THE U.S. OPEN ON ANOTHER MUNI: THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
For the second time in recent history, the U.S. Open is being played on a great muni track--Torrey Pines, a wonderful place to play.
It seems like a wonderful thing to do, take a meritorious public course and venerate it by having it host our national championship. Necessarily, the course is then refurbished and bunkers, grasses and tee options are improved, leaving a good course even better than it was before, right? Plus, the course becomes more famous and more people will pay out of area fees to play it and more people, over time will shop in the pro shop.
Everybody wins, right?
Well, maybe not. It's starting to look like the locals who use the public course will have less access, prices will go considerably higher and the course will be run by outside management. The only other truly public course that has gone through this (Bethpage Black) is seeing this happen. The plans are already in place for outside management to run Torrey pines. How long can this go on before muni operations no longer want to be considered?
They say that the next true muni to be invited to come and play in the USGA's version of Pygmallion is probably Harding Park in San Francisco, a historic treasure. SF Park District, be careful what you ask for. You might get it.
posted by UMRBlog @ 06:12
4 comments
4 Comments:
Speaking of unintended consequences, how'd Tookie's trial come out?
"Your honor, I'd like to refer to City of Quincy vs Tookie 2008 IL..." LOL
It is my understanding that Torrey Pines has always given a great break to local residents with respect to pricing - and I suspect they always will.
The issue will more than liekly be, increased rates for non-locals along with additional play by non-locals - which in the money chase, may provide somewhat diminished access for locals.
But the pride that comes along with hosting an Open, along with the considerable front-end money from the USGA, is something that the local community of golfers would likely never think twice about.
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BTW, my knee feels fine, although I am picking Phil this week as my swing is pretty loose for a US Open. However, as I showed last year, even my B- game can compete.
Update: don't wish here well GETTING there, wish her well PLAYING there, congrats, Emily!
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