Alex Elias Tournament:
The Northeast Amateur Invitational, held annually at Wannamoisett Country Club, is considered a “major” in amateur golf, and is ranked #4 of the U.S. amateur golf events of more than 700 events ranked by the R&A World Amateur Ranking List. In its distinguished 60 year history, Ben Crenshaw (1973), Dustin Johnson (2007), and Collin Morikawa (2017) each cemented their amateur legacies at The Northeast Amateur. This year’s field includes back-to-back defending Champion Dylan Menante (University of North Carolina, 12th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking), David Ford (University of North Carolina, 4th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking), Caleb Surratt (University of Tennessee, 13th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking), and many more of the top amateurs. Course: Designed by Donald Ross, Ross himself described Wannamoisett as "the best layout I have ever made." Recently magnificently restored by Andrew Green, one Wannamoisett member said, "I remember when I first found out about the restoration project, and thought to myself, 'what could they possibly do here to make it better," but then you see the finished product and it is so satisfying to see the course live up to its full potential while still being true to its Donald Ross roots." "Andrew Green’s renovation has been universally applauded. As evident by the increase in course rating but decrease in slope, it plays tougher for the better player and easier for the novice, senior, junior, and ladies. This was achieved by adding new back and forward tee boxes where possible, moving bunkers downrange to be in play for better players where they could previously fly them, pinching landing zones for longer hitters, and most profoundly expanding and reshaping greens back to their original sizes and shapes. This has resulted in numerous new pin positions that can be tucked much closer to bunkers and run offs. A great example are the 11th and 12th greens. Due to the slopes and shape these greens really only had a couple of pins. On 11 a new back left section over top of the green side bunker was added as well as a peninsula on the front right with run offs long, right, and short. On 12, shelves were added back left and front right. These new pins not only make the course more interesting and variable but challenging as well. The project also included a complete redo of all the bunkers including steep sod faces that will look familiar to anyone who watched the coverage of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill (another Green Restoration)," said the member. As to where the players in the field will be challenged, the member said, "What I believe will be most challenging for the Northeast Am players is having the discipline to know when to attack and when to play it safe. I think that most of the field looks at the sub 7000 yardage on the card and thinks they will tear the course apart firing at pins with wedges in their hand all day. But with the difficultly of some of the pin locations and excellent course setup by RIGA Executive Director Bob Ward, players have to be disciplined enough to know when to attack and when not to. One can easily get themselves out of position around the greens and be staring double in the face. It’s clear two time defending champion Dylan Menante has figured this out. I believe he went 61 holes bogey free one stretch from 2021-2022. You don’t do that by being overly aggressive, you do that by playing to your strengths and knowing when and when not to be aggressive."
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Alex Elias
Although the signature 290-yard Par-3 11th may garner the headlines, as well as steal the show visually thanks to the picturesque backdrop of downtown Los Angeles, the short Par-3 15th may prove to be the difference on Sunday. Listed at 124 yards, No. 15 played a mere 72 yards during one session of matches at the 2017 Walker Cup and is expected to play as short as 92 yards and as long as 155 at the 123rd U.S. Open.
As No. 15 is expected to be instrumental in the outcome, one doesn't have to look far for an example of a short Par-3 having an outsized impact on a U.S. Open. At the 122nd U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler played the downhill Par-3 11th at The Country Club, which measured at 108 yards on Sunday, in double bogey-bogey on the weekend, to finish in a tie for second, one stroke behind Matt Fitzpatrick. Ahead of Round 1 at Los Angeles Country Club, Defending U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick said, "I would argue that at 78 yards, stood there with a lob wedge in your hand, you're going to be a little bit more intimidated than stood there with a 3-wood in your hand. I would probably say that's pretty truthful amongst everyone in the field. I imagine that the target is going to be very small and you're going to have to hit a good shot. I think we need more short par-3s that are challenging, so I'm excited to see what that looks like." "I typically love short Par 3s. I think a lot of the greatest courses that we play around the world all have a short Par 4 and a short Par 3 and they can end up kind of being the trickiest as well... I think everyone's favorite Par 3s are those 9-irons and wedges where you really have to dial it in and hit a good shot," said Cameron Smith. Alex Elias Connor T. Lewis, Founder: The Society of Golf Historians, said, "The history of golf architecture at Los Angeles Country Club has been a fluid one." Lewis continued, "If we overlook the lost architecture of "The Windmill Links" and "Covent Links" and focus simply on the property in Beverly Hills, we have four architectural