Post by philknj on Aug 4, 2017 23:31:35 GMT
I decided to condense two days of practice rounds into one report of events, not in chronological order. At times it was interesting, but other times it was dull.
Driving to Trump National/Bedminster was a breeze...I took Routes 287 & 78 for the first day, but switched over to the backroads for the rest of the week to avoid potential traffic jams. It was on one of the backroads (Rte. 28) where I passed a vacant lot which had numerous anti-Donald Trump signs erected.
The volunteers on the Tuesday AM shuttle said that anyone working eight shifts would get to play a free round at TN/B in October. One of the guys had worked on the transportation committee at Newark Airport where 20 players arrived on a charter from Green Bay.
The 2015 Lancaster CC USWO was still fresh in my mind and it didn’t take long to notice the differences with the 2017 USWO. It started just beyond the front gate with the merchandise building...at most it was half the size of the one at Lancaster.
I remember mobs of people waiting to pass at the numerous fairway crossing points from one hole to another at Lancaster. However, due to the layout of TN/B, there were no fairway crossing points (and no mobs), because there was nowhere to cross to...unless you wanted to walk into a forest or a water hazard. LCC is an old-fashioned compact property with holes near and parallel to each other. TN/B is completely different...many of the holes are visually isolated from the rest of the golf course.
Lancaster CC and Westchester CC had water drinking fountains, but TN/B is too snobby to have them. I couldn’t understand why spectators were permitted to bring in one sealable empty plastic bottle. I found out later on Tuesday that there was a water cooler inside the scooter tent near the 10th tee...for the rest of the week I made sure my water would run low only near the 10th tee, where I could go for refills.
TN/B is longish with steep climbs at the 5th, 8th, and 12th holes, but it wasn’t a difficult course to walk overall. In my spectator experience, Hamilton Farm GC is easily the worst walk with Westchester CC in second place.
I also thought back to my one day here at the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. While you couldn’t go into the mansion/clubhouse, the walkways leading to the adjacent buildings (like the pro shop) were completely open to the public...but not at the 2017 USWO...the “compound” of club buildings was completely walled off for nobodies like me. But, I’m not complaining, as it was easier getting around from place to place compared to the other USWOs I had attended.
I think I saw only two ex-LPGAers. Annika Sorenstam was on the practice green talking with Oliver Brett, who loops for Sandra Gal. Amy Hung was there as part of Shanshan Feng’s team. Betsy King was at the Pennsylvania USWOs of 2009 and 2015, but I didn’t see her here.
I saw a limited amount of golf media. Randall Mell was at the practice green interviewing In Gee Chun on Tuesday. I had seen Ron Sirak and Beth Ann Nicholls out and about at past USWOs, but not here...maybe they preferred the air-conditioned press quarters instead. Natalie Gulbis made a pit stop at the 8th green, probably for the Fox TV preview program they broadcasted. While Su Oh waited to tee off at #9, Shane Bacon of Fox drove up and exchanged a long-time-no-see bro’ hug with Oh’s caddy. Bacon asked him where he was staying...the looper mentioned a place 15 minutes away. Bacon said, “So am I. Text me later and we’ll go out for a beer.” I remember seeing blogger Stephanie Wei at the 2009 USWO at Saucon Valley, but not here. After reviewing her blog later, it turns out that she is anti-Mr. Orange.
The media buried USGA CEO Mike Davis for not being on-site for Tuesday’s press conference. I saw his arrival on Wednesday around 3:50 PM...he passed through the VIP metal detector near a practice green and set it off! Then he took his shoes off to solve that problem. He started walking towards the mansion, but was called over by a spectator who knew him. Davis said he had a meeting with some guy (I didn’t recognize the name) for three hours that day and it went well. The spectator told him to “ignore the bah-humbuggers...the course is beautiful and will look fantastic on Fox TV.”
Thumbs up to the Japanese TV media (TV Asahi & TV Wowow) for covering the USWO on-site (as usual). Thumbs way down to the Korean TV media for NOT covering the USWO on-site (as usual).
The driving range was unlike any I had seen at a golf tournament. The hitting area was elevated and the ropes were many feet back, so you could only see the upper bodies of the players. However, as you looked up, it became a perfect position to watch the ball flights.
A set of bleachers were set up behind the center section of the range and right next to the players, so you could hang over the railing and listen to their conversations. For instance, Morgan Pressel turned to someone and described the par-3 7th green as having a target area "this wide" for the shot she had in practice...held her hands apart by two feet...which produced a big roll-off to the left or right if you missed that miniscule target.
