA this week, explained his plan to Todd Lewis on the Golf Channel.
He said, “As we’ve talked about for the last 48 hours,we have more of a three day plan. Tomorrow will bridge into Saturday, which will get high winds again. Gusts into the 30s, tomorrow will be more of a normal Shinnecock type day.
What have you made of the setup on Thursday at the US Open?
Shinnecock Hills has been brutal…
“We’ll probably see winds of eight to 15 mph with sustained winds, and should ramp up into gusts into the mid 20s, but nothing like this morning or this afternoon where we saw gusts in the 30s.”
Lewis asked Bodenhamer if he plans to ramp up the green speeds on Friday because there will be less wind, and he replied, “No, we’re going to stay with our plan because Saturday we’re expecting the high winds again, and I think most importantly, the humidity is going away.
“That’s the thing that’s most concerning here at Shinnecock, because this place, more than anywhere I have ever been, dries out quickly.
“And I think the other thing we’re keeping a close watch on, is the wind direction change, North, North West. It changes the way some of these putting greens will play. Holes like number three today that was straight downwind will be into the wind, and DJ’s 393 yard drive will be a little difficult to achieve on Saturday.
“It’s difficult, because it’s a bit of an accordion this week, or maybe a rollercoaster. We had a high today of high winds, kind of a lull tomorrow, but we’ve got to manage for Saturday.”
In 2018, the winds dried out the golf course so much that Saturday was near impossible. That is clearly what the USGA is trying to avoid this week.
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