June 11, 2025 • 44 mins
Joined by Jeff Kiddie– Head Golf Professional at Aronimink- Host of the 2026 PGA Championship. Ryan Fox outlasts Burns in Canada. Preview of The US OPEN at Oakmont, See The Line with Bet Parx and the Course of Course with Harry Mayes.
Thank you to our Sponsors: BetParx, Mall Chevrolet, Comcast Business, Rita’s Water Ice
Thank you to our Sponsors: BetParx, Mall Chevrolet, Comcast Business, Rita’s Water Ice
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
You just got to get out there and swing and
ding it. Yeah, you know, just I guess it's gonna
go out there and try to swing it and ding it.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
All right, welcome in to swing it and ding it
on this major championship week.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Harry mays, the US Open has arrived. I don't know
if you've heard the rough is thick. Yeah, the rough
is deep. I don't know if you've seen any coverage
on that or not.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
But it's hard to believe that we're already at the
third major of the year. Man, Like you know, we
anticipate all these big events and then the Masters comes
and then pretty soon boom, you're in the summer and
it's almost over.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
We're a month away from the last major, you know,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It dawned on me when I went to pick my
one and done where I'm like, oh man, I have
all these live guys that like I haven't used and
now they go away, you have one more you know,
chance to use them, basically right, But yeah, but thanks
for coming, thanks for joining us. We are sponsored by
Bett Parks. We'll talk about that when we see the
line for the US Open. Not quite Scotty versus the field,
but pretty close, Bryson is. Somebody took a chop at that,
(01:26):
uh at that Rory number two spot, which is pretty
cool to see because it's get a little boring with
Scotty Rory.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Scotty Rory. Uh also buy my Balls uh special.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
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Speaker 4 (01:56):
We have to talk about that a little bit more, Harry,
oh boy.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
But yeah, but for now, let's go back up north,
Harry to uh to oh Canada where uh Ryan Fox
we got some extra golf on a on a late
Sunday afternoon, which was pretty cool, but gets his second
PGA Tour win one point seven million dollars and a
spot in the US Open.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
And it came down to some extra extra holes with
Sam Burns, and it was it was an interesting I
don't know what you call it, like just just I
don't I have no words for it, but like looking
into that playoff as like a like almost like a
like a separate event right where with like the mindset
of do I go for it?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Here?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
It was it was an interesting hole to to play
over and over again. I actually I like it when
they when they play a couple holes in a playoff.
But you know, talk about that for a second, Harry
how it was like both of those guys had multiple
chances and Sam Burns, who's Who's bay?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I think they said he has been the best potter
on tour this year, missus A five putt. Isn't that golf? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
It is golf, and you know we got the extra golf.
And after or while watching the extra golf, I'm like,
do we really want this? Because and even Trevor Immlman,
to his credit, you know, called it a pillow fight.
And that's exactly what it was. I mean, it was
a par five, and it took either of them until
the fourth go round when they changed the pin location,
(03:18):
which was another bizarre occurrence.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I've never seen that before.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
That I'm sure they're going out while they're driving down
the tee off the guy's.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Right, he's digging the new hole, and I'm like, man like,
I've never seen this before, but I guess, you know,
obviously that's something that.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
They can do.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And then took till the fourth go round till either
of them was able to make birdie on a par five,
which was really, you know, kind of strange. I know,
the te's were back that day, and that's something that
I thought was kind of a mistake in the setup.
I mean, if you want some more drama, you got
to give these guys a legitimate chance at getting the
ball there in two and create some eagle opportunities having
(03:54):
the teas all the way back. I mean, obviously some
guys could get there and so forth, but it really
it didn't set it off up for playoff drama in
my view, and you know, obviously in hindsight. But that
being said, you know, Ryan Fox finally gets it done
and you know, he's now won twice.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Now, he won one of the opposite.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Field events, I believe at Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago.
So he's playing good golf. But yeah, I'm very surprised
that that Burns, you know, given all those opportunities. He's
got some good length on him too, and you know
is you know, is a great putter and having a
great year with the flat stick. Wasn't able to make
that five six seven foot or whatever it was. And
(04:31):
I believe it's the first or the second extra hole
which would have iced it. But hey, you know, good
for Ryan Fox. And you know, I like the way
Sam Burns is playing. I may use him in a
fantasy lineup this week at the US Open because he
hits it pretty straight and if he's you know, still
putting very well, I think he'd be a guy that
can make the cut. And that's really what you're looking
(04:53):
for here at at Oakmont. But yeah, you know, it
was kind of underwhelming. I wasn't that was the first
time they played at that golf course, the TPC Toronto
at Osprey Point or something, and underwhelming. I thought, you know,
I've liked some of the previous locations for the Canadian
Open much better, So it was kind of.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
An underwhelming weekend.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I know, they're you know, they're banging on the boards
on the fourteenth hole and causing all kinds of calamity
up there, and they're having a good time, but I
don't know the the event kind of. I was about
as interested in the event as Rory McElroy was, because
apparently he didn't care either. Finished twenty some shots outside
the winning score, missing the cut, playing horribly, hitting it
(05:37):
all over the place, and just.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Thinking I think he was working out some new drivers.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
He was, and apparently he's gone back to another driver
so that that driver didn't work out. So but yeah,
there's there's the Canadian Open for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
It was interesting, like Sam Burns was just automatic with
that t shot though, I mean because you know the
way that the bunkers were there kind of set up
or could have you know, Ryan Fox his first playoff hole,
he after after crushing the ball on the eighteenth in regulation,
he goes into the bunker.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
You're like, oh man, all right, here we go. This
is over. Over.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
He smokes it, but it's never over with these guys
on a part five, they could always get back. I
mean it was cool Ryan Fox hitting that long putt
to get it into a playoff. You got the New
Zealand soccer team up in the stands cheering, which is
like random that they were there, and this guy from
New Zealand, you know, wins the tournament. Pretty pretty crazy
if that happened. But how about our guy, you know,
(06:28):
mister congeniality, Cam Young Mmm, I mean I was he.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Had a good epic collapse in the end.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Yeah, but it was a good week for him because
he hasn't been anywhere near the top of a leader
board in a long long time.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
So but yeah, he showed his stats hiring the major's
like he's like a top ten machine in majors.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
This guy, Yeah, he just can't get over the hump.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
But yeah, I mean fires one over the over the green,
you know, can't get out of that the woods in
the back.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, pretty pretty interesting. Well, yeah, RBC Canadian Open. That's
little warm up before the before the big show. Speaking
of Big Show, Harry, it has been launched the Fox
Sports the Gambler Swing It and Ding It Open, benefiting
the Magical Meala Foundation. There will not be heat stroke
this year that we know of, we are moving that
sucker from July to October twentieth. It is live. And
(07:22):
I say this every year and people don't believe me.
It's a race to get in right. We turned away
dozens of foursomes last year because we never we do
not raise our prices, and we add more and more
to it every year.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
It's all to benefit the Magical Meala Foundation.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
And uh we have some I have some more time
to plan, which you know how you know, dangerous, that dangerous.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
A couple more months, there's going to be so many
more things out into this event.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
There might be something on every hole. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
which we were pretty close. We were pretty pretty close.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
But yeah, really looking forward to it this year. The
Legacy Club our fine hosts once again. And if you
remember last year, October was just spectacular from a from
a weather perspective, I mean, so we are hoping to
uh to continue that this year because it would make
it make it really cool. No issues with the Eagles.
They play away the day before in Minnesota. I was
(08:17):
I was wondering could it be a Monday night game
or something like that, but uh, yeah, I think it'll
I think it'll be perfect. We will probably start a
little bit earlier just because of the daylight, but you know,
not too much, not too much change, but yeah, get
in there.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
They are.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I think we have the link is in our bio,
in our Instagram, check our social media. We have foursomes, twosomes.
Sponsor if sponsorship information, just just hit us up directly
and we will uh and we'll take care of that.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
But yeah, looking forward to that sounds looking forward to absolutely.
What's going on in your golf world?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Hair Well, I got a match later today. We've got
about twelve guys, three three groups going out in the
afternoon at the nineteen twelve club. But you know, it's
crazy because we've had such crazy weather.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
It's been very wet.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Obviously, we've gotten a lot of rain in the month
of May and even in early June. So the golf
course is soft and typically for a really good player,
they love that kind of thing. It kind of prohibits
me from a few yards more off the tea.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
You know, a lot of times I'll try to bounce
stuff in on the approach shots too, and you're not
getting any of that. When the ball hits in front
of the green, it pretty much stays where it hit.
So those kinds of things have kind of prevented me
from lowering my scores. But playing with the handicap that
I'm playing with in these matches with skins on the
line and so forth, you know, teammates, and you know,
(09:44):
I've been actually pretty productive. I've actually won skins in
the past three weeks events, so you know that means
I'm making some birdies. You know, I'm making having some
really good holes. So it's been a lot of fun.
I feel like I'm hitting the ball better than ever
and have kind of you know, brought it into dispersion
is good, and you know, getting used to these new irons,
the the callaway irons that I got a few about
(10:07):
a month and a half ago now, and the short
game is actually getting better. So you're like, how are
you not scoring any better? Well, come out and watch
me play sometime and you'll you'll you'll you'll see it.
You'll be entertained, say the least, how about you love it?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Well, this is a big week for me here. This
is Green Valley Member Guest Week, Greeney and I. This
is circled on the calendar every year. Absolute incredible event.
Coop and his team over there, Jackie, uh, the rest
of the staff. They do an unbelievable job with this event.
So this is something I look forward to, uh every year.
So practice round late uh, late afternoon, early evening on Thursday.