Ai Miyazato greeted In Bee Park at the range on Wednesday and asked Winbee’s husband, “Did you give her a nice birthday present?” He replied, “I sure did.” Ai and the other Bridgestone staffers (including Jin Young Ko) were sporting Stars & Stripes bags.
Most of the conversations I heard involved the Ping rep. He’s the only brand rep I recall seeing and I don’t know where the equipment vans were located.
Mr. Ping worked with at least two players. The first was Weiwei Zhang. He set up Trackman and she hit a few drivers, followed by a few fairway woods. He’s pushing the new G400 gear, but in this case, they decided only to change the shaft in her current (old) Ping driver and change the grip on another club. As for the FWs she tested, they didn’t fit her yardage gapping...one was too long and another too short. As expected, Mr. Ping never met her before. He asked how long she has been with Ping and she said 6-7 years. Her “golf English” appears sufficient...don’t know what she can say beyond that, but a pleasant personality is evident.
The second player was Kyung Kim. Per the Trackman data, the new driver she was testing seemed to fix a swing flaw that was plaguing her. However, Mr. Ping cautioned several times, “I’m not a swing instructor or teaching pro. I’m just looking at the numbers and that one is now a minus.” I couldn’t see the screen they were reading, but I’ll take a wild guess and say they were looking at the face-to-path figure...if the number is minus, then the clubface is at least slightly closed at impact, which works well for most of the pros and high-level amateurs.
Kim was pleased with Mr. Ping’s assistance, although I got the sense that she was still reluctant to make any changes. In the end, he gave her the test clubhead and recorded the serial number on a tablet for Ping’s bookkeeping. I don’t know if she used the clubhead in competition. An Instagram photo of her bag from July 14 shows a TaylorMade driver headcover, although it could have been covering the Ping. I’m a little surprised she needed any swing fixes, since she has won six times on the Cactus Tour in 2017 and was low medalist at her USWO qualifier.
Titleist rep Ann Cain dropped by the range to meet Jeong Eun Lee 6 to get her order for golf balls and gloves (size M). Seung Hyun Lee and Seon Woo Bae arrived to hit balls next to Lucky 6.
I followed a few players during their practice rounds, but with little information on who would be where and when. The group of Christina Kim, Hee Young Park, and Caroline Masson arrived at the 12th green, so I decided to stick with them for a while. Park made a long practice putt, which earned cheers and claps from me. She looked in my direction with a smile and waved her hand as if to say, “Stop doing that!” As they walked to #13, the Rocket looked back at the 12th fairway and blew kisses to Min Young Lee.
On the 13th green the players and caddies started discussing a woman...they were all in agreement that she wasn’t a favorite, but it seemed to elicit more laughs than anger. C. Kim and Masson’s caddy did most of the talking. I was too far away to figure out who they were talking about...I assumed it was a player, but maybe it was a caddie or someone in the LPGA’s management. But, it was definitely a woman because I heard Masson’s caddy loudly say, “she can’t help it.” This lasted for about three holes.
Speaking of the par-4 13th hole, there was a hidden tee box on the right side just beyond the water. Many players hit a few drives from there trying to reach the green in one. Fortunately, someone in the USGA knew that playing this hole from a short tee was a stupid idea and it wasn’t used in the tournament.
Of course, most players tried out the drop zone under the main scoreboard at the 16th hole, which was maybe a 90-yard shot over the pond. One group didn’t take it seriously as they were hitting low skimmers off the water...a good shot with three skips would reach the bank and almost climb up on the green. In Kyung Kim gave it a try, but her hook ball drowned on the second skip.
I sat down and rested back on my elbows in the rough on the right of the 13th green and waited for Mi Hyang Lee to arrive. Her daddy was walking inside the ropes, but spotted me and waved...he came over to the ropes and said “Thank you” as we shook hands. It was nice to see him...his absence at the 2017 Shop-Rite/Acer surprised me. MHL was playing with Ji Yai Shin. At #15, Shin hit two drives, one with a TaylorMade and one with a Callaway Epic. I watched Mi Hyang on the range late Wednesday and was surprised to see her hitting a lot of sweeping hook drives...maybe it was an experiment as she usually hits a tight draw in competition.
Michelle Wie had a late practice time Wednesday afternoon. B.J. Wie was on the 15th green with his greens level. I couldn’t get close to him, but the gadget looked like a clear thin plastic board about 10” x 12”. The center of the board had a big block which was the level...the rest of the board had rows and columns of small white spaces for writing, I think.
