US Open – Merion 2013
The U.S Open at Merion Country Club in Armdore, Pa. A very small patch of land with a difficult course. This year, I was there for a week wandering around the grounds and helping the USGA as a volunteer. Besides the golf which was unbelievably exciting unil the end, the sights and sounds around Merion were what made it such an unique experience.
- The 17th tee from the bottom of the quarry.
The quarry is the the central back drop of some of the 3 toughest final holes in golf. The rough hewn beauty that is Merion is personified in the Quarry. I hiked through this ravine several times, this week, each looking around and the natural beauty but always looking for my breath as I hiked back up to the level of the course.
The stone mansions that surround the course act as a surreal sanctuary in the middle of the city. It is the classic grandeur of the 20 th century being slammed into the 21st century with television and wireless networking and international real time intrigue all crammed into 25 acre old world stone walled garden.
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- Phil Mickelson teeing off 14 in the rain on Sunday.
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- Ernie Els waiting to tee off 16.
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- The 17th green and 18th tee with The Quarry in the background.
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- Hunter Mahan putting on 14.
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- Rory McElroy walking of the 5th Tee.
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- Parts of the galleries surrounding the greens.
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- The 5th hole’s sloping fairway.