(10:43):
We'll get nine holes in and then three night hoole
three night hole matches on Friday, and then two on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
How's the weather looking?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Weather looks Okay, Saturday looked iffy, but it seems like
it's getting a little bit later and later, so I'm
hoping it holds off until we wrap. I mean, it's
gonna be super It always hot, and it's going to
be really hot, so you might get some thunderstorms. But
they always do a great job of getting the getting
everything in there.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
So looking forward to that. So what my goal this year?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
What's the format for the three nines on Friday?
Speaker 3 (11:13):
So it is it's match play, Okay, I guess you
call it what foursomes?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Right?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
If a better score of partner with I think it's
ninety percent of handicap. So my goal this year is
just to go in with clear head and consistency. Right
I I wind up, which way do I want to
hit the ball? Which ball do.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I want to play? Like? So I'm I'm eliminating all that.
I'm going in with what what the plan is, and
I'm sticking with it the whole time and just trying
to just trying to swing nice and easy.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Well, I know you got a new seven wood uh
in the arsenal?
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Will that be on display this week? It has not
arrived yet? Oh really it has not.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
I ordered it and I paid for next day and
I haven't got a note case yet. I was hoping
to have it in hand and play with it during
the practice round. I mean, it's the same spects as
my driver, very similar to my five woulds. I feel
like I'd be comfortable with it, and I feel like
that's a club that would that would serve me well
at that course.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Yeah, in a way, I have a gap. What do you.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
More like a six iron five iron in that range
like that one eighty to one ninety one ninety five shot.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I'm hoping that's where it gets me.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Well, we'll see, but yeah, that's that's that's what That's
what I have one?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Uh to do? I have one and I like it.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
I've had it for Yeah, maybe it might might be
my second full season with it.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Okay, so yeah, I'm hoping it gets here by uh
by today, but I don't I don't think it's I
don't think it's likely likely at this point. But maybe
I'll stop at a store and get one and then
return it, return return to one that comes in the mail.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
We'll see, right, Yeah, but uh yeah, that's the uh
that's the plan for this weekend. So we'll we'll make sure.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
I'll make sure we post some stuff about it and
and keep everybody in for it about Greene and eyes progress.
Greeney is steady man. He just I know you know
what you're gonna get. He's gonna score points. I just
I have to. I have to help him out. That's
that's my goal. I gotta I gotta steal a couple holes, right,
maybe a couple where I'm popping and and get us
some points.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
So, well, now that you've been there a few years
doing this, like you obviously know the golf course pretty
well and have you you say you got a pla,
you have a plan for each hole as to what
you're gonna use off the tee and you're just.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Stick with that.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Yes, absolutely, absolutely, Yeah, it's a lot of where the
Legacy Club is a lot of right to left. I
feel like Green Valley is a lot more left and
right right. I'm playing more of a cut right now.
So just I'm just gonna stick with it. To stick
with it and take an extra club when you need it.
Just just go nice and easy.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
So I tell you talk about that.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
The air has been pretty heavy here lately, where the
you'd think like it's getting summertime, the ball is gonna
fly further. I haven't noticed a whole lot of that yet.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Now that might start this week.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yeah, but but the air has been pretty dense, and
you're you know, you're I've been taking in one extra
in a lot of situations.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
So interesting.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Interesting, All right, Well we are here, Harry, the US
Open at Oakmont, and uh it's so cool. I mean,
I was fortunate enough to play this course October of
last year. It was one of the most fun rounds
I've ever played, one of the coolest experience I've ever had.
Thanks to our friends at all Access. Don't forget there's
(14:30):
a link in our bio for special pricing for all
Access to get you into some of these great places
and on these awesome trips.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
And the place is just so special. It's a time capsule.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
I mean, it's a museum, it's a golf course, it's
it's everything, and it I'm so excited to watch watch
this weekend to see what these guys do. We talked,
we joked in the opening, but they are setting this
up to be a bear of a golf course, a.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Torture chamber what they're setting it up to be. And I,
you know, I just got to ask you, like, what
was it you like on that first tee with that
downhill shot and with the green running front to back
which is downhill as well. For the second shot, we're
seeing guys Zach Blair putting from one hundred and twenty
five yards or about that the green and he actually
(15:13):
put it really close to the hole. It was an
amazing pot the one that was you know, obviously referencing
on social media. But how did you go about, you know,
playing that hole? Since it was your first one, you
were probably nervous. I would I would have been nervous.
Uh So take us through your first hole there?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Interestingly, No, that's part four, that part four? Yeah, how
about that?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
So we actually the way it was I started on
fourteen that day because they they started on the course
but on number one, uh, you know, intimidating right being
up on that tee.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
I kind of like duff my drive.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I don't know, I don't know what I got out
of it, but off to the right and and like
got went nowhere huh? And then I hit a seven
iron to two feet tap in.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Are you serious a second?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
You hit a doff drive off the first tee at
Oakmont nine when it was playing, It plays like four
eighty five or whatever. For the pros, you were probably
up a little bit from that, But then you hit
a seven iron. Where did it?
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Where did it land? Do you remember?
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
I mean definitely early, way in front and just kind
of just rolled and and ran out amazing. It was
a gimme that I putted that. Everybody was like, how
did that just happen?
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Well?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Do you remember the seventeenth hole by any chance? That's
the it's drivable for these guys. It's got the sort
of the dog leg left I believe, with the huge
bunker right in front of the green, and it's a
drivable hole for most, you know, in the amateur events
and in the pro event.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Do you remember that, Yeah, I do. I don't remember
what I did on it. I actually shot at eighty
three at Oakmont, which is insane for me.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
That's amazing, insane.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Which but like you know my game, Harry, if there's
no trees and it's wide open, I always have a
chance to get the ball back and play because I
can hit it far right.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
And that that was so what was happening that day.
That's incredible. A what a memory that is?
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah, But this is the Yeah, took
some great pictures that day. There's one I post a
lot with the bunker that's so cool looking.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
With the church pew bunkers between now just.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
One of the one of the regular steep bunkers that
I'm hitting out of it. But he got the picture
at the right time with the sand shooting up and everything.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Yeahnice, very good. Yeah, hard to believe. This is their
tenth US Open.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Man. You think back, you know, to some of the
guys that have won US Opens here, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicholas,
Johnny Miller with the famous sixty three in the final
round in nineteen seventy three, Larry Nelson the year I
graduated high school, I think shortly after I graduated high school,
Larry Nelson won. He ended up i think with three majors.
(17:55):
Ernie Els in the steam Bath in the nineteen ninety
four US Open onhel Cabrera won his first major on
the on the PGA tour here at Oakmond. And then
Dustin Johnson, remember when Dustin Johnson was one of the
best players in the world. He won his first major here.
(18:15):
He won it at US and then it was controversy
because he didn't really know what score he had because
he was going to be docked strokes. It was just
a kind of a bizarre occurrence and he ended up
winning it and of course went on to win a
Masters as well. So incredible history they've got. They've had
eighteen USGA championships total here, two US Women's Opens, six
(18:36):
amateur events and then the ten US Opens. They've also
had three PGA's championships here. And it was designed by
Henry Phones, who was a steel magnet, one of these
big rich guys you know, back in the eighteen hundreds,
got wealthy, you know, in the steel town of Pittsburgh
and loved golf and played over in Scotland and Ireland.
(18:59):
Place over there to come back and build a golf
course that was reminiscent of that, and purchased this property
and designed it and it was his only design ever
real and it's lasted till today. Is one of the hardest,
maybe the hardest place on the planet to play golf.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
And that's what he designed it to.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
He wanted it to be tough, like really really hard,
and they take real pride in it, you know. That's
why they got upset when Johnny Miller scorched the place after.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
It was wet. He shoots sixty three.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
They're like, nobody shoots sixty three on this golf course.
Gil Hans came back and did a a refurbishment back
in twenty twenty three and brought it back to you know,
similar to the old photographs. Of course, they took trees
down years ago. The place got infested with trees.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
They're all gone.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I think the place is gorgeous, especially from the air
par seventy seventy three hundred and seventy two yards. It's
not super long, it's kind of medium length for these guys,
but the average greens eighty five hundred square feet.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Now you can attest to this.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
These are monstrous complexes right, yes, yeah, Poana and they're
stimping at over fourteen on the stimpmeter. They're Poana approaches,
Poana bent grass in the fairways and the roughest Kentucky
bluegrass rye and po all mixture and it starts at
five inches. And when I've been watching what they try
(20:20):
to do to keep this rough standing up is amazing.
Like they cut it in all different ways with different
types of hand mowers.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Hand mowers, right, and yeah, clippers on the green green.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
See that this guy's taking a clipper like like brace
would use on his dome.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
They're they're they're steered out there right off the green.
It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
But one hundred and sixty eight sand bunkers average fairway
with is twenty eight yards, so pretty tight. And there's
no water hazards. Think about the hardest golf course on
the planet with no water hazards. That's that's amazing. To
no trees, right, and now no tree, plenty of blind
shots and you can attest to that. I mean that
that throws you off when you can't see the you
(21:01):
know the surface of you know, maybe the fair way
where you're trying to aim to or the green surface
makes it.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
A whole lot different.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
But the holes to watch, I mean, you know, every
one of them, but one, eight and seventeen really come
to mind. The first hole is no opening handshake falls
off some sixty feet from tee to green. You've got
to navigate high rough on each side, and then the
green goes front to back with the slope, which is
not you know, the norm on you know, for what
(21:28):
these guys play. It's usually back to front par four
four hundred and eighty eight yards the par three to
eighth hole. Moose could pull out driver and hit the
green probably two hundred and ninety yards for a par three,
and they can stretch it to over three hundred yards
with a huge bunker. Short left they have a diagonal
trench bunker h and then two right of the front
(21:51):
right corner of the green, and then the seventeenth hole,
which is a really cool hole. I remember watching this
in the amateur a few years ago.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
Shorter par four three hundred and twelve yard. It can
play shorter.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Than number eight. The par three believe it or not,
it climbs forty eight feet from tee to green, so
this is an uphill shot. Dog leg left smallest green
on the golf course too, as shaped like sort of
like an upside down Cereal bowl and guarded by five traps.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
All of them are really deep.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
But the one in the front right has a name
to it, and when they're naming bunkers, you know.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
You don't want to be in it.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
It's called big Mouth, and Tiger was in it years ago.
