US Open golf at Oakmont

We got up early Tuesday morning and got ready to go.

Our destination was Oakmont Country Club and a US Open practice round.

Practice rounds are awesome if you love golf.  The atmosphere is more relaxed.  Spectators can move about with more freedom and the golfers interact more with the crowd.  Competition rounds are also good but the atmosphere is different.

We arrived early and really beat the crowds.  The commute is not long but is definitely a process.  We had to drive to a mall area that had been designated a shuttle stop.  We parked Clark and headed to a security point.  We cleared security and then got on a school bus.  I will note that these school buses had seat belts.  Why don't all school buses have seat belts?  Anyway, we were driven to the gate of Oakmont and the day was ours.

Rob and I use practice rounds to walk the entire course.  Oakmont is hilly and large but it is very walkable.  We stop at holes and along fairways to watch the pros practice their trade.  It is fun to watch youngsters line up along the ropes and try to get the golfers to sign their gear.  Adults are also huge autograph grabbers but I enjoy seeing the kids light up when a golfer takes a minute to sign.  I noticed that a woman got Sergio Garcia to take her hat for an autograph but he did not stop walking as he signed.  She ran on one side of the slightly crowded rope and he walked on the other side.  He tossed her hat back and she was thrilled.  He is very polite in his manner, just very efficient.

Golf courses are a photographer's dream.  Some courses, like Augusta National are incredibly photogenic and others are less so.  Oakmont is wide open but still lovely.

WE HAD WONDERFUL BLUE SKIES YESTERDAY

THE FAIRWAYS ARE AMAZING

AND THE GREENS ARE INCREDIBLY FAST AND DIFFICULT

We walked for hours and just enjoyed watching both the golfers and their fans.  Most golf fans behave well and a round is rarely plagued with an issue that requires the removal of a spectator.

FURYK

THIS IS ONE LONG GOLF HOLE

FOWLER

MCILROY

GOOSEN

GARCIA

ONE OF MY FAVORITES.  DOLLY O'SULLIVAN.  SHE EVEN HAD HER OWN CREDS.

SPIETH

VERY COOL PHONE CHARGING MACHINES.  YOU CAN CREATE A CODE, OPEN A LOCKER, HOOK UP YOUR PHONE AND THEN LOCK IT FOR PICK UP LATER

OLD GLORY.   SAD AT HALF STAFF BUT STILL GREAT TO SEE

We returned from golf and got an earful from the girls.  We had arranged for them to be walked but they let us know that they did not appreciate being left.  We were quickly forgiven when we gave treats, a walk and snuggles.  

Another great day in this thing we call life.