by Jeff Skinner
Just about now maintenance crews are pulling down the grandstands and cleaning up the old, venerable Pinehurst No.2 course after a whirlwind two weeks of U.S. Open play. The reviews are in from all around and this grand experiment can’t be called anything else but a rousing success.
The players, both men and women, raved about the course and the setup. Pinehurst is so vast that all the needed USGA facilities had plenty of room. The fans were treated to superb golf over a layout, unlike last year at Merion that allowed them to move freely around the course. And maybe more importantly, Mother Nature cooperated with clear, dry weather except for a few showers. That allowed both Opens to go off like clockwork without significant delays.
USGA President Tom O’Toole and Executive Director Mike Davis were dealt this hand by former Executive Director David Fay who scheduled this during his tenure. I could understand if they had a bit of anxiety as they implemented Fay’s plan. If it didn’t work or was a failure they were on the hook and taking the heat for another man’s “vision.” But as the championships worked out, O’Toole and Davis have been grinning from ear to ear.
By every measure the back to back Opens have been wonderful, so much so that there is talk about where and when the USGA can do this again.
What originally started as a money saving measure by Fay has morphed into a viable product for the USGA to showcase its two premier events.
The men’s Open has been a standalone success for a generation but the women’s had always taken a back seat. But not this week. The women were front and center starting on Father’s Day as Martin Kaymer was working his magic.
One of the benefits of this fortnight was to showcase women’s golf on the same course with the same setup as the men. And to Davis’ credit he did it masterfully. The ladies played the same course essentially but just a bit shorter. They were given the same headaches on the greens as the men and the result was magnificent. 
We were treated to two very interesting champions as the two of them both have their own redemptive stories. Kaymer comes back from his “swing change failure” and Michelle Wie finally wins a major that she was expected to win years ago.
Pinehurst No.2 lived up to expectations as a trying test of the world’s best and its renovation has shown a spotlight on a needed trend in golf. The retro layout not only plays the way Donald Ross had intended it to in the fine tradition of Sandhills golf, it uses 40 million less gallons of water per year. With water being the number one issue as we go forward for golf course owners this showcases that there are alternatives to 100% green golf courses.
By each and every measure these two weeks have been marvelous. The players, the fans, the course all came together for an exciting and entertaining two weeks. And in doing so brought so much new attention to the women’s game and to the “Brown is the new green” axiom in golf.
The USGA should be rejoicing for some time with the success of the Opens. It is rare to have such a huge endeavor come off without a hitch. The Opens were absolutely great. When can we have this party again?
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