I actually hit a pretty good shot out of it.
But you choose to lay up your approach will probably
have to go over that.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Big Mouth bunker.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
There's only two par fives, number four and twelve, four
par threes six, eight, thirteen and sixteen, and I.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
Can't wait to see what.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
You know, what do you think the final score will
be for this I've been trying to.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Wrestle with this. Ben Griffin, who was on four Play
Pod and a couple other places, said if he was
four over, he'd be happy and feel like he would
have a chance to win the golf event. Yeah, I agree.
I think that.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
I'm thinking plus two we'll win it. It'll be I
got Scotty this week. I've saved him for this event,
and I'm thinking, you know, plus two would be a
great score.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
I'm curious We're gonna talk to Jeff Kitty soon. I'm curious.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I'm I want to get his thoughts on that as
someone who's setting up a golf course for a major,
just to see what he thinks the final score will be.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
But yeah, I can't wait for this one, Harry.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
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Speaker 3 (24:43):
All right, So as we talked about Harry, it's Scottie
at plus two to seventy five. You have Bryson at
seven hundred, John Rahm twelve hundred, Rory at fourteen hundred,
Ludwig twenty two, Xander twenty two, Joaquin Neeman at twenty five,
and then it goes on and on from there. An
interesting sat from our friend Jeff Ulrich, who's a great
(25:04):
follow Make sure you follow at the Fantasy Grind at
the Fantasy Grind US Open winners. Then this is interesting too,
with Jeff Kitty coming on US Open winners of the
past six years and their respective PGA Championship performance of
the same year. Five of six finished inside the top
ten at the PGA Championship, five of six gained over
seven strokes.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Nineteen twenty nineteen Woodland t.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Eight at beth Page, Bryson twenty twenty, t four at
Harding Park, John Rahman twenty one, T eight at Kiowa,
Fitzpatrick t. Five at Southern Hills. The only one, well, yeah,
Bryson who had a second at Valhalla. Wyndham Clark was
the only one outside of that.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
He had he did win the week before the PGA at.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Quail as well, So maybe one and maybe the l
A yeah, yeah, yea. So maybe a guy like Straka
that that helps for But where's your where's your mind
going for this?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
It's interesting mentioned Straka. He's very accurate off the t
He's got great iron game, great approach stats. His putting
is really solid. He's not very good around the greens,
that's the one thing where he falls off. But his
strokes gained total, he's second overall on the tour and
approach he's third. He's in one of my fantasy lineups.
He's plus five thousand. The last I look to win.
(26:20):
I mean I'm taking a shot with him, and I
think his top ten numbers somewhere around plus three hundred.
Henley as well, this guy who I took back when
he won at Bayhill.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
I had him that week.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
He's very accurate off the tee, solid irons. He's great
around the greens, you know, with the short game. He
was fifth a couple of weeks ago at Memorial eight
at the RBC, different type of golf course, and then
one at Bayhill.
Speaker 4 (26:45):
So he's playing great golf.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
He's his number was around sixty five hundred to win.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
I'm taking a shot with that guy.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Those are my two quote unquote long shots in this event.
I'm taking Chawfle over Oberg in a matchup, taking Speef
over Hoveland in a matchup. And my my fantasy team
is Scheffler, Straka, Henley, Burns, Spawn and Aaron Raye. Another
guy who hits it as straight as a string.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Like it. I like it.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
It's hard not to like Bryson this week, went there,
played the course, filmed the entire thing, which that's that's
what Bryson does. But that plus seven hundred number, it's
it's pretty wild. What do you think about Scheffler this week.
I mean it's hard not to.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Well, he's my one and done player I've seen.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Oh wow, Yeah, he's my one guy.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Had him to Harry I saved him too, Yeah, I did,
I'm doing. I both showed restraint this year.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
We did. We did.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I took Bryson at the PGA a couple of weeks ago.
But you know, if he's going to try to bomb
and gouge this golf course with five plus inch rough
that's standing straight up, I'm very curious to see it.
I'll be entertained wildly and you know, maybe he'll be
able to pull it off. Who knows, uh, But I don't.
I don't think he's the winner this week.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
The guy I'm really curious to see this week is
John raw Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
He's my alternate.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
Yeah yeah, I mean I think it's I think you're
going to see him in the top five or he's fiftieth, right,
that's kind of the kind of how he rolls. But yeah,
very very curious to see. And I think I think
it's gonna be very telling from the start of this tournament,
like just how people acclimate to this golf course and
if they're comfortable with it and if they can.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Get it out of this, get it out of the
rough and hit the ball straight.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
But very excited for this one for sure, so looking
forward to it. All right, let's take a quick break
and we'll be back with Jeff kitty Head, golf professional
at Aronomic, the host of the twenty twenty six PGA Championship.
We'll get Jeff's perspective on everything going on this weekend
and obviously preparing his golf course for a major championship.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Be right back, all.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Right, welcome back to Swing It and Ding It, and
we are joined once again return guests Jeff kitty Head,
golf professional at Aronomic, host of the twenty twenty six
PGA Championship in May of next year.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Jeff, welcome back to Swinging and dig It Man.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Yeah, thank having me again.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Absolutely so you know, we'll talk about everything that you're
doing to prepare. But you have a busy morning this
morning to Philly Amateur. It's never easy an easy week
at Ironomic. There's there's a lot of stuff going on there.
So cool event going on right now in your golf course.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah, pretty neat that we got the one hundred and
twenty fifth Philly am going on right now. So it's
been on the books for a few years and we're
happy it's here. And it's been a pretty good week
all thanks considered a little bit, you know, the first
couple of days with we but it's been really good.
The last two days tremendous.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
Well.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Tell us about, you know, your golf course as you
prepare for this PGA which is less now than a
year out. You know, obviously been prepping for this quite
a while. What differences may we see because there's been
you know, majors played on this a long long time ago,
there's been PGA Tour events here, there's been the Women's
PGA just a few years ago. What differences might we
(30:02):
see this go round.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yeah, it's coming fast, and most of our prep work
for the golf course has been completed at this point.
So we've done a few things with narrowing some fairways,
you know, to challenge these these great players, just to
pinch them in a little bit. And some of the
drive zones. We've expanded, some of the holes. We've lengthened
some of the holes I think got five holes. We've
(30:25):
added new tea's, but we've even built a forward te
i thirteen to make the whole more drivable too, so
kind of going both ways to create a little bit
of interest.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Very cool.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I was fortunate enough to play the course last year
with our friend Wes Patterson Harry. It was cool to
see those guys play the course, Guys that could go
back on the back teas and at the ball far
Mike Navian two ingredient. I went out there, but and
you guys were just obviously the preparation was in place
for that.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
You also, I think you were out at Quill Hollow
for the for the PGA Championship there.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah. I'm a member of the PGA of America Rules Committee,
so I go to most PGA Championships to serve as
as a referee. So I was there. You know, I've
been at the last several since COVID and most of
them since twenty sixteen before COVID too, So it was great.
It's it's kind of great that I get to see
it from both sides, from the competitive side and from
the operations and hospitality and all that stuff every year
(31:22):
that I get to kind of do some pre work
as part of my role with the committee.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
Very cool, very cool.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Well, like when a USGA Championship comes to a golf course,
the USG a sort of from what I understand, takes
over and really see, you know, dictates everything. Is that
the same way with a PGA Championship.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Yeah, I don't want to say takeover. I don't even
think they'd say takeover. But it is their championship, it's
a pg of America's championship. It's our PGA championship. And
you know, Aronomic has been involved and they're a great
We're a great partner, and PGA of America is a
great partner too. You know a lot of things are
collaborative decisions on things that we might be doing on
(32:04):
the golf course or decisions we have to make for
infrastructure and things like that. So that you know, they
are a tremendous partner and have been with us. I
mean we're the only club, actually now there's two clubs.
Congressional just did it too, that has hosted all three
of the professional majors for the pg of America, that
being the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, and the
(32:26):
KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Congressional just hosted the Senior Pgson
Now they've hosted all three too, but you know, they
were proud of our partnership with the PGA of America.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Very cool, very cool.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
You know, it's interesting we talk about a lot about
the embarrassment of riches in our area. Right you have
the US Open in our state right now at Oakmont,
and all the courses that we have in our state
and in southern New Jersey and everything that we have.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
What are you looking for this weekend? When we're looking
forward to seeing this weekend?
Speaker 3 (32:56):
When you see, of course, like Oakmont hosting a US Open, yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Know Oakmont's it's it's not quite like watching the Masters
or the Players Championship where you watch it every year,
but you know, we see it often enough, you know,
every you know, six to ten years, it feels like
we're seeing Oakmont, so you kind of know the golf
course and being interstate, I've been there several times too,
so I'm looking forward to seeing how the golf course plays.
