No one really knew what to expect when the best golfers in the world played Los Angeles Country Club for the first time in competition during the opening round of the 123rd US Open. Yet it’s safe to say no one was expecting this.

Overcast skies with almost no wind left LACC primed for red numbers, resulting in the various US Open scoring records that fell on Thursday. Leading the way were Rickie Fowler and Xander Schuaffele, who in a matter of 15 minutes became the first and second players ever to shoot 62s in the 127-year history of the US national championship.

“When I showed up this morning and our agronomist said the mist isn’t helping us and it’s softer than we had planned, we knew the scores were going to be good but didn’t know how good,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, during an interview on Golf Channel.

While they seemed like the outliers early on, as the first round played out, the overall scoring average settled at 71.328 on the par-70 layout. That broke the previous mark for lowest first round of a US Open set in 1993 at Baltusrol with a 72.29 mark and finished up as the sixth lowest opening round in men’s major championship history.

“There is so much unknown about Los Angeles Country Club,” Bodenhamer said. “We couldn’t have predicted what happened today. We felt good about our plan. We thought the sun would break through today, but it didn’t. Maybe in hindsight could we have done a few things different, sure.”

Specifically, four tee boxes were up from their farthest position, which won’t be the case on Friday, according to Bodenhamer, not as a reaction to the low scores but as part of a strategy laid out ahead of the championship. “I’ll tell you what we won’t do, we aren’t going to force anything,” Bodenhamer said. “We could do things that could make it stupid hard. We’re not going to do that. We’re going to stay with our plan.”

Prior to Thursday, the record for most scores of 65 or better during any single round of the US Open was four during the second round of the 2009 championship at Bethpage Black, and the most such scores in the first round of a US Open was two, which happened, in 1980, 2003 and 2015. On Thursday, six players went that low.

Mind you, some old records weren’t broken. One that didn’t fall was the most sub-par scores in the opening round, set at 44 back in 2017 at Erin Hills. Only 37 players shot 69 or lower this Thursday.

But arguably the most remarkable of all the scoring records set was the one that accounted for a lack of futility. Never in US Open history had there been an opening round where there wasn’t at least one player who failed to break 80. Yet the worst round posted on Thursday at LACC was a 79 from Aaron Wise and Alexander Yang.

The post US Open 2023: The craziest stat from a crazy opening round at LACC appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Things are different in Los Angeles. The weather, the food, the lifestyle. Heck, even the sidewalks are bedazzled. So you may think you know the US Open, but the truth is you don’t know Jack (he’s the guy sitting courtside at the Lakers game). Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help, breaking down all the West Coast wordplay at this year’s tournament. Just memorise your lines and you’ll be speaking like a native Californian (if there is such a thing) in no time.

Kale cleanse — An up—and—down from the rough
Traffic on the 405 — A backup on the tee box
Walk of Fame — The leader’s stroll up the 18th fairway on Sunday
Barranca — A really fancy ditch
Marine Layer — Really fancy fog
Nip-tuck — The LACC restoration
“Avocado Toast!” — What the idiots yell instead of “Mashed Potatoes!”
Red Carpet — Burnt greens
Box-Office Flop — A perfect flop shot from just off the green
An Anthony Davis — A WD with injury
The Real Housewives of Orange County — Rickie Fowler’s fan club

Four birdies in a row for @RickieFowler. ????

He's -6 on the day. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/qzLZz8aomz

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023

Mulholland Drive — A high, arching tee shot into the wind
Hollywood Bowl — A long birdie bomb
Ensemble Cast — A stacked Sunday leaderboard

The post A very LA US Open glossary appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The story goes that on a visit to Los Angeles Country Club years ago, Ben Crenshaw was playing the North Course’s 17th hole, and then wandered over to the thick growth of brush and trees to the right of the fairway. Like an explorer who had heard rumours of long-lost treasure, he pulled away the branches and peered into the darkness.

“Here is this two-time Masters champion, pushing through the brush,” says Geoff Shackelford, his face lighting up to match the wonderment of the tale. “But that speaks to how iconic it was.”

