Play It As It Lies

Greetings. Today, I feel like I’m extremely lucky. I’m returning to a golf course that I had been privileged to play, or should I say experience, last year. The famed East course at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY. Golf addicts know what I’m talking about when they hear that name. For those currently not on the little white ball intravenous program, let me give you a run down on the prestigious championships Oak Hill has hosted over the years. It has hosted the Ryder Cup, the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, the US Open Championship, and the US Amateur Championship.

The course pedigree is impeccable. However, if you need further insight, let me give you a quote on the industrial strength of Oak Hill from the best player on the planet. Tiger Woods said, “It’s the hardest, fairest golf course we’ve ever played.” If Tiger Woods attributed that to Oak Hill, what chance do mere mortals like you and I have? On that note, I’m here for the latest championship, the 69th Senior US Open. The history on the course is like a thesis for winning: Tom Watson, Craig Stadler, Jim Thorpe, Sandy Lyle, Dr Gil Morgan and others. There must be something in the water to allow this caliber of player to continue to press on after age 50, playing at this level. Well, maybe not the water, but surely the parking lot. That’s where the player’s fitness/rehab trailer is located. Five days of pain, mental gymnastics, prayer and the thickest rough on the east coast - not located on Bethpage NY’s Black course.

Upon entrance into the Open, you are searched for any and all electronic devices. Cell phones, cameras, iPods, etc. They are to be left home or they can be checked at the front gate. If you’re worried about having to call someone, scattered about the course are banks of free use phones from local carriers.

For a golf junkie like me, this was Camelot. I took it all in - the practice putting green, chipping area, and driving range. Watching, I realized Pro golfers are very meticulous in their preparation prior to playing a round. Each pro’s “situation” can look like a White House cabinet meeting attended by agents, swing coaches, short game gurus, and sports psychologists. Each has an integral part in the success of their player. I felt like I was looking through a peephole and stealing a graduate level golf education first hand. It was too much for me. Oh well, off to the action...Stay Tuned Next Monday