It's such a tremendous challenge. I mean, it's, you know,
(33:21):
the epitome of a US Open golf course. So just
you know, seeing how the players manage the golf course.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays with the
work the gil Hans has recently done there too, so
new whole locations on some expanding greens like twelve and thirteen,
So it'll be it'll be fun to see how they
use those, you know, expansions with different whole locations challenges
(33:42):
incredible players.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Well.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Having played college golf in north western Pennsylvania, Gannon, I'm
sure what you played it back then? When was your
first experience with Oakmont.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Yeah, I didn't get to play Oakmont through any any
college tournaments that you know. I did have a couple
you know, teammateser for brothers that were members, so I
had one visit i think, during that time. But most
of the visits have been since I've been a golf professional,
even when I was an upstate New York and made
a trip down. But you know, fortunately played you know
a few times in the last couple of years. So
(34:15):
it's a treat, you know, it's it's it's surely the
test that everybody you know hypes it up to be.
And it feels like my visits have been in the
fall the last few years where they get the greens
outrageously fast, I mean sixteen to seventeen meter readings wre
you don't even know that number can exist, So it's
certainly not playing them at that speed this week.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
It linoleum, not a lot of friction.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Yeah, So you know, it's funny that the truest championship
was here and it seemed to I don't know why,
it seemed to catch the national media almost off guard
about how passionate the Philadelphia fans would be for the
game of golf. It did not catch us, the three
of us, off guard at all. So now going into
a major championship at Aronomic, I'm sure, I'm assuming you
(35:01):
were out there for a little bit, But any takeaways
that you saw from you know, a big event of
signature event hosting in Philly that you know added or
changed anything that you guys were thinking of or perspective
going into a major event at your at your course.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
No, nothing that necessarily necessarily surprised us or you know
that we're taking notes on. You know, they did a
tremendous job and obviously really showcased Philadelphia golf, which is
which is incredible as we know. I mean, there's so
many great courses and you know, cricket certainly doesn't, you know,
fly under the radar. They're a great golf course, incredible
Tilling has to design and incredible clubs. So nothing surprised
(35:39):
us as far as the reception from the players or
the media for how well the golf course showed. So
I think it's just, you know, we're similar in that
we're a Golden age architecture golf course and it'll be
it'll be fun for the players to see it. You know,
they've seen it. You know, a lot of them will
have seen it in twenty eighteen. Obviously, hopefully we have
(36:00):
a lot better weather than we had in twenty eighteen
for the BMW Championship, but you know, it'll be great
to have the best players here on a you know,
a really classic Donald Ross golf course that's been so
thoughtfully restored by Gil Hans. So I think it'll be
a similar type story as far as the architecture. Obviously,
it's a grander stage with you know, being one of
the four Majors. You know, not anything against Truster a
(36:24):
tour event, but it's it's one of the four Majors,
so it's a it's a really special thing.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Well, speaking of Donald Ross, I had read somewhere that
twenty years after he designed it. H you know, he
thought of Ironomic as his masterpiece and that he might
have even outdone that. So you know, what is your
converse said, I'm sure there's a lot of Ross devotees
who reach out to you or you know, want to
come and play the golf. Where does where does this
(36:48):
one sit as far as the you know, the the
Ross architecture people, you know, amongst all of his designs,
is it right near right at the top.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Yeah, I mean he did so many golf course He's
credited with doing so many golf courses, and we all
wonder how much he could have been at each of
these places right at that time, you know, to travel.
But you know, we feel fortunate that you know, and
we have proof. We had there's an eight millimeter film
that you can find on YouTube of Donald Ross on property.
You can see the clubhouse in the background. So we
(37:19):
feel good that you know, what he drew and what
was constructed. You know, had a lot of his his
fingerprints on it because he was here. So you know,
it's an for the North, for a northern golf course.
We're an older Ross. It opened in nineteen twenty eight
when you look at like a Golf Mills as a
nineteen sixteen or some of his even earlier work up
in New England, so it's a little bit later, and
(37:41):
I'd say the style of the bunkering was a little
bit different than maybe Golf Mills was when it was built,
or maybe Essex up in Massachusetts, or some of his
earlier work in New England. Bunkering was a little a
little more dramatic with you know, flash sand instead of
the grass face bunkers. And it was a really long
golf course even when it was built and has obviously
remained a long golf course, so it was it was
(38:03):
built to be, you know, big and bronze. So you know,
we're unique very much for a golf course that's nearly
one hundred years old that we're still playing on our
original greens, all in the original locations, the original phil pads,
so very very authentic.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Donald Ross, So take a second to talk about your membership, right,
we know when when when an event like this comes in,
it could be disrupting, right, it could be a lot
of a lot of change, But from what I've seen
in other events, I think it's it's something that is
absolutely embraced and you see that pride coming through with
with the members being able to showcase their their course.
(38:42):
So just talk about how this year, especially in planning,
comes into play with the membership and how they've responded
to that.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Yeah, it's it's part of our DNA to host, to
host tournaments and host championships. I mean, you know, starting
with the nineteen sixty two PGA Championship, and this is
the first PGA championship in Philadelphia since that nineteen sixty
two PGA Championship Gary Player one, so it's been a
long time since this championship has been in Philadelphia, so
you know, it's really important. And we've hosted other events,
(39:13):
you know, in just in my time, you know, three
tour events and the KPMG Women's PGA and then even
the Senior PG in two thousand and three, which was
before my time here. So it's part of what the
club does. So yes, it is an interruption, sure, but
I think the vast majority of the members really embrace
it and know how incredible this opportunity is. Really being
(39:35):
honored to host one of the four majors, and really,
if you think about it, only one of the two
events that a club like ours could get, we're not
going to get the Masters and we're not going to
get the Open, so it's a US opener of PGA.
So there's very very limited opportunities, so really embracing it.
Club's really, you know, very involved in the volunteer aspect
and all the chair positions for the different departments of
(39:58):
volunteers and vitality sales. So I mean there's a lot
of a lot of members very heavily involved in the
success of this.
Speaker 1 (40:06):
Is there any pool going around as to what the
winning score will be yet?
Speaker 4 (40:10):
Anybody?
Speaker 2 (40:11):
Guess? It's so out of out of anybody's hands. I mean,
it's whether just like Oakmont this week, if it's if
it's firm, you know, it'll be very very challenging, but
softer and the players can attack the attack the flags
a little more liberally. They'll they'll they'll shoot numbers that
maybe Oakmont members aren't thrilled to see. It's it's just
(40:33):
what it is. They're incredible players, and the winning score
is so dictated on weather and conditions, which is largely
out of our control.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
So I guess the best way PGA Championship Dot com
right to get all the information. Are there still opportunities
for volunteers, anything else that that's needed from the area.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Yeah, the volunteer aspect, three thousand volunteers it takes to
put this on, you know, with that perspective to nineteen
sixty two, I think it was like four five hundred
people they had for volunteers. So it's three thousand, three
thousand volunteers to make this work. So we rely on
the community to really help share the load with that,
and it's and that the response has been incredible. I
(41:14):
think there's probably three times as many people interested in
volunteering than spots available, which is just incredible and shows
the love of the game in our region. Ticket sales
are showing the same thing. The pre registration for ticket
sales outpaced every market in the last seven or eight years.
So again, we haven't had this since nineteen sixty two.
(41:37):
We've had other major championships, but you know, that's been
since twenty thirteen that we've had a major in our area.
So the area is starved and excited for it.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
You know.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Let alone that the year it is in sport in Philadelphia.
Oh yeah, an incredible year.
Speaker 4 (41:51):
Year, next year yeah, yeah, well we are looking forward
to it. Go ahead. I well, it's just one last one.
Speaker 1 (41:58):
What do you think about the Philadelphia area as a
PGA tour stop. Should it be an annual thing where
maybe a couple of clubs get together and say, well
we'll do it every four or five years or whatever,
or is it just better off that every now and
then a major championship comes this way?
Speaker 2 (42:15):
You know, that's an interesting, you know argument. You could
probably make a compelling argument from both sides that when
you don't have it here for a long time, it
creates the demand that we're in that we're seeing with
this and how how quickly ticket sales are going and
how many people want to volunteer to be a part
of it.
Speaker 4 (42:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
But there's a lot of markets that have it every
year and support it every year like a like a Charlotte,
and they do great with it every year. I mean, obviously,
I think the interest is there. I mean, you saw
it at Cricket. We're seeing it for us, and we'll
see the same thing and you know, several years at
Marion in twenty thirty and it'll be the same thing.
But you know, and we tried to do it for
(42:54):
a couple of years there with Winsboro. Not we I
mean the market did with the eighty four Lumber event
that went back and forth from western Pennsylvania to to Waynesboro,
and I think it did did nicely. It wasn't the
best spot on the calendar, so obviously in the PGA
Tour calendar has changed a great deal since that event.
So you know, you know, the truest was was really special.
(43:17):
It was a it's a you know, an elevated event
that has that limited field, but has had really incredible field,
had almost all of the top ten players just missing Scottie,
I believe. So it's you know, there's certainly golf courses
that the players would be interested to play, I think regularly.
It's just whether or not they could figure out a
way to do it, you know, calendar wise and and
(43:38):
things like that.
Speaker 3 (43:40):
Well, we are looking forward to it, for sure. It'll
be here before we know it. That's the one thing
we we know. And thank you for joining us continued success.
Good luck with the event this weekend then, and with
the uh with the entire summer's calendar, and make sure
you had the PGA Championship dot Com to check out
all the information for next year, and uh, we're excited
(44:00):
to be out there and see it firsthand, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
Guys, thanks for having me on letting us talk about
the PG Championship. We're really excited about it and so
I appreciate it absolutely.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
All right, thank you for listening, and we'll be back
next week. We'll let you we'll recap who made it
through the rough at Oakmont.
