An Update Report on the 2007 U.S. Open Championship
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NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK 1903 OakmontLinks OOMARCH/APRIL 2007akmontakmont | WWW.OAKMONTCC.ORG An Update Report on the To our members: LinksBy the time you receive this Newsletter, we will be about 50 2007 U.S. Open Championship days away from U.S. Open Week. BY MICKEY POHL, OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP CHAIRMAN The pace is quickening! First, let me say that any report on how we are doing and what is going on would be seriously flawed if it did not begin with an expression of thanks to those many members who are unselfishly giving so much time to the committee tasks and details of preparing for the U.S. Open Championship. The member volunteers and Oakmont Club Staff —grounds, Clubhouse and manage- ment—are busy, enthusiastic and performing brilliantly! CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTENTS Golf merchandise building rises at Oakmont East. Page U.S. Open Update ........ 1, 2, 3 First Person .......................... 3 Bunker To Bunker ................ 4 From The Red Tees .............. 5 Oakmont Swim Team ........... 5 Paddle Tennis ....................... 5 From The Grounds Up ...... 6-7 Kitchen Korner ...................... 8 Oakmont Website .................. 9 Open Junior Committee ........ 9 In Memoriam ........................ 9 Smoking Ban ....................... 10 Reminder-Swats ................... 10 Use of White Tees ............... 10 From the Archives ............... 11 Photo Op ............................ 12 View of the new “U.S. Open City” as seen from number 9 porch. Quite impressive! OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB MARCH/APRIL 2007 OakmontLinks U.S. Open Update Report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Beyond that, each week brings 3. As I compare the records from the Members and others are NOT likely to new challenges, opportunities 1994 Open (and my own memories of be able to secure tickets at the last and surprises. Here are just a being at the Opens in 1962, 1973 and minute. We MAY be able to give some few of the examples of what has 1983) it is clear that the biggest driver limited assistance to members who now been happening, much of which of changes in the planning (aside from need to purchase an additional ticket or may not be easily visible to the sheer size) are… sadly…the necessary two. If you have a ticket problem at this membership at large. Also changes brought about by security point, please notify Tom Wallace without included in this list is a mention concerns since September 11, 2001. delay. There are NO guarantees, but we of some items where, based on The days of strolling through a gate at will try to find additional tickets for phone calls or comments I have an airport or a major national sporting members. These will probably not be received from fellow members, event are gone! The need for magneto- Member Tickets, but might be general there seem to be some recurring meters, traffic route protection, security admission or Trophy Club tickets. We questions. checks and purse inspections (among are informed that some off-site sellers 1. Golf Digest Magazine had other details) have changed the nature of “hospitality areas” did not let their writer E.M. (“Ed”) Swift of our planning for this event. customers know that they were not on-site for three days in early I hope that all of our members will be U.S.G.A. affiliated and are scrambling March gathering material for understanding and patient if there are for tickets. A good solution for a major story about our Club. any inconveniences that arise in June. businesses and individuals is to purchase Many of you have seen Our Club has little or no say on many a table or share a table. The Club and Mr. Swift’s terrific stories in of these necessary details. The U.S.G.A. the U.S.G.A. will assist in matching Sports Illustrated over the has an impressive security team in place. people who wish to share tables. years. Ed is a member of the But, in the end, the PA State Police, the 6. I have received a few calls recently from Country Club in Brookline, Department of Homeland Security, the members and friends who wish to work Massachusetts. He met with a local police and other authorities are the as volunteers. The volunteer roster was host of members, spent a lot experts and have the final say on the oversubscribed and closed last Fall. The of time with our archivist, public safety aspects of this huge event. U.S.G.A. office will take names for a John Fitzgerald, and even The availability of bomb-sniffing dogs waiting list. Having had so many volun- interviewed our revered caddy, did not used to be a part of the planning teers so quickly is a great indicator of the J. P. Pernice. for a U.S. Open. Now it is. level of enthusiasm for golf in this area. 2. We are coming down the 4. Generally, the operational details are 7. Tom Simmermon, with assistance from home stretch with regard to falling into place on time and on budget. Joe Loughran, is heading what we call hospitality sales. As you will Recently, meetings were held with our Member Services Committee. They, recall, our Club gets a percen- Dan Onorato, the County Executive along with Tom Wallace, his staff, and tage of the revenue from these and, in Harrisburg, with the Governor’s the U.S.G.A. will be handling the many sales and this is one of the Office. Part of being sure that Oakmont details relating to taking care of our major revenue streams we get stays positioned to host future major members during the Open Champion- as the host club. The sales golf events depends on our state and ship. As previously explained, there will have been going well, but we region remaining economically viable are making a major push to be limited space in the Clubhouse for and competitive with other clubs and get a sell-out. There are a few members during the tournament. states who are aggressively working to tents available and about 40 Members with a Members ticket and tables available. Jim Douglass be awarded future golf championships. Member identification only—no guests has taken on the responsibility 5. This event is essentially sold out —will be allowed in the member areas of of helping Hospitality (excluding scalpers and Internet sales— the Clubhouse. The need for space for Marketing Chairman Mark but watch out for counterfeit tickets!) players and their families, for U.S.G.A. Hofmann and his committee We really hope that our members have hospitality and operations, and the sale as we make this big push. heeded the messages in prior communi- (by the Club) of certain areas within Suggestions from the members cations and have ensured that they have the Clubhouse as hospitality packages as to sales prospects are already purchased whatever tickets they (e.g. The Fownes Room) and, once strongly encouraged. will need for the Championship. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB — 2 — MARCH/APRIL 2007 OakmontLinks Update Report FROM PAGE 2 F IRST P ERSON again, security and safety concerns, limit BY BILL GRIFFIN, CLUB PRESIDENT our flexibility here. We will have a Well now! Just a couple of With regard to our course, we are “Clubhouse Annex” on the course (near months away from hosting our coming out of a brutal February and an hole #15) where members and guests 8th U.S. Open Championship ice-storm March in pretty good shape. (subject to some limits) can go to enjoy and there’s much excitement and (See From The Grounds Up Article) an air-conditioned, tasteful area with big anticipation around our Club. There are a few spots on a couple of screen TV and a cash bar. As with many Preparations for the Open greens that are still being nursed, but other practices, the “old days” where Championship continue to be we’re not expecting any problems. We there were “Clubhouse Tickets” that appreciate your patience as we go through were transferable are gone! going well (see Mickey Pohl Article). Volunteer efforts are this process. John Zimmers and his staff We now know that more than 1,000 sets well organized; a final push for are doing an outstanding job in preparing of media credentials from outlets around hospitality sales is producing the course for opening day, as well as the world have been requested. The 2007 favorable results; and we’re getting ready for the Open Championship. Open will be televised in more than 150 working hard to create a positive countries. The number of volunteers, Compliments have been copious membership experience with media and vendor-related staff on site each regarding the newly renovated portions of every aspect of the Open. I day this year will probably exceed the total the Clubhouse, specifically the wonderful would like to formally recognize number of spectators we had daily in 1962. placement of our archived history. Our the tremendous amount of This will be a great time for Oakmont and Long-Range Planning Committee, Tom preparation and hard work our its membership to be seen throughout the Wallace and his staff, and John Fitzgerald staff has put towards planning world of golf. have done an exceptional job in managing for the Open. As an example, the restoration efforts and displaying the If you are a prayerful person, pray for the Oakmont Culinary and Club’s history throughout the Clubhouse. good weather in June! Service Team will be serving Thanks again for all of your assistance. almost 50,000 meals during the The Board recently approved the budget week of the Open. We typically for the 2007-08 fiscal year.