I saw the so-called world #1 amateur Leona Maguire at the 13th green where she displayed a polished short game...made slick sand shots, excellent lag putts, and skillful chips (including one that went in). At the par-3 14th she hit a good iron (Ping i25) with maybe the weakest grip I've seen in big-time women's golf.
However, I saw the REAL world #1 amateur Hye Jin Choi begin a practice round at the 1st hole and totally outclass Lydia Ko from the tee. Choi bombed it down the middle, while Ko hit two drives...the first was a pull hook and the second was a push to the right. Amateur Robyn Choi played with them and wore her Colorado Buffaloes golf uniform.
I followed Choi/Choi/Ko for four holes. Gary Gilchrest was following inside the ropes...even helped Ko with chip shots out of the greenside rough. Really? Did David Leadbetter foul that up, too? Did the Ko who won the Canadian Women’s Open twice as an amateur get this kind of babysitting during practice? It saddens me to think that she might be on the downside of her career at such a young age. At least her attitude is terrific...she is never down, never angry, and finds moments to laugh a lot.
I completely missed Ha Neul Kim on Tuesday, but caught up with her practice round on Wednesday for about five holes. Sky didn’t show me much with so-so driving and mediocre sand play from the fairway and greenside. Her parents and her brother (I think) were here this week. From pics I’ve seen, her mom has a youthful look, but it was impossible to see that during Round One when she swathed her neck and cheeks in mummy wrappings beneath shades and a huge visor.
Sky’s foursome included Min Sun Kim 5, Stephanie Meadow and Weiwei Zhang. MSK5 was quite impressive...drove it long and straight with a 3-wood while the others hit driver. Steph played well, too...I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten more out of her game on the LPGA tour. Zhang’s game was okay at best, but she’s nice to look at.
On the way home Tuesday night, I dropped by the Bridgewater Commons Mall for celebrity sightseeing. Jeong Eun Lee 5 came out of the Cheesecake Factory, but that was about it. There’s a separate mini-mall within walking distance, which is also across from the Bridgewater Marriott. I think I saw Georgia Hall, probably with her parents, in front of ShakeShack. As for the hotel, there were numerous courtesy cars in the parking lot (mostly Lexus). I went inside to use the restroom...did not see any famous faces in the lobby.
I took several player pics on my antiquated flip phone...now what do I do with them? The one with MHL and me is my phone’s new wallpaper.
Driving to Trump National/Bedminster was a breeze...I took Routes 287 & 78 for the first day, but switched over to the backroads for the rest of the week to avoid potential traffic jams. It was on one of the backroads (Rte. 28) where I passed a vacant lot which had numerous anti-Donald Trump signs erected.
The volunteers on the Tuesday AM shuttle said that anyone working eight shifts would get to play a free round at TN/B in October. One of the guys had worked on the transportation committee at Newark Airport where 20 players arrived on a charter from Green Bay.
The 2015 Lancaster CC USWO was still fresh in my mind and it didn’t take long to notice the differences with the 2017 USWO. It started just beyond the front gate with the merchandise building...at most it was half the size of the one at Lancaster.
I remember mobs of people waiting to pass at the numerous fairway crossing points from one hole to another at Lancaster. However, due to the layout of TN/B, there were no fairway crossing points (and no mobs), because there was nowhere to cross to...unless you wanted to walk into a forest or a water hazard. LCC is an old-fashioned compact property with holes near and parallel to each other. TN/B is completely different...many of the holes are visually isolated from the rest of the golf course.
Lancaster CC and Westchester CC had water drinking fountains, but TN/B is too snobby to have them. I couldn’t understand why spectators were permitted to bring in one sealable empty plastic bottle. I found out later on Tuesday that there was a water cooler inside the scooter tent near the 10th tee...for the rest of the week I made sure my water would run low only near the 10th tee, where I could go for refills.
TN/B is longish with steep climbs at the 5th, 8th, and 12th holes, but it wasn’t a difficult course to walk overall. In my spectator experience, Hamilton Farm GC is easily the worst walk with Westchester CC in second place.
I also thought back to my one day here at the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. While you couldn’t go into the mansion/clubhouse, the walkways leading to the adjacent buildings (like the pro shop) were completely open to the public...but not at the 2017 USWO...the “compound” of club buildings was completely walled off for nobodies like me. But, I’m not complaining, as it was easier getting around from place to place compared to the other USWOs I had attended.
I think I saw only two ex-LPGAers. Annika Sorenstam was on the practice green talking with Oliver Brett, who loops for Sandra Gal. Amy Hung was there as part of Shanshan Feng’s team. Betsy King was at the Pennsylvania USWOs of 2009 and 2015, but I didn’t see her here.