Speaker 4 (44:20):
Thanks for listening to listen, swing it and ding it
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
You just got to get out there and swing and
ding it. Yeah, you know, just I guess it's gonna
go out there and try to swing it and ding it.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
All right, welcome in to swing it and ding it
on this major championship week.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Harry mays, the US Open has arrived. I don't know
if you've heard the rough is thick. Yeah, the rough
is deep. I don't know if you've seen any coverage
on that or not.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
But it's hard to believe that we're already at the
third major of the year. Man, Like you know, we
anticipate all these big events and then the Masters comes
and then pretty soon boom, you're in the summer and
it's almost over.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
We're a month away from the last major, you know,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It dawned on me when I went to pick my
one and done where I'm like, oh man, I have
all these live guys that like I haven't used and
now they go away, you have one more you know,
chance to use them, basically right, But yeah, but thanks
for coming, thanks for joining us. We are sponsored by
Bett Parks. We'll talk about that when we see the
line for the US Open. Not quite Scotty versus the field,
but pretty close, Bryson is. Somebody took a chop at that,
(01:26):
uh at that Rory number two spot, which is pretty
cool to see because it's get a little boring with
Scotty Rory.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Scotty Rory. Uh also buy my Balls uh special.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
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Speaker 4 (01:56):
We have to talk about that a little bit more, Harry,
oh boy.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
But yeah, but for now, let's go back up north,
Harry to uh to oh Canada where uh Ryan Fox
we got some extra golf on a on a late
Sunday afternoon, which was pretty cool, but gets his second
PGA Tour win one point seven million dollars and a
spot in the US Open.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
And it came down to some extra extra holes with
Sam Burns, and it was it was an interesting I
don't know what you call it, like just just I
don't I have no words for it, but like looking
into that playoff as like a like almost like a
like a separate event right where with like the mindset
of do I go for it?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Here?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
It was it was an interesting hole to to play
over and over again. I actually I like it when
they when they play a couple holes in a playoff.
But you know, talk about that for a second, Harry
how it was like both of those guys had multiple
chances and Sam Burns, who's Who's bay?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I think they said he has been the best potter
on tour this year, missus A five putt. Isn't that golf? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
It is golf, and you know we got the extra golf.
And after or while watching the extra golf, I'm like,
do we really want this? Because and even Trevor Immlman,
to his credit, you know, called it a pillow fight.
And that's exactly what it was. I mean, it was
a par five, and it took either of them until
the fourth go round when they changed the pin location,
(03:18):
which was another bizarre occurrence.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I've never seen that before.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
That I'm sure they're going out while they're driving down
the tee off the guy's.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Right, he's digging the new hole, and I'm like, man like,
I've never seen this before, but I guess, you know,
obviously that's something that.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
They can do.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And then took till the fourth go round till either
of them was able to make birdie on a par five,
which was really, you know, kind of strange. I know,
the te's were back that day, and that's something that
I thought was kind of a mistake in the setup.
I mean, if you want some more drama, you got
to give these guys a legitimate chance at getting the
ball there in two and create some eagle opportunities having
(03:54):
the teas all the way back. I mean, obviously some
guys could get there and so forth, but it really
it didn't set it off up for playoff drama in
my view, and you know, obviously in hindsight. But that
being said, you know, Ryan Fox finally gets it done
and you know, he's now won twice.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Now, he won one of the opposite.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Field events, I believe at Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago.
So he's playing good golf. But yeah, I'm very surprised
that that Burns, you know, given all those opportunities. He's
got some good length on him too, and you know
is you know, is a great putter and having a
great year with the flat stick. Wasn't able to make
that five six seven foot or whatever it was. And
(04:31):
I believe it's the first or the second extra hole
which would have iced it. But hey, you know, good
for Ryan Fox. And you know, I like the way
Sam Burns is playing. I may use him in a
fantasy lineup this week at the US Open because he
hits it pretty straight and if he's you know, still
putting very well, I think he'd be a guy that
can make the cut. And that's really what you're looking
(04:53):
for here at at Oakmont. But yeah, you know, it
was kind of underwhelming. I wasn't that was the first
time they played at that golf course, the TPC Toronto
at Osprey Point or something, and underwhelming. I thought, you know,
I've liked some of the previous locations for the Canadian
Open much better, So it was kind of.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
An underwhelming weekend.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I know, they're you know, they're banging on the boards
on the fourteenth hole and causing all kinds of calamity
up there, and they're having a good time, but I
don't know the the event kind of. I was about
as interested in the event as Rory McElroy was, because
apparently he didn't care either. Finished twenty some shots outside
the winning score, missing the cut, playing horribly, hitting it
(05:37):
all over the place, and just.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Thinking I think he was working out some new drivers.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
He was, and apparently he's gone back to another driver
so that that driver didn't work out. So but yeah,
there's there's the Canadian Open for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
It was interesting, like Sam Burns was just automatic with
that t shot though, I mean because you know the
way that the bunkers were there kind of set up
or could have you know, Ryan Fox his first playoff hole,
he after after crushing the ball on the eighteenth in regulation,
he goes into the bunker.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
You're like, oh man, all right, here we go. This
is over. Over.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
He smokes it, but it's never over with these guys
on a part five, they could always get back. I
mean it was cool Ryan Fox hitting that long putt
to get it into a playoff. You got the New
Zealand soccer team up in the stands cheering, which is
like random that they were there, and this guy from
New Zealand, you know, wins the tournament. Pretty pretty crazy
if that happened. But how about our guy, you know,
(06:28):
mister congeniality, Cam Young Mmm, I mean I was he.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Had a good epic collapse in the end.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Yeah, but it was a good week for him because
he hasn't been anywhere near the top of a leader
board in a long long time.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
So but yeah, he showed his stats hiring the major's
like he's like a top ten machine in majors.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
This guy, Yeah, he just can't get over the hump.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
But yeah, I mean fires one over the over the green,
you know, can't get out of that the woods in
the back.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, pretty pretty interesting. Well, yeah, RBC Canadian Open. That's
little warm up before the before the big show. Speaking
of Big Show, Harry, it has been launched the Fox
Sports the Gambler Swing It and Ding It Open, benefiting
the Magical Meala Foundation. There will not be heat stroke
this year that we know of, we are moving that
sucker from July to October twentieth. It is live. And
(07:22):
I say this every year and people don't believe me.
It's a race to get in right. We turned away
dozens of foursomes last year because we never we do
not raise our prices, and we add more and more
to it every year.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
It's all to benefit the Magical Meala Foundation.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
And uh we have some I have some more time
to plan, which you know how you know, dangerous, that dangerous.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
A couple more months, there's going to be so many
more things out into this event.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
There might be something on every hole. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
which we were pretty close. We were pretty pretty close.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
But yeah, really looking forward to it this year. The
Legacy Club our fine hosts once again. And if you
remember last year, October was just spectacular from a from
a weather perspective, I mean, so we are hoping to
uh to continue that this year because it would make
it make it really cool. No issues with the Eagles.
They play away the day before in Minnesota. I was
(08:17):
I was wondering could it be a Monday night game
or something like that, but uh, yeah, I think it'll
I think it'll be perfect. We will probably start a
little bit earlier just because of the daylight, but you know,
not too much, not too much change, but yeah, get
in there.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
They are.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I think we have the link is in our bio,
in our Instagram, check our social media. We have foursomes, twosomes.
Sponsor if sponsorship information, just just hit us up directly
and we will uh and we'll take care of that.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
But yeah, looking forward to that sounds looking forward to absolutely.
What's going on in your golf world?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Hair Well, I got a match later today. We've got
about twelve guys, three three groups going out in the
afternoon at the nineteen twelve club. But you know, it's
crazy because we've had such crazy weather.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
It's been very wet.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Obviously, we've gotten a lot of rain in the month
of May and even in early June. So the golf
course is soft and typically for a really good player,
they love that kind of thing. It kind of prohibits
me from a few yards more off the tea.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
You know, a lot of times I'll try to bounce
stuff in on the approach shots too, and you're not
getting any of that. When the ball hits in front
of the green, it pretty much stays where it hit.
So those kinds of things have kind of prevented me
from lowering my scores. But playing with the handicap that
I'm playing with in these matches with skins on the
line and so forth, you know, teammates, and you know,
(09:44):
I've been actually pretty productive. I've actually won skins in
the past three weeks events, so you know that means
I'm making some birdies. You know, I'm making having some
really good holes. So it's been a lot of fun.
I feel like I'm hitting the ball better than ever
and have kind of you know, brought it into dispersion
is good, and you know, getting used to these new irons,
the the callaway irons that I got a few about
(10:07):
a month and a half ago now, and the short
game is actually getting better. So you're like, how are
you not scoring any better? Well, come out and watch
me play sometime and you'll you'll you'll you'll see it.
You'll be entertained, say the least, how about you love it?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Well, this is a big week for me here. This
is Green Valley Member Guest Week, Greeney and I. This
is circled on the calendar every year. Absolute incredible event.
Coop and his team over there, Jackie, uh, the rest
of the staff. They do an unbelievable job with this event.
So this is something I look forward to, uh every year.
So practice round late uh, late afternoon, early evening on Thursday.
(10:43):
We'll get nine holes in and then three night hoole
three night hole matches on Friday, and then two on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
How's the weather looking?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Weather looks Okay, Saturday looked iffy, but it seems like
it's getting a little bit later and later, so I'm
hoping it holds off until we wrap. I mean, it's
gonna be super It always hot, and it's going to
be really hot, so you might get some thunderstorms. But
they always do a great job of getting the getting
everything in there.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
So looking forward to that. So what my goal this year?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
What's the format for the three nines on Friday?