events." Moving to Beverly Hills in 1911, the original course was designed by four members. Lewis said, "From my understanding that course was underwhelming and lasted about a decade." Then, in 1920, the courses were redesigned by Herbert Fowler and George C. Thomas. Lewis said, "I am not entirely sure how much we really know about Fowler's LACC. We do know that Fowler is an underrated golf course architect, known for helping renovate Pebble Beach and designing one of my favorite golf courses in Eastward Ho!. We also know that Thomas/[William C.] Bell [Thomas’ associate] kept twelve of Fowler's original holes." As LACC was ultimately designed by Thomas, Lewis said, "With Thomas and Bell's design, LACC found its true beauty and was clearly one of the shiny gems of California golf. That beauty may have diminished a hair in the eighty years that followed, but under the expert supervision of Gil Hanse, aided by Geoff Shackelford (sp), Thomas and Bell's LACC shines bright once again." Lewis continued, "Now the golf world will get to see Thomas' amazing museum piece. An architect that has long been in the shadows of [Donald] Ross, [Alister] MacKenzie, [Charles B.] MacDonald, and even [William] Flynn will finally get his due in the sun. It's overdo." Instagram: @thesocietyofgolfhistorians
Twitter: @SHistorians Alex Elias Pine Valley Golf Club (Ranked 1st) & Merion Golf Club (Ranked 6th) Pine Valley Golf Club, the ultimate golf experience in the U.S., would be a day second to none by itself, but when paired with Merion Golf Club, a course that challenges every club in the bag, it is truly a day unlike any other. To put it bluntly, to see the the No. 1 ranked course in the world, as well as the iconic wicker baskets, is a day that most can only dream of. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Ranked 4th) & National Golf Links of America (Ranked 7th) Although the two famed courses abut one another, 2.2 miles separate Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and National Golf Links of America door-to-door. Both rooted in history, Shinnecock has hosted five U.S. Opens and NGLA hosted the inaugural Walker Cup. Shinnecock, designed by William Flynn, is considered to be the earliest links in America, and NGLA, designed by C.B. Macdonald, is a true links featuring world-class template holes. Cypress Point Club (Ranked 3rd) & Pebble Beach Golf Links (Ranked 12th) Jack Nicklaus famously said, "If I only had one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach," and in reality, believe it or not, the course 2.7 miles away is superior. Regardless, the two courses are as distinguished as any in America. Cypress Point Club, designed by Alister MacKenzie, features a design variety unlike any other, and Pebble Beach, designed by Jack Neville & Douglas Grant, is the greatest meeting of land and sea in American golf. Chicago Golf Club (Ranked 13th) & Shoreacres Golf Club (Ranked 55th) Although 51 miles separate the two historic Chicago clubs, if one is an enthusiast of golf architecture, then the 36 hole day of Chicago Golf Club and Shoreacres Golf Club is crown jewel. Originally designed by C.B. Macdonald, Seth Raynor redesigned Chicago Golf Club in 1923, and with the two's lasting mark, is one of the best designs in the country. Shoreacres, designed as well by Seth Raynor, is a true gem, featuring template holes such as No. 3 (Leven), No. 6 (Biarritz), No. 7 (Double Plateau), No. 8 (Eden), No. 10 (Road) and No. 14 (Redan). Myopia Hunt Club (Ranked 50th) & Essex County Club (Ranked 78th) Separated by 8.4 miles, a 36 hole day at Myopia Hunt Club and Essex County Club will feel like the ultimate throwback in time. As Myopia was designed by H.C. Leeds, Myopia recently jumped 19 spots to No. 50, much a result of Gil Hanse's restoration. Essex, designed by Donald Ross, is a quintessential Ross design, and quite possibly may feature the best back-nine in the country. Notably, the two Massachusetts courses display among the best green complexes in the country. Piping Rock Club (Ranked 97th) & The Creek (Ranked 133rd)
Piping Rock Club, designed by C.B. Macdonald, is notably where Macdonald first introduced what has become his most imitated hole, the Biarritz, and features one of the best set of Par 3s in the country. 2.1 miles away, at The Creek, designed by C.B. MacDonald/Seth Raynor, No. 11 is not just a Biarritz green, but an island Biarritz green. Both Long Island courses are amongst the most enjoyable summertime rounds in the country.
Alex Elias
Although it may be difficult to fathom that the No. 1 ranked player in the world has a glaring weakness, Scottie Scheffler's success, at the very least, is being hindered by his putting. Leading the field in SG: Off The Tee, SG: Tee-To-Green, and SG: Approach To Green, Scheffler finished the Memorial Tournament with a staggering 20.71-shot advantage on the field, (behind only Vijay Singh’s record mark of 21.14 in 2004 at TPC Boston), yet didn't record his 7th career win.
Finishing 3rd, missing a playoff alongside Viktor Hovland (Champion) and Denny McCarthy (Runner-Up), by a shot, Scheffler's superb ball-striking, yet inability to score on the green was immensely evident.
Following the Final Round, Scheffler said, "I hit it so good and I gave myself a chance. Maybe a few more putts go in, it's a little different story." Although Scheffler was speaking to his round at Muirfield Village, Scheffler's remarks remain true for much of his season, as an identical story has played out at the Masters, the RBC Heritage, the AT&T Byron Nelson, the PGA Championship, and the Charles Schwab Challenge.
In 2023, Scheffler ranks 1st in SG: Total and 114th in SG: Putting. |
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