Capelle On Golf

2008 US Open Coverage

On Thursday my friend’s wife dropped us off at the course, then came and picked us up at the end of the day. And when I got in the back seat she handed me a cold soda. What a girl! After such royal treatment I was dreading the bus ride from Qualcom stadium on Friday as it required a ten mile ride to the parking lot, then a 15 mile ride to the course.

I should have known better – the USGA are masters at organization, so the operation went off smooth as silk. I took a window seat in the back and the bus took off before anyone sat next to me. After a few moments I decided it was time to write some notes on the first day’s activities. Here they are, one fans impressions of a day at the Open.

The marshals are a pain (as I wrote about on May 20). I was all set to watch at putt at #2 when a marshal sidled up, raised her arms, and blocked my view.

We stopped to watch Pat Perez, Woody Austin, and Thomas Levet tee off on #11. They all hit it so pure.

Tiger and Phil’s gallery is so enormous on #4 and #5. Watched one shot and putts on #5 and gave up.

Tried to watch Els on #17 but the green was way too elevated.

The grandstands at #4, #14, and #16 are excellent for watching, and the views of the canyons, holes, and the ocean were postcard perfect.

The driving range is the best! Great views of Vijay, Sergio, Goosen, Campbell, Donald and others. And a jumbotron for watching the action. The pro’s swings are so smooth, and the distance they hit the ball is astounding. TV does not do this justice. Nick Taylor hits the ball perfect (but he missed the cut!).

The merchandise tent is a huge store with mostly logoed clothing, and books and artworks. It is a beehive of activity.

I had a club sandwich and it was terrible!

Perception: As Tiger and Phil approached #18 it hit me: we fans are really nothing but extras there to give atmosphere for TV. Out of the 50,000 people who want to see them, only a small percentage succeed.

There is a big bottleneck on #2, #3, and #5 with a steep hillside.

Traps next to the greens are real hazards, especially when a player’s on the short side.

Walked across a fairway at a crossing. Get to see how perfectly manicured the rough and fairways are.

Highway 52 is descending into La Jolla, then up Torrey Pines Road. The bus went right past my late mother’s condo.

I’m passing UCSD. This area is covered with buildings now – a far cry from when I played here in the 1960s.

The bus let us off well opposite the 12th fairway – the farthest distance it could from the first tee!