Speaker 3 (11:13):
So it is it's match play, Okay, I guess you
call it what foursomes?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Right?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
If a better score of partner with I think it's
ninety percent of handicap. So my goal this year is
just to go in with clear head and consistency. Right
I I wind up, which way do I want to
hit the ball? Which ball do.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I want to play? Like? So I'm I'm eliminating all that.
I'm going in with what what the plan is, and
I'm sticking with it the whole time and just trying
to just trying to swing nice and easy.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Well, I know you got a new seven wood uh
in the arsenal?
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Will that be on display this week? It has not
arrived yet? Oh really it has not.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
I ordered it and I paid for next day and
I haven't got a note case yet. I was hoping
to have it in hand and play with it during
the practice round. I mean, it's the same spects as
my driver, very similar to my five woulds. I feel
like I'd be comfortable with it, and I feel like
that's a club that would that would serve me well
at that course.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Yeah, in a way, I have a gap. What do you.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
More like a six iron five iron in that range
like that one eighty to one ninety one ninety five shot.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I'm hoping that's where it gets me.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Well, we'll see, but yeah, that's that's that's what That's
what I have one?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Uh to do? I have one and I like it.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
I've had it for Yeah, maybe it might might be
my second full season with it.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Okay, so yeah, I'm hoping it gets here by uh
by today, but I don't I don't think it's I
don't think it's likely likely at this point. But maybe
I'll stop at a store and get one and then
return it, return return to one that comes in the mail.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
We'll see, right, Yeah, but uh yeah, that's the uh
that's the plan for this weekend. So we'll we'll make sure.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
I'll make sure we post some stuff about it and
and keep everybody in for it about Greene and eyes progress.
Greeney is steady man. He just I know you know
what you're gonna get. He's gonna score points. I just
I have to. I have to help him out. That's
that's my goal. I gotta I gotta steal a couple holes, right,
maybe a couple where I'm popping and and get us
some points.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
So, well, now that you've been there a few years
doing this, like you obviously know the golf course pretty
well and have you you say you got a pla,
you have a plan for each hole as to what
you're gonna use off the tee and you're just.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Stick with that.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Yes, absolutely, absolutely, Yeah, it's a lot of where the
Legacy Club is a lot of right to left. I
feel like Green Valley is a lot more left and
right right. I'm playing more of a cut right now.
So just I'm just gonna stick with it. To stick
with it and take an extra club when you need it.
Just just go nice and easy.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
So I tell you talk about that.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
The air has been pretty heavy here lately, where the
you'd think like it's getting summertime, the ball is gonna
fly further. I haven't noticed a whole lot of that yet.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Now that might start this week.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yeah, but but the air has been pretty dense, and
you're you know, you're I've been taking in one extra
in a lot of situations.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
So interesting.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Interesting, All right, Well we are here, Harry, the US
Open at Oakmont, and uh it's so cool. I mean,
I was fortunate enough to play this course October of
last year. It was one of the most fun rounds
I've ever played, one of the coolest experience I've ever had.
Thanks to our friends at all Access. Don't forget there's
(14:30):
a link in our bio for special pricing for all
Access to get you into some of these great places
and on these awesome trips.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
And the place is just so special. It's a time capsule.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
I mean, it's a museum, it's a golf course, it's
it's everything, and it I'm so excited to watch watch
this weekend to see what these guys do. We talked,
we joked in the opening, but they are setting this
up to be a bear of a golf course, a.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Torture chamber what they're setting it up to be. And I,
you know, I just got to ask you, like, what
was it you like on that first tee with that
downhill shot and with the green running front to back
which is downhill as well. For the second shot, we're
seeing guys Zach Blair putting from one hundred and twenty
five yards or about that the green and he actually
(15:13):
put it really close to the hole. It was an
amazing pot the one that was you know, obviously referencing
on social media. But how did you go about, you know,
playing that hole? Since it was your first one, you
were probably nervous. I would I would have been nervous.
Uh So take us through your first hole there?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Interestingly, No, that's part four, that part four? Yeah, how
about that?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
So we actually the way it was I started on
fourteen that day because they they started on the course
but on number one, uh, you know, intimidating right being
up on that tee.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
I kind of like duff my drive.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I don't know, I don't know what I got out
of it, but off to the right and and like
got went nowhere huh? And then I hit a seven
iron to two feet tap in.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Are you serious a second?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
You hit a doff drive off the first tee at
Oakmont nine when it was playing, It plays like four
eighty five or whatever. For the pros, you were probably
up a little bit from that, But then you hit
a seven iron. Where did it?
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Where did it land? Do you remember?
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
I mean definitely early, way in front and just kind
of just rolled and and ran out amazing. It was
a gimme that I putted that. Everybody was like, how
did that just happen?
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Well?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Do you remember the seventeenth hole by any chance? That's
the it's drivable for these guys. It's got the sort
of the dog leg left I believe, with the huge
bunker right in front of the green, and it's a
drivable hole for most, you know, in the amateur events
and in the pro event.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Do you remember that, Yeah, I do. I don't remember
what I did on it. I actually shot at eighty
three at Oakmont, which is insane for me.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
That's amazing, insane.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Which but like you know my game, Harry, if there's
no trees and it's wide open, I always have a
chance to get the ball back and play because I
can hit it far right.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
And that that was so what was happening that day.
That's incredible. A what a memory that is?
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah, But this is the Yeah, took
some great pictures that day. There's one I post a
lot with the bunker that's so cool looking.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
With the church pew bunkers between now just.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
One of the one of the regular steep bunkers that
I'm hitting out of it. But he got the picture
at the right time with the sand shooting up and everything.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Yeahnice, very good. Yeah, hard to believe. This is their
tenth US Open.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Man. You think back, you know, to some of the
guys that have won US Opens here, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicholas,
Johnny Miller with the famous sixty three in the final
round in nineteen seventy three, Larry Nelson the year I
graduated high school, I think shortly after I graduated high school,
Larry Nelson won. He ended up i think with three majors.
(17:55):
Ernie Els in the steam Bath in the nineteen ninety
four US Open onhel Cabrera won his first major on
the on the PGA tour here at Oakmond. And then
Dustin Johnson, remember when Dustin Johnson was one of the
best players in the world. He won his first major here.
(18:15):
He won it at US and then it was controversy
because he didn't really know what score he had because
he was going to be docked strokes. It was just
a kind of a bizarre occurrence and he ended up
winning it and of course went on to win a
Masters as well. So incredible history they've got. They've had
eighteen USGA championships total here, two US Women's Opens, six
(18:36):
amateur events and then the ten US Opens. They've also
had three PGA's championships here. And it was designed by
Henry Phones, who was a steel magnet, one of these
big rich guys you know, back in the eighteen hundreds,
got wealthy, you know, in the steel town of Pittsburgh
and loved golf and played over in Scotland and Ireland.
(18:59):
Place over there to come back and build a golf
course that was reminiscent of that, and purchased this property
and designed it and it was his only design ever
real and it's lasted till today. Is one of the hardest,
maybe the hardest place on the planet to play golf.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
And that's what he designed it to.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
He wanted it to be tough, like really really hard,
and they take real pride in it, you know. That's
why they got upset when Johnny Miller scorched the place after.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
It was wet. He shoots sixty three.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
They're like, nobody shoots sixty three on this golf course.
Gil Hans came back and did a a refurbishment back
in twenty twenty three and brought it back to you know,
similar to the old photographs. Of course, they took trees
down years ago. The place got infested with trees.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
They're all gone.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I think the place is gorgeous, especially from the air
par seventy seventy three hundred and seventy two yards. It's
not super long, it's kind of medium length for these guys,
but the average greens eighty five hundred square feet.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Now you can attest to this.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
These are monstrous complexes right, yes, yeah, Poana and they're
stimping at over fourteen on the stimpmeter. They're Poana approaches,
Poana bent grass in the fairways and the roughest Kentucky
bluegrass rye and po all mixture and it starts at
five inches. And when I've been watching what they try
(20:20):
to do to keep this rough standing up is amazing.
Like they cut it in all different ways with different
types of hand mowers.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Hand mowers, right, and yeah, clippers on the green green.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
See that this guy's taking a clipper like like brace
would use on his dome.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
They're they're they're steered out there right off the green.
It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
But one hundred and sixty eight sand bunkers average fairway
with is twenty eight yards, so pretty tight. And there's
no water hazards. Think about the hardest golf course on
the planet with no water hazards. That's that's amazing. To
no trees, right, and now no tree, plenty of blind
shots and you can attest to that. I mean that
that throws you off when you can't see the you
(21:01):
know the surface of you know, maybe the fair way
where you're trying to aim to or the green surface
makes it.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
A whole lot different.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
But the holes to watch, I mean, you know, every
one of them, but one, eight and seventeen really come
to mind. The first hole is no opening handshake falls
off some sixty feet from tee to green. You've got
to navigate high rough on each side, and then the
green goes front to back with the slope, which is
not you know, the norm on you know, for what
(21:28):
these guys play. It's usually back to front par four
four hundred and eighty eight yards the par three to
eighth hole. Moose could pull out driver and hit the
green probably two hundred and ninety yards for a par three,
and they can stretch it to over three hundred yards
with a huge bunker. Short left they have a diagonal
trench bunker h and then two right of the front
(21:51):
right corner of the green, and then the seventeenth hole,
which is a really cool hole. I remember watching this
in the amateur a few years ago.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
Shorter par four three hundred and twelve yard. It can
play shorter.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Than number eight. The par three believe it or not,
it climbs forty eight feet from tee to green, so
this is an uphill shot. Dog leg left smallest green
on the golf course too, as shaped like sort of
like an upside down Cereal bowl and guarded by five traps.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
All of them are really deep.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
But the one in the front right has a name
to it, and when they're naming bunkers, you know.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
You don't want to be in it.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
It's called big Mouth, and Tiger was in it years ago.