“It” was a mysterious golf hole whose lore was spread over 90 years. Shackelford, a golf writer and historian, whose research was instrumental in the North Course’s restoration in the 2010s by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, is a popular witness this week about all things LACC as the club hosts its first US Open.

Dubbed “Little 17”, the par 3 was part of the LACC layout designed by W Herbert Fowler in the early 1920s. With a small, severely sloped green from back to front, it could be onerous, and its infamy grew in the 1925 California State Open played at LACC when a Santa Ana wind blew, and players found it impossible to hit the green. The event’s winner, Macdonald Smith, heroically managed to “only” bogey the hole.

A year later, the first Los Angeles Open was staged at LACC, and Shackleford said much of the pre-tournament chatter was about how difficult the 17th might play.

But, ultimately, when George C Thomas performed a significant overhaul of the North Course in the late 1920s, “Little 17” had to go. It simply didn’t figure in Thomas’ vision, and he created an entirely new par 3, the 11th, which is now the course’s most recognisable hole.

Curiously, however, the green at “Little 17” green was not destroyed, but simply allowed to be overgrown to the point where, decades later, it was invisible to golfers playing down the new par-4 17th.

During LACC’s committee talks about the restoration, Shackelford recalled that it was jokingly mentioned that a resurrection of “Little 17” could be done. That idea stewed with the committee for a while, until one day, Shackelford said, Hanse’s team was told it would be building 20 greens — the additions being “Little 17” and a re-establishment of the second green after Hanse chose to move the No. 2 green to the left of the existing green. (That decision was controversial, and for a time, some members of the club played to the old second, though it was eventually abandoned and now is used as a practice area.)

Hanse and Co were excited to do the work, because not only would the members have a unique hole to play, but it would carry on Thomas’ desire to create “loops”. In this case, golfers could go out in the afternoon and play the first hole, “Little 17” and 18th hole. It’s said that has been done as a derby before the club’s member-guest, and the hole is available much of the time. “Little 17” plays at 120 yards from a flat spot created near the No. 2 tee.

“It was fun for us,” Shackelford said. “It was a way to pay homage to the old course, and it didn’t take anything away from the big [17th] hole.”

Mike Davis, the USGA’s CEO and set-up man at the time of the 2017 Walker Cup at LACC, loved “Little 17” so much that he considered using it for a round during the matches. But, Shackelford said, it was decided that because the hole would have to sub for another short par 3, the 15th, that that just wasn’t doable because the 15th was deemed to be too good.

On Tuesday, “Little 17” got plenty of attention and TV airtime because players were encouraged to play it as part of a charity event. The day before, Shackelford said he was walking with Rory McIlroy during his first practice round when coach Brad Faxon pointed over to the gorgeous hole. “Whoa!” McIlroy said, stunned by the hidden gem.

This time, a major champion didn’t have to go hunting for it.

The post US Open 2023: LACC North has a hidden 19th hole with an intriguing story of being brought back from oblivion appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Snooty or civilised? Stuffy or genteel? In an era in which many private country clubs have relaxed their rules to allow jeans in the dining room, untucked shirts on the course and the use of electronic devices pretty much everywhere, Los Angeles Country Club, host of this year’s US Open, is having none of it.

Long known as club with strict rules for members and guests alike, a look at LACC’s rules for guests reveals a club comfortable in its reputation for being buttoned up on such things. The club’s website has a guest information page that is 1,071 words long, nearly half of them tied to the use of technological devices.

The section starts with a seemingly innocuous introduction: “We are pleased to welcome you to The Los Angeles Country Club. Since 1897, we have established a series of customs and traditions in order to enhance your experience at our Club. We take pride in making every one of our guests feel like a member during your visit with us.”

Cool. But let’s read further.

Under men’s attire, things start off fine. Shirts must have sleeves and collars and be tucked in. No problem. Then comes: “Men’s slacks must be of a tailored nature.” Excuse me? First, I’m not wearing trousers, I’m wearing shorts. And my slacks are what I won using shop credit, not tailored.

Except golf shorts aren’t allowed. Ever.

