Golf Before Major PGA Tournament

[atschmale]

Has anyone ever golfed at a course shortly before a major PGA tournament? Was it loud and intrusive? I have the opportunity to play Pebble Beach over Memorial Day weekend (2 weeks before the US open), but am concerned grandstand and other event construction will be a distraction and ruin the experience. I'm wishfully thinking it's either quiet or would be completed by that time... but its just wishful thinking. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[iacas]

22 minutes ago, atschmale said:

Has anyone ever golfed at a course shortly before a major PGA tournament? Was it loud and intrusive? I have the opportunity to play Pebble Beach over Memorial Day weekend (2 weeks before the US open), but am concerned grandstand and other event construction will be a distraction and ruin the experience. I'm wishfully thinking it's either quiet or would be completed by that time... but its just wishful thinking. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I played Kiawah Island about three weeks before the PGA Championship.

I don't know what you mean by "loud and intrusive." The building of grandstands? It wasn't much of anything. A few holes we heard some power tools.

Two weeks out is quite a bit different than three, though.

[atschmale]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

I played Kiawah Island about three weeks before the PGA Championship.

I don't know what you mean by "loud and intrusive." The building of grandstands? It wasn't much of anything. A few holes we heard some power tools.

Two weeks out is quite a bit different than three, though.

That is very helpful. Thank you! And yes, noise from building of the grandstands. I was thinking more the sound of a construction site and less the occasional power tool, which is encouraging. I appreciate the input. 

[chspeed]

On 3/21/2019 at 12:34 PM, atschmale said:

Has anyone ever golfed at a course shortly before a major PGA tournament? Was it loud and intrusive? I have the opportunity to play Pebble Beach over Memorial Day weekend (2 weeks before the US open), but am concerned grandstand and other event construction will be a distraction and ruin the experience. I'm wishfully thinking it's either quiet or would be completed by that time... but its just wishful thinking. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I played Bethpage Black before the Barclay's a few years ago. Thought about playing last week too (before this years PGA). There actually was some building going on (mostly hammering and stuff), but you only heard it on a few holes. Personally, I found the stands kinda ugly compared to how the course normally looks. Also, some wayward shots went into the stands and we had to climb in to find our balls.

Still , the course was in great shape and all-in-all it wasn't a big deal.

[LMoore]

I was fortunate to play Augusta National in 2014 about 2 months before the tournament. No stands, no ropes, and no azaleas, but plenty of green grass.

The wierdest part was standing on #12 tee which is nothing more than a raised tee box with nothing around for 50+ yards in all directions. It seemed out of place since we are so used to seeing grandstands around the tee.

[Groucho Valentine]

37 minutes ago, chspeed said:

I played Bethpage Black before the Barclay's a few years ago. Thought about playing last week too (before this years PGA). There actually was some building going on (mostly hammering and stuff), but you only heard it on a few holes. Personally, I found the stands kinda ugly compared to how the course normally looks. Also, some wayward shots went into the stands and we had to climb in to find our balls.

Still , the course was in great shape and all-in-all it wasn't a big deal.

I remember the course not being in that great of shape a few weeks before that tourney. But maybe they brought it back, i dunno. I was going to play there last weekend too but they're only doing walk ups on the black right now and heard there are people waiting in line for hours. F..that.. I don't live in the boroughs anymore, but Ive been playing at bethpage for 20+ years and theres just something that rubs me the wrong way about waiting to play there. Would rather just turn around and go to kissena or something. 

[chspeed]

27 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

I was going to play there last weekend too but they're only doing walk ups on the black right now and heard there are people waiting in line for hours. F..that..

Yup - saw that, and decided not to play also. I love the course, and play there about 5-10 times a year, but no way I'm sleeping overnight or waiting for hours.

[Groucho Valentine]

43 minutes ago, LMoore said:

I was fortunate to play Augusta National in 2014 about 2 months before the tournament. No stands, no ropes, and no azaleas, but plenty of green grass.

The wierdest part was standing on #12 tee which is nothing more than a raised tee box with nothing around for 50+ yards in all directions. It seemed out of place since we are so used to seeing grandstands around the tee.

The PGA pro i received my first swing instruction from has played there and said the same. Its sort of eerily wide open and empty when you play course the same way the members do without all the grandstands. 

[phan52]

My brother was at Lahinch before the Irish Open and they had to hit off of little mats that the caddies carried if their ball was in the fairways. They had the option to take the ball to the rough if they wished. I remember they did the same at Merion for months before the US Open in 2013. I don't know, do they do that at PGA venues as well? 

[chilepepper]

Played Torrey Pines N a few weeks before the tourney. You were lucky to find your ball in 7” rough just off the fairway. That wasn’t the problem though. Maintenance staff was beyond rude......tow behind fairway blowers running just off the tee boxes, crew wouldn’t leave the greens when you hit into them, they just stood there. It’s not the first time the grounds staff did this nonsense. Pretty insensitive stuff when it’s $200 + with cart to play there

Edited August 2, 2019 by chilepepper