I actually hit a pretty good shot out of it.
But you choose to lay up your approach will probably
have to go over that.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Big Mouth bunker.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
There's only two par fives, number four and twelve, four
par threes six, eight, thirteen and sixteen, and I.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
Can't wait to see what.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
You know, what do you think the final score will
be for this I've been trying to.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Wrestle with this. Ben Griffin, who was on four Play
Pod and a couple other places, said if he was
four over, he'd be happy and feel like he would
have a chance to win the golf event. Yeah, I agree.
I think that.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
I'm thinking plus two we'll win it. It'll be I
got Scotty this week. I've saved him for this event,
and I'm thinking, you know, plus two would be a
great score.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
I'm curious We're gonna talk to Jeff Kitty soon. I'm curious.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I'm I want to get his thoughts on that as
someone who's setting up a golf course for a major,
just to see what he thinks the final score will be.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
But yeah, I can't wait for this one, Harry.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
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Speaker 3 (24:43):
All right, So as we talked about Harry, it's Scottie
at plus two to seventy five. You have Bryson at
seven hundred, John Rahm twelve hundred, Rory at fourteen hundred,
Ludwig twenty two, Xander twenty two, Joaquin Neeman at twenty five,
and then it goes on and on from there. An
interesting sat from our friend Jeff Ulrich, who's a great
(25:04):
follow Make sure you follow at the Fantasy Grind at
the Fantasy Grind US Open winners. Then this is interesting too,
with Jeff Kitty coming on US Open winners of the
past six years and their respective PGA Championship performance of
the same year. Five of six finished inside the top
ten at the PGA Championship, five of six gained over
seven strokes.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Nineteen twenty nineteen Woodland t.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Eight at beth Page, Bryson twenty twenty, t four at
Harding Park, John Rahman twenty one, T eight at Kiowa,
Fitzpatrick t. Five at Southern Hills. The only one, well, yeah,
Bryson who had a second at Valhalla. Wyndham Clark was
the only one outside of that.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
He had he did win the week before the PGA at.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Quail as well, So maybe one and maybe the l
A yeah, yeah, yea. So maybe a guy like Straka
that that helps for But where's your where's your mind
going for this?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
It's interesting mentioned Straka. He's very accurate off the t
He's got great iron game, great approach stats. His putting
is really solid. He's not very good around the greens,
that's the one thing where he falls off. But his
strokes gained total, he's second overall on the tour and
approach he's third. He's in one of my fantasy lineups.
He's plus five thousand. The last I look to win.
(26:20):
I mean I'm taking a shot with him, and I
think his top ten numbers somewhere around plus three hundred.
Henley as well, this guy who I took back when
he won at Bayhill.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
I had him that week.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
He's very accurate off the tee, solid irons. He's great
around the greens, you know, with the short game. He
was fifth a couple of weeks ago at Memorial eight
at the RBC, different type of golf course, and then
one at Bayhill.
Speaker 4 (26:45):
So he's playing great golf.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
He's his number was around sixty five hundred to win.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
I'm taking a shot with that guy.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Those are my two quote unquote long shots in this event.
I'm taking Chawfle over Oberg in a matchup, taking Speef
over Hoveland in a matchup. And my my fantasy team
is Scheffler, Straka, Henley, Burns, Spawn and Aaron Raye. Another
guy who hits it as straight as a string.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Like it. I like it.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
It's hard not to like Bryson this week, went there,
played the course, filmed the entire thing, which that's that's
what Bryson does. But that plus seven hundred number, it's
it's pretty wild. What do you think about Scheffler this week.
I mean it's hard not to.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Well, he's my one and done player I've seen.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Oh wow, Yeah, he's my one guy.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Had him to Harry I saved him too, Yeah, I did,
I'm doing. I both showed restraint this year.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
We did. We did.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I took Bryson at the PGA a couple of weeks ago.
But you know, if he's going to try to bomb
and gouge this golf course with five plus inch rough
that's standing straight up, I'm very curious to see it.
I'll be entertained wildly and you know, maybe he'll be
able to pull it off. Who knows, uh, But I don't.
I don't think he's the winner this week.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
The guy I'm really curious to see this week is
John raw Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
He's my alternate.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
Yeah yeah, I mean I think it's I think you're
going to see him in the top five or he's fiftieth, right,
that's kind of the kind of how he rolls. But yeah,
very very curious to see. And I think I think
it's gonna be very telling from the start of this tournament,
like just how people acclimate to this golf course and
if they're comfortable with it and if they can.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Get it out of this, get it out of the
rough and hit the ball straight.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
But very excited for this one for sure, so looking
forward to it. All right, let's take a quick break
and we'll be back with Jeff kitty Head, golf professional
at Aronomic, the host of the twenty twenty six PGA Championship.
We'll get Jeff's perspective on everything going on this weekend
and obviously preparing his golf course for a major championship.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Be right back, all.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Right, welcome back to Swing It and Ding It, and
we are joined once again return guests Jeff kitty Head,
golf professional at Aronomic, host of the twenty twenty six
PGA Championship in May of next year.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Jeff, welcome back to Swinging and dig It Man.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Yeah, thank having me again.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Absolutely so you know, we'll talk about everything that you're
doing to prepare. But you have a busy morning this
morning to Philly Amateur. It's never easy an easy week
at Ironomic. There's there's a lot of stuff going on there.
So cool event going on right now in your golf course.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah, pretty neat that we got the one hundred and
twenty fifth Philly am going on right now. So it's
been on the books for a few years and we're
happy it's here. And it's been a pretty good week
all thanks considered a little bit, you know, the first
couple of days with we but it's been really good.
The last two days tremendous.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
Well.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Tell us about, you know, your golf course as you
prepare for this PGA which is less now than a
year out. You know, obviously been prepping for this quite
a while. What differences may we see because there's been
you know, majors played on this a long long time ago,
there's been PGA Tour events here, there's been the Women's
PGA just a few years ago. What differences might we
(30:02):
see this go round.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Yeah, it's coming fast, and most of our prep work
for the golf course has been completed at this point.
So we've done a few things with narrowing some fairways,
you know, to challenge these these great players, just to
pinch them in a little bit. And some of the
drive zones. We've expanded, some of the holes. We've lengthened
some of the holes I think got five holes. We've
(30:25):
added new tea's, but we've even built a forward te
i thirteen to make the whole more drivable too, so
kind of going both ways to create a little bit
of interest.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Very cool.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I was fortunate enough to play the course last year
with our friend Wes Patterson Harry. It was cool to
see those guys play the course, Guys that could go
back on the back teas and at the ball far
Mike Navian two ingredient. I went out there, but and
you guys were just obviously the preparation was in place
for that.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
You also, I think you were out at Quill Hollow
for the for the PGA Championship there.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yeah. I'm a member of the PGA of America Rules Committee,
so I go to most PGA Championships to serve as
as a referee. So I was there. You know, I've
been at the last several since COVID and most of
them since twenty sixteen before COVID too, So it was great.
It's it's kind of great that I get to see
it from both sides, from the competitive side and from
the operations and hospitality and all that stuff every year
(31:22):
that I get to kind of do some pre work
as part of my role with the committee.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
Very cool, very cool.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Well, like when a USGA Championship comes to a golf course,
the USG a sort of from what I understand, takes
over and really see, you know, dictates everything. Is that
the same way with a PGA Championship.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Yeah, I don't want to say takeover. I don't even
think they'd say takeover. But it is their championship, it's
a pg of America's championship. It's our PGA championship. And
you know, Aronomic has been involved and they're a great
We're a great partner, and PGA of America is a
great partner too. You know a lot of things are
collaborative decisions on things that we might be doing on
(32:04):
the golf course or decisions we have to make for
infrastructure and things like that. So that you know, they
are a tremendous partner and have been with us. I
mean we're the only club, actually now there's two clubs.
Congressional just did it too, that has hosted all three
of the professional majors for the pg of America, that
being the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, and the
(32:26):
KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Congressional just hosted the Senior Pgson
Now they've hosted all three too, but you know, they
were proud of our partnership with the PGA of America.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Very cool, very cool.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
You know, it's interesting we talk about a lot about
the embarrassment of riches in our area. Right you have
the US Open in our state right now at Oakmont,
and all the courses that we have in our state
and in southern New Jersey and everything that we have.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
What are you looking for this weekend? When we're looking
forward to seeing this weekend?
Speaker 3 (32:56):
When you see, of course, like Oakmont hosting a US Open, yeah, you.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Know Oakmont's it's it's not quite like watching the Masters
or the Players Championship where you watch it every year,
but you know, we see it often enough, you know,
every you know, six to ten years, it feels like
we're seeing Oakmont, so you kind of know the golf
course and being interstate, I've been there several times too,
so I'm looking forward to seeing how the golf course plays.