I saw a limited amount of golf media. Randall Mell was at the practice green interviewing In Gee Chun on Tuesday. I had seen Ron Sirak and Beth Ann Nicholls out and about at past USWOs, but not here...maybe they preferred the air-conditioned press quarters instead. Natalie Gulbis made a pit stop at the 8th green, probably for the Fox TV preview program they broadcasted. While Su Oh waited to tee off at #9, Shane Bacon of Fox drove up and exchanged a long-time-no-see bro’ hug with Oh’s caddy. Bacon asked him where he was staying...the looper mentioned a place 15 minutes away. Bacon said, “So am I. Text me later and we’ll go out for a beer.” I remember seeing blogger Stephanie Wei at the 2009 USWO at Saucon Valley, but not here. After reviewing her blog later, it turns out that she is anti-Mr. Orange.
The media buried USGA CEO Mike Davis for not being on-site for Tuesday’s press conference. I saw his arrival on Wednesday around 3:50 PM...he passed through the VIP metal detector near a practice green and set it off! Then he took his shoes off to solve that problem. He started walking towards the mansion, but was called over by a spectator who knew him. Davis said he had a meeting with some guy (I didn’t recognize the name) for three hours that day and it went well. The spectator told him to “ignore the bah-humbuggers...the course is beautiful and will look fantastic on Fox TV.”
Thumbs up to the Japanese TV media (TV Asahi & TV Wowow) for covering the USWO on-site (as usual). Thumbs way down to the Korean TV media for NOT covering the USWO on-site (as usual).
The driving range was unlike any I had seen at a golf tournament. The hitting area was elevated and the ropes were many feet back, so you could only see the upper bodies of the players. However, as you looked up, it became a perfect position to watch the ball flights.
A set of bleachers were set up behind the center section of the range and right next to the players, so you could hang over the railing and listen to their conversations. For instance, Morgan Pressel turned to someone and described the par-3 7th green as having a target area "this wide" for the shot she had in practice...held her hands apart by two feet...which produced a big roll-off to the left or right if you missed that miniscule target.
Ai Miyazato greeted In Bee Park at the range on Wednesday and asked Winbee’s husband, “Did you give her a nice birthday present?” He replied, “I sure did.” Ai and the other Bridgestone staffers (including Jin Young Ko) were sporting Stars & Stripes bags.
Most of the conversations I heard involved the Ping rep. He’s the only brand rep I recall seeing and I don’t know where the equipment vans were located.
Mr. Ping worked with at least two players. The first was Weiwei Zhang. He set up Trackman and she hit a few drivers, followed by a few fairway woods. He’s pushing the new G400 gear, but in this case, they decided only to change the shaft in her current (old) Ping driver and change the grip on another club. As for the FWs she tested, they didn’t fit her yardage gapping...one was too long and another too short. As expected, Mr. Ping never met her before. He asked how long she has been with Ping and she said 6-7 years. Her “golf English” appears sufficient...don’t know what she can say beyond that, but a pleasant personality is evident.
The second player was Kyung Kim. Per the Trackman data, the new driver she was testing seemed to fix a swing flaw that was plaguing her. However, Mr. Ping cautioned several times, “I’m not a swing instructor or teaching pro. I’m just looking at the numbers and that one is now a minus.” I couldn’t see the screen they were reading, but I’ll take a wild guess and say they were looking at the face-to-path figure...if the number is minus, then the clubface is at least slightly closed at impact, which works well for most of the pros and high-level amateurs.
Kim was pleased with Mr. Ping’s assistance, although I got the sense that she was still reluctant to make any changes. In the end, he gave her the test clubhead and recorded the serial number on a tablet for Ping’s bookkeeping. I don’t know if she used the clubhead in competition. An Instagram photo of her bag from July 14 shows a TaylorMade driver headcover, although it could have been covering the Ping. I’m a little surprised she needed any swing fixes, since she has won six times on the Cactus Tour in 2017 and was low medalist at her USWO qualifier.
Titleist rep Ann Cain dropped by the range to meet Jeong Eun Lee 6 to get her order for golf balls and gloves (size M). Seung Hyun Lee and Seon Woo Bae arrived to hit balls next to Lucky 6.
