Chambers Bay Roundup: Imagination Edition

There are a couple of post-Chambers Bay/U.S. Amateur items touching on the topic many of us wanted to hear about: how did the course perform and what kind of play did it expose.

The fact that two of the best amateurs in the land rose to the top certainly won't hurt the course in the eyes of most, but early in the week it was hard not to wonder if perhaps the design wasn't cut out for firm, fast golf. Then we learned the USGA overcooked it and by the weekend it was looking just right, rewarding well-struck pitches while in no way discouraging the ground game.

Jim Nugent offers a few thoughts on the week (subscription required) and noted this about the players who liked the course versus those who were keeping quiet:

A USGA official told me he was sitting with eight college age kids at the pre-tournament banquet, and that four were grousing about the course and four were tight-lipped. When quizzed, the four quiet kids turned out to be international players. The four complainers were all Americans.

I think American college golfers should spend a year abroad in Scotland, studying Golf Origins 101. Fairness seems to be a particularly American expectation on the course. Never have I heard so many say they hit "quality" shots, only to see the ball go somewhere other than intended. These players watch too much PGA Tour golf.

And look how the finalist seemed to embrace the cerebral qualities of Chambers Bay in this Dave Bolling story:

“Imagination is paramount,” said Chung, who, on No. 12 in the morning, drove past the green by a good 30 yards to have the ball leak back down the “fall line” and miss a hole-in-one on the par 4 by only a few inches.

“It’s a trait you have to have to play this course. It’s something that Peter is really good at, and I think I’m pretty good at it too, seeing the different ways to approach a shot and then figuring out which you’re most comfortable with. That’s the fun playing this course … you have to be creative and imaginative.”

Global Golf Post also ran this beautiful uncredited image (subscription required) of the course during match play.