As for hats, caps and visors, no dice inside the clubhouse (which is how it should be), but they may be worn on the uncovered patio. Mighty nice of them to not want to fry my bald spot.

Oh, and if you have a late tee time, bring a sport coat. After 6pm it is a requirement for being in the clubhouse.

As for women, they don’t catch much of a break. Shirts and blouses must be worn inside slacks or skirts, unless designed to be worn outside. Slacks must be of a tailored nature and be ankle length or longer. Skirts are OK, but may be no shorter than four inches above the knee. Who is charged with measuring this is not mentioned. The same rules regarding headwear for men apply to the women, although they may wear brimmed hats (not golf caps) that coordinate with their outfit inside the clubhouse.

As for the evening hours, after 6pm, a dress, dressy skirt and blouse, suit, tailored pants suit, pants and blazer or evening pants outfit are all acceptable provided they follow the length guidelines.

You didn’t think we forgot about the kids, did you? The rules are straightforward but a little draconian for juniors. Those under seven years old “must maintain a conservative and modest attire in keeping with the Club’s tradition”. Those above seven? Same as mum and dad. Seriously. Because, you know, every eight-year-old is dying to have dinner in a jacket and slacks or pants suit.

There are other no-no’s regarding attire. Don’t bother wearing clogs or flip-flops. And if your apparel has a slogan on it, sorry. Like to change your shoes in the parking lot? Nooooooooooo.

There are some exceptions, however, to the attire policy. Namely, shorts (exercise or Bermuda), athletic-type T-shirts and denim pants of any colour may be worn from the parking lot to the locker rooms or vice versa, the idea being to accommodate those coming in with their hair on fire and needing to change. The rules, however, make it clear no one is going to pull a fast one, as it is accompanied by this gem: “Loitering in the locker room (including card play, TV watching, drinking) while in shorts, T-shirts or denim pants of any colour is not permitted.”

As for your phone, well, get used to doing without. On the course you can discreetly check messages (not voicemail) “on both the North and South Courses and Course Cafes, excluding areas immediately surrounding the Clubhouse.” No phone use at the pro shop, cart barn or putting green and absolutely no headphones or ear buds. An exception to the phone rule is you may use one to videotape your swing on the range.

But what if you need to make or take a call? Well, you can do it, just make sure it’s from inside your car in the parking lot, in the phone room (yes, they have a phone room) or in phone booths inside the locker rooms.

OK, OK, no talking on the phone. But you can still use it to snap some fab photos of the course, right? Um, not so fast. Bring a camera if you want that, but be aware “staff may, at any time, decide cameras may not be permitted if it is perceived as a disruption to the member experience.”

But seriously, why bother with a camera at all. It’s not like you’re going to be able to post those killer photos to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. That’s right, take a look at the club’s social media policy:

Dissemination through social media of personal photographs or videos identifying The Los Angeles Country Club is not permitted. The publication for commercial purposes of any pictures taken anywhere on the Club’s property identifying The Los Angeles Country Club is not permitted.

Any written references to The Los Angeles Country Club, its members, activities, and practices that are or might become accessible by the public is not permitted (e.g., hash tags, comments, posts, location check-ins, etc.).

Members and guests of the Club may not discuss the Club’s membership, events, policies, rules, by-laws or activities using social or professional media platforms.

Please note: if the use of technology is not specifically addressed in this policy, then it is not permitted at the Club. Compliance with this policy is essential to the enjoyment and privacy of the membership. Staff will enforce our technology policy. As a reminder, members will be held responsible for the actions of their guests with regard to all policies of The Los Angeles Country Club.

In other words, LACC doesn’t really care if you feel that if it’s not on Insta it didn’t happen at all.

On the plus side, not to worry if you forgot to bring cash. Members are responsible for all charges guests incur, as there is no cash allowed and no having the bill sent back to your home club. And since there is no cash allowed (other than to pay caddies), there is no tipping, either.

But, yes, welcome to Los Angeles Country Club!

The post US Open 2023: The member/guest rules are strict at LACC, so forget about wearing shorts or using a cellphone appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.