I followed a few players during their practice rounds, but with little information on who would be where and when. The group of Christina Kim, Hee Young Park, and Caroline Masson arrived at the 12th green, so I decided to stick with them for a while. Park made a long practice putt, which earned cheers and claps from me. She looked in my direction with a smile and waved her hand as if to say, “Stop doing that!” As they walked to #13, the Rocket looked back at the 12th fairway and blew kisses to Min Young Lee.
On the 13th green the players and caddies started discussing a woman...they were all in agreement that she wasn’t a favorite, but it seemed to elicit more laughs than anger. C. Kim and Masson’s caddy did most of the talking. I was too far away to figure out who they were talking about...I assumed it was a player, but maybe it was a caddie or someone in the LPGA’s management. But, it was definitely a woman because I heard Masson’s caddy loudly say, “she can’t help it.” This lasted for about three holes.
Speaking of the par-4 13th hole, there was a hidden tee box on the right side just beyond the water. Many players hit a few drives from there trying to reach the green in one. Fortunately, someone in the USGA knew that playing this hole from a short tee was a stupid idea and it wasn’t used in the tournament.
Of course, most players tried out the drop zone under the main scoreboard at the 16th hole, which was maybe a 90-yard shot over the pond. One group didn’t take it seriously as they were hitting low skimmers off the water...a good shot with three skips would reach the bank and almost climb up on the green. In Kyung Kim gave it a try, but her hook ball drowned on the second skip.
I sat down and rested back on my elbows in the rough on the right of the 13th green and waited for Mi Hyang Lee to arrive. Her daddy was walking inside the ropes, but spotted me and waved...he came over to the ropes and said “Thank you” as we shook hands. It was nice to see him...his absence at the 2017 Shop-Rite/Acer surprised me. MHL was playing with Ji Yai Shin. At #15, Shin hit two drives, one with a TaylorMade and one with a Callaway Epic. I watched Mi Hyang on the range late Wednesday and was surprised to see her hitting a lot of sweeping hook drives...maybe it was an experiment as she usually hits a tight draw in competition.
Michelle Wie had a late practice time Wednesday afternoon. B.J. Wie was on the 15th green with his greens level. I couldn’t get close to him, but the gadget looked like a clear thin plastic board about 10” x 12”. The center of the board had a big block which was the level...the rest of the board had rows and columns of small white spaces for writing, I think.
I saw the so-called world #1 amateur Leona Maguire at the 13th green where she displayed a polished short game...made slick sand shots, excellent lag putts, and skillful chips (including one that went in). At the par-3 14th she hit a good iron (Ping i25) with maybe the weakest grip I've seen in big-time women's golf.
However, I saw the REAL world #1 amateur Hye Jin Choi begin a practice round at the 1st hole and totally outclass Lydia Ko from the tee. Choi bombed it down the middle, while Ko hit two drives...the first was a pull hook and the second was a push to the right. Amateur Robyn Choi played with them and wore her Colorado Buffaloes golf uniform.
I followed Choi/Choi/Ko for four holes. Gary Gilchrest was following inside the ropes...even helped Ko with chip shots out of the greenside rough. Really? Did David Leadbetter foul that up, too? Did the Ko who won the Canadian Women’s Open twice as an amateur get this kind of babysitting during practice? It saddens me to think that she might be on the downside of her career at such a young age. At least her attitude is terrific...she is never down, never angry, and finds moments to laugh a lot.
I completely missed Ha Neul Kim on Tuesday, but caught up with her practice round on Wednesday for about five holes. Sky didn’t show me much with so-so driving and mediocre sand play from the fairway and greenside. Her parents and her brother (I think) were here this week. From pics I’ve seen, her mom has a youthful look, but it was impossible to see that during Round One when she swathed her neck and cheeks in mummy wrappings beneath shades and a huge visor.
Sky’s foursome included Min Sun Kim 5, Stephanie Meadow and Weiwei Zhang. MSK5 was quite impressive...drove it long and straight with a 3-wood while the others hit driver. Steph played well, too...I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten more out of her game on the LPGA tour. Zhang’s game was okay at best, but she’s nice to look at.
On the way home Tuesday night, I dropped by the Bridgewater Commons Mall for celebrity sightseeing. Jeong Eun Lee 5 came out of the Cheesecake Factory, but that was about it. There’s a separate mini-mall within walking distance, which is also across from the Bridgewater Marriott. I think I saw Georgia Hall, probably with her parents, in front of ShakeShack. As for the hotel, there were numerous courtesy cars in the parking lot (mostly Lexus). I went inside to use the restroom...did not see any famous faces in the lobby.
I took several player pics on my antiquated flip phone...now what do I do with them? The one with MHL and me is my phone’s new wallpaper.