It's such a tremendous challenge. I mean, it's, you know,
(33:21):
the epitome of a US Open golf course. So just
you know, seeing how the players manage the golf course.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays with the
work the gil Hans has recently done there too, so
new whole locations on some expanding greens like twelve and thirteen,
So it'll be it'll be fun to see how they
use those, you know, expansions with different whole locations challenges
(33:42):
incredible players.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Well.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Having played college golf in north western Pennsylvania, Gannon, I'm
sure what you played it back then? When was your
first experience with Oakmont.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Yeah, I didn't get to play Oakmont through any any
college tournaments that you know. I did have a couple
you know, teammateser for brothers that were members, so I
had one visit i think, during that time. But most
of the visits have been since I've been a golf professional,
even when I was an upstate New York and made
a trip down. But you know, fortunately played you know
a few times in the last couple of years. So
(34:15):
it's a treat, you know, it's it's it's surely the
test that everybody you know hypes it up to be.
And it feels like my visits have been in the
fall the last few years where they get the greens
outrageously fast, I mean sixteen to seventeen meter readings wre
you don't even know that number can exist, So it's
certainly not playing them at that speed this week.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
It linoleum, not a lot of friction.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Yeah, So you know, it's funny that the truest championship
was here and it seemed to I don't know why,
it seemed to catch the national media almost off guard
about how passionate the Philadelphia fans would be for the
game of golf. It did not catch us, the three
of us, off guard at all. So now going into
a major championship at Aronomic, I'm sure, I'm assuming you
(35:01):
were out there for a little bit, But any takeaways
that you saw from you know, a big event of
signature event hosting in Philly that you know added or
changed anything that you guys were thinking of or perspective
going into a major event at your at your course.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
No, nothing that necessarily necessarily surprised us or you know
that we're taking notes on. You know, they did a
tremendous job and obviously really showcased Philadelphia golf, which is
which is incredible as we know. I mean, there's so
many great courses and you know, cricket certainly doesn't, you know,
fly under the radar. They're a great golf course, incredible
Tilling has to design and incredible clubs. So nothing surprised
(35:39):
us as far as the reception from the players or
the media for how well the golf course showed. So
I think it's just, you know, we're similar in that
we're a Golden age architecture golf course and it'll be
it'll be fun for the players to see it. You know,
they've seen it. You know, a lot of them will
have seen it in twenty eighteen. Obviously, hopefully we have
(36:00):
a lot better weather than we had in twenty eighteen
for the BMW Championship, but you know, it'll be great
to have the best players here on a you know,
a really classic Donald Ross golf course that's been so
thoughtfully restored by Gil Hans. So I think it'll be
a similar type story as far as the architecture. Obviously,
it's a grander stage with you know, being one of
the four Majors. You know, not anything against Truster a
(36:24):
tour event, but it's it's one of the four Majors,
so it's a it's a really special thing.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Well, speaking of Donald Ross, I had read somewhere that
twenty years after he designed it. H you know, he
thought of Ironomic as his masterpiece and that he might
have even outdone that. So you know, what is your
converse said, I'm sure there's a lot of Ross devotees
who reach out to you or you know, want to
come and play the golf. Where does where does this
(36:48):
one sit as far as the you know, the the
Ross architecture people, you know, amongst all of his designs,
is it right near right at the top.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Yeah, I mean he did so many golf course He's
credited with doing so many golf courses, and we all
wonder how much he could have been at each of
these places right at that time, you know, to travel.
But you know, we feel fortunate that you know, and
we have proof. We had there's an eight millimeter film
that you can find on YouTube of Donald Ross on property.
You can see the clubhouse in the background. So we
(37:19):
feel good that you know, what he drew and what
was constructed. You know, had a lot of his his
fingerprints on it because he was here. So you know,
it's an for the North, for a northern golf course.
We're an older Ross. It opened in nineteen twenty eight
when you look at like a Golf Mills as a
nineteen sixteen or some of his even earlier work up
in New England, so it's a little bit later, and
(37:41):
I'd say the style of the bunkering was a little
bit different than maybe Golf Mills was when it was built,
or maybe Essex up in Massachusetts, or some of his
earlier work in New England. Bunkering was a little a
little more dramatic with you know, flash sand instead of
the grass face bunkers. And it was a really long
golf course even when it was built and has obviously
remained a long golf course, so it was it was
(38:03):
built to be, you know, big and bronze. So you know,
we're unique very much for a golf course that's nearly
one hundred years old that we're still playing on our
original greens, all in the original locations, the original phil pads,
so very very authentic.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Donald Ross, So take a second to talk about your membership, right,
we know when when when an event like this comes in,
it could be disrupting, right, it could be a lot
of a lot of change, But from what I've seen
in other events, I think it's it's something that is
absolutely embraced and you see that pride coming through with
with the members being able to showcase their their course.
(38:42):
So just talk about how this year, especially in planning,
comes into play with the membership and how they've responded
to that.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Yeah, it's it's part of our DNA to host, to
host tournaments and host championships. I mean, you know, starting
with the nineteen sixty two PGA Championship, and this is
the first PGA championship in Philadelphia since that nineteen sixty
two PGA Championship Gary Player one, so it's been a
long time since this championship has been in Philadelphia, so
you know, it's really important. And we've hosted other events,
(39:13):
you know, in just in my time, you know, three
tour events and the KPMG Women's PGA and then even
the Senior PG in two thousand and three, which was
before my time here. So it's part of what the
club does. So yes, it is an interruption, sure, but
I think the vast majority of the members really embrace
it and know how incredible this opportunity is. Really being
(39:35):
honored to host one of the four majors, and really,
if you think about it, only one of the two
events that a club like ours could get, we're not
going to get the Masters and we're not going to
get the Open, so it's a US opener of PGA.
So there's very very limited opportunities, so really embracing it.
Club's really, you know, very involved in the volunteer aspect
and all the chair positions for the different departments of
(39:58):
volunteers and vitality sales. So I mean there's a lot
of a lot of members very heavily involved in the
success of this.
Speaker 1 (40:06):
Is there any pool going around as to what the
winning score will be yet?
Speaker 4 (40:10):
Anybody?
Speaker 2 (40:11):
Guess? It's so out of out of anybody's hands. I mean,
it's whether just like Oakmont this week, if it's if
it's firm, you know, it'll be very very challenging, but
softer and the players can attack the attack the flags
a little more liberally. They'll they'll they'll shoot numbers that
maybe Oakmont members aren't thrilled to see. It's it's just
(40:33):
what it is. They're incredible players, and the winning score
is so dictated on weather and conditions, which is largely
out of our control.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
So I guess the best way PGA Championship Dot com
right to get all the information. Are there still opportunities
for volunteers, anything else that that's needed from the area.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Yeah, the volunteer aspect, three thousand volunteers it takes to
put this on, you know, with that perspective to nineteen
sixty two, I think it was like four five hundred
people they had for volunteers. So it's three thousand, three
thousand volunteers to make this work. So we rely on
the community to really help share the load with that,
and it's and that the response has been incredible. I
(41:14):
think there's probably three times as many people interested in
volunteering than spots available, which is just incredible and shows
the love of the game in our region. Ticket sales
are showing the same thing. The pre registration for ticket
sales outpaced every market in the last seven or eight years.
So again, we haven't had this since nineteen sixty two.
(41:37):
We've had other major championships, but you know, that's been
since twenty thirteen that we've had a major in our area.
So the area is starved and excited for it.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
You know.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Let alone that the year it is in sport in Philadelphia.
Oh yeah, an incredible year.
Speaker 4 (41:51):
Year, next year yeah, yeah, well we are looking forward
to it. Go ahead. I well, it's just one last one.
Speaker 1 (41:58):
What do you think about the Philadelphia area as a
PGA tour stop. Should it be an annual thing where
maybe a couple of clubs get together and say, well
we'll do it every four or five years or whatever,
or is it just better off that every now and
then a major championship comes this way?
Speaker 2 (42:15):
You know, that's an interesting, you know argument. You could
probably make a compelling argument from both sides that when
you don't have it here for a long time, it
creates the demand that we're in that we're seeing with
this and how how quickly ticket sales are going and
how many people want to volunteer to be a part
of it.
Speaker 4 (42:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
But there's a lot of markets that have it every
year and support it every year like a like a Charlotte,
and they do great with it every year. I mean, obviously,
I think the interest is there. I mean, you saw
it at Cricket. We're seeing it for us, and we'll
see the same thing and you know, several years at
Marion in twenty thirty and it'll be the same thing.
But you know, and we tried to do it for
(42:54):
a couple of years there with Winsboro. Not we I
mean the market did with the eighty four Lumber event
that went back and forth from western Pennsylvania to to Waynesboro,
and I think it did did nicely. It wasn't the
best spot on the calendar, so obviously in the PGA
Tour calendar has changed a great deal since that event.
So you know, you know, the truest was was really special.
(43:17):
It was a it's a you know, an elevated event
that has that limited field, but has had really incredible field,
had almost all of the top ten players just missing Scottie,
I believe. So it's you know, there's certainly golf courses
that the players would be interested to play, I think regularly.
It's just whether or not they could figure out a
way to do it, you know, calendar wise and and
(43:38):
things like that.
Speaker 3 (43:40):
Well, we are looking forward to it, for sure. It'll
be here before we know it. That's the one thing
we we know. And thank you for joining us continued success.
Good luck with the event this weekend then, and with
the uh with the entire summer's calendar, and make sure
you had the PGA Championship dot Com to check out
all the information for next year, and uh, we're excited
(44:00):
to be out there and see it firsthand, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
Guys, thanks for having me on letting us talk about
the PG Championship. We're really excited about it and so
I appreciate it absolutely.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
All right, thank you for listening, and we'll be back
next week. We'll let you we'll recap who made it
through the rough at Oakmont.
Speaker 4 (44:20):
Thanks for listening to listen, swing it and ding it
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