USGA Moving 2nd HQ to Pinehurst, Anchor Sites for U.S. Open

[iacas]

https://www.thepilot.com/news/usga-picks-pinehurst-for-hq/article_9d65f182-f218-11ea-954b-f7e53e8eae9d.html

Quote

The United States Golf Association will build a second headquarters in Pinehurst under a multi-million incentive package approved by state and local leaders.

A new economic development project, dubbed “Project Woodpecker,” rolled out Tuesday during a public hearing before the Moore County Board of Commissioners. The Pinehurst Village Council reviewed a similar presentation a short time later.

I wonder what a "second headquarters" will really mean.

[iacas]

Aha:

Quote

Plans call for the USGA to shift its research and testing center for golf equipment from its primary headquarters. In addition, a combined museum and visitor center will be housed in the new facilities in Pinehurst, along with offices for the USGA’s Foundation and the organization’s turfgrass agronomy and management section.

[iacas]

Wowee.

I mean, the last U.S. Open at Pinehurst was a total snooze fest outside of the U.S. Women's Open that was held there, but… at least it drains well.

[Sandy Divot]

I guess I'll have to wear a blue blazer next time I go to Pinehurst.

[iacas]

If Pinehurst is getting the U.S. Open every five years or so, what would the rotation be?

• Pinehurst
• Oakmont
• Winged Foot/Shinnecock
• Pebble
• Random fifth? Or do WF/S split out into separate years?

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

If Pinehurst is getting the U.S. Open every five years or so, what would the rotation be?

Here is the venue with the most US Opens since 1970. 

Yea, probably Pebble, Oakmont, Pinehurst, then one other. I like the idea of a random 5th course on the list. Like going back to Chambers Bay. 

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

If Pinehurst is getting the U.S. Open every five years or so, what would the rotation be?

• Pinehurst
• Oakmont
• Winged Foot/Shinnecock
• Pebble
• Random fifth? Or do WF/S split out into separate years?

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some negotiation for tax reduction or other municipal or state support that goes along with the course selection.  The selection of Pinehurst was apparently based in part on tax breaks from North Carolina, and the decision to hold national championships (men's and women's) in the state on a regular basis was part of the conditions for those tax breaks.  Shouldn't we anticipate a similar negotiation in selection of the other "rota" sites??

[iacas]

54 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some negotiation for tax reduction or other municipal or state support that goes along with the course selection.  The selection of Pinehurst was apparently based in part on tax breaks from North Carolina, and the decision to hold national championships (men's and women's) in the state on a regular basis was part of the conditions for those tax breaks.  Shouldn't we anticipate a similar negotiation in selection of the other "rota" sites??

I don't think so. It wasn't that they only are hosting the Opens there. They're moving facilities there, people, jobs, etc.

Very different situations.

[Double Mocha Man]

Now, if you are lucky enough to be stationed at Pinehurst... as a USGA staff member you can walk out the back door at the 4PM quitting time and onto the first tee at 4:01PM.  Why shouldn't they be affixed to a course?  Does anyone who works for them not play golf???

[gbogey]

 

3 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Does anyone who works for them not play golf???

Having once lived near Far Hills, you'd be surprised at the number of people you meet who work for the USGA who don't play golf. Crazy to people like me! I can also tell you that IMO the museum there wasn't heavily visited. It's a great place to live but not to vacation, so they will get much more traffic and interest from visitors to Pinehurst than they did Far Hills.

[Antneye]

I’m about 90 minutes from Pinehurst and there is absolutely nothing there but golfing. The workforce will need to be imported as the surrounding area is nothing but farms. I go out there quite often to play because there are so many choices but there is honestly not much else around. It makes sense to keep building the area around golf because it’s that or nothing and golfers typically have more disposable income than most. 
 

I agree with @iacas that #2 does not make for a great US Open. Having played it, it is not very interesting tee to green but the greens are utterly ridiculous. There’s not much they can really do to change the course up much other than picking silly pin positions. 

[bkuehn1952]

• Pinehurst
• Oakmont
• Winged Foot/Shinnecock
• Pebble
• Random fifth? Or do WF/S split out into separate years?

If this turns out to be accurate, is the US Open really a "National" event?.  NC, PA, NY, CA, ?  I understand the UK having a rota since their landmass is smaller than California.  For the USGA to limit most of the play to 4 states would suck. In fact, suck enough for me to consider dropping support for the USGA.  I hope the USGA just thinks Pinehurst is unique but all the other potential venues are in play.  

[iacas]

6 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

If this turns out to be accurate, is the US Open really a "National" event?.  NC, PA, NY, CA, ?  I understand the UK having a rota since their landmass is smaller than California.  For the USGA to limit most of the play to 4 states would suck. In fact, suck enough for me to consider dropping support for the USGA.  I hope the USGA just thinks Pinehurst is unique but all the other potential venues are in play.  

I think I mis-read it as every five years, when it's every six.

So five rotating courses plus a wild card sixth, perhaps.

If you have a tournament that has four or five places it regularly visits, and 50 states… I don't know what you expect. They're going to hit those five states pretty darn often.

Texas is out. FL. South Carolina. Georgia. Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, etc. Just because it's June and that would be hot.

[bkuehn1952]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

 South Carolina, Georgia. Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, etc. Just because it's June and that would be hot.

Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland, etc ...Every 20 years should be frequent enough.  NC is so much more temperate in June than SC and VA.

[iacas]

1 minute ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland, etc ...Every 20 years should be frequent enough.

That's what the sixth spot is for - the other states.

[Sandy Lie]

For those interested in where they plan to construct the buildings it’s on the right side as you turn off the little turn circle and drive into the clubhouse area. The tennis courts on the right will go away. Here’s a picture of the proposed location: