Who should I follow while watching a practice round at Chambers Bay?

[kurtbayne]

I'm a local who is gonna get a $50 ticket for a practice day.

Firstly, is there one practice day that is better than another?

I personally don't like a lot of crowds.

Secondly, can any golf nerd recommend a golfer or two for me to follow?

I'd like to follow someone who is not a "star" but someone who is good at staying out of trouble and has good course management skills.

I was able to walk 2, 3,16, 17, 18 last week, and the back back tees are just stunning.

As a non-links player, for example, the flagstick looks like it's 900 yards away.

Thanks for your answers

[Rick Martin]

I went to Pinehurst last year for a day to watch the practice round - with my goal to walk and study the entire course at least once (or usually twice). Since I had never been there and walked #2, thought I'd enjoy the TVcast more (and I did).

I wouldn't follow just one or two golfers - I'd stick with one group for a hole, then move on to next hole and then the next hole - you see more players, get to see the course thoroughly.  Then spend time around the short game, putting, and range.....

Oh yeah, bring your best camera.....

[BallStriker]

Being a local, have you played there kurt?

If I was to follow any group, I think it would have to be the PMick/DJohnson money game....typically on Tuesday...

[The Recreational Golfer]

I would recommend following Lindsey Vonn.

[Big C]

Walk the course backwards, starting at 18 (or whatever hole the first group is currently playing) and going towards 1. I walked the south course at Torrey for the farmers open practice round this year and that gave me the best bang for my buck. I wouldn't limit myself to just one group. Trust me- all of these guys have great course management skills, but more importantly they are all capable of some really fantastic shots. Prepare to be impressed and enjoy!

[MrFlipper]

If you are looking to help your game, any one that fits your body type whose swing you would like to copy/imitate?

Or if not, someone whose tempo is something you want to leak into your swing?

I'm pretty tall, but I look to follow folks like Louis Oosthuizen, especially if no one else does. His tempo and rhythm just leaks into your game and you can play well off that sensation for quite a while. Guys who have good tempo and rhythm, never look like they are swinging out of their socks, always in balance.

Geoff Ogilvy is another one for me. Adam Scott, but he attracts big crowds. Aaron Baddeley is another for me, he rarely has big crowds with him.

The famous types attract too big a crowd for me to get close, so I avoid them.

Have fun! They all play great in practice rounds

[Golfingdad]

  Big C said:

Walk the course backwards, starting at 18 (or whatever hole the first group is currently playing) and going towards 1. I walked the south course at Torrey for the farmers open practice round this year and that gave me the best bang for my buck. I wouldn't limit myself to just one group. Trust me- all of these guys have great course management skills, but more importantly they are all capable of some really fantastic shots. Prepare to be impressed and enjoy!

QFT.  Do this and you get to see the entire course and a whole bunch of golfers.

[dsc123]

When I went to the AT&T;, I watched Tiger for a hole, then picked a spot on the front and watched all the interesting players come through, then moved to another spot on the back, then finally to the 18th hole for the last group.  I think I'd do the same thing.  Following Tiger is hard due to the crowds, but he's Tiger Woods and I was trilled to have been able to see him play (and win!).  That's something that will stick with me forever.

Also, my favorite spot was the outer side of a dogleg, right at the bend.  This has the benefit of a good line of sight to the entire hole--tee to green--and the close up viewing of the players when taking their second shot.

Watching players putt was not at all enjoyable for me.  It seemed like they took forever to pick their line and hit the ball, all the while you have to remain silent.

If I were going to a practice round I'd try to spend some time at the range, too.

[kurtbayne]

I'm the poster:

Thanks for the replies guys.

Sounds like I'll be at the range first.

(BTW the new range looks FAAAAAANTASTIC

it looks like it's about 600 yards long and you can land a hundred private planes to boot.

My only beef is that it looks into the morning sun.)

I think I'll walk a few holes with the early groups,

then go to 18 and go backwards,

and then follow someone on the course back up to 18.

And I'll bring a camera (and a ladder?).

Psyched to go after seeing the course again.

The only other tournament I've attended was when I watched Annika's 59.

[Quadhole]

With the course, I would follow a Brit or scot... Someone older too. Not a brit / American transplant either. Danny Willett maybe. Luiten, Harrington maybe ? Justin Rose as he can hit far. Course management is BIG on this course if you watch the video's...

[skydog]

Beyond what's already been said, I would check out Fowler too. I don't kow much about Chambers Bay but assuming there is some decent wind there, it's fun to watch Rickie flight the ball.

As for days, I think Tuesdays are usually the safest bet. Seems like most guys do a full practice session on tuesday while some decide to take it easier on wednesdays to rest up.

[Aguirre]

Make sure you get a schedule of tee times.  I haven't been to a practice round since the 1994 US Open, so I don't know if they simply hand them to you at the gate or what.

Then, try to find a stretch of groups with players you want to see.  Then set up camp on a good hole right in front of those groups and just relax and watch them all come through.  This is a good way to avoid being three deep in a crowd following the most popular players.  If you time it right, you might be able to set up on three different locations and see the same several groups multiple times.

[Rick Martin]

I don't recall any "tee times" for practice rounds at the 2014 US Open.

[tmac20]

Follow a no-name. You'll be able to watch every one of his shots from the closest spot. The biggest mistake I made when I went to the PGA Championship at Oak Hill 2 years ago was following Tiger for one hole. I got stuck in a crowd of people and couldn't move for two minutes in 90 degree humid weather with no air to breath. I'm not even lying when I say that was the most uncomfortable two minutes of my entire life.

[Aguirre]

  Rick Martin said:

I don't recall any "tee times" for practice rounds at the 2014 US Open.

I don't remember if I had a sheet for the practice round.  But I do remember seeing a white board by the first tee with names and times on it.  It could have been that we just used that to find players.

[turtleback]

  Aguirre said:

I don't remember if I had a sheet for the practice round.  But I do remember seeing a white board by the first tee with names and times on it.  It could have been that we just used that to find players.

That is the same as my recollection from the 2008 practice rounds at Torrey.

[hackatthetrack]

I'm a huge Ryan Moore fan so I am going to try and follow him for at least a little bit on the day I see a practice round.

I am going for a practice day and then either Saturday or Sunday, haven't decided which yet. When I go to the Boeing Classic I usually end up following a group that I pick when I get their, but I have also watched in one place for a while at a specific hole (usually 14 because it's fun to watch them go for the green over the canyon), and also done the walk the course backwards thing.

Walking the course backwards is a good piece of advice if you want to see a LOT, by far the best bang for your buck as has already been said. But it's also worth noting that there is something to be said for following one specific group for the entire round. Thursday mornings at the Boeing are usually pretty empty as far as crowds go, and one of the best times I've had was one year walking with a group that probably had ten people with them at most. I thought it was a blast to be able to watch the interaction between golfer and caddie, how they looked at the golf course, what they joked about, hearing a little tour gossip between the players. I thought it was a completely different experience than just watching them hit one shot and move on.

I'll probably feel it out more when I get their, but like I said I hope to follow Ryan some during the round, but if it's packed around him I will not hesitate to pick a less popular group or just walk around the course.

I can't wait, I've never seen a PGA tour event, only the Champions Tour, and I know how blown away I am by the "old" guys play. The thought of the  PGA tours top athletes at Chambers Bay really gets me excited.

[kurtbayne]

thanks again guys, good advice