I’m sure many of you watched at least some of the US Open this weekend. As you may or may not have known, the course was recently restored as close to the original Ross design of 1907 by architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. I think the look and feel of the course is very polarizing. I found the restoration process interesting from a design standpoint, but the course, to me, didn’t have a US Open feel. Here’s some interesting numbers to note about Pinehurst No. 2, which will host an unprecedented second US Open Championship in 2 weeks:
11 to 12: The target green speed measured by a USGA Stimpmeter.
0.45: The approximate mowing height of the fairways in inches.
40: The acres of bermuda grass rough removed during the 2010 restoration project, reducing maintained turf to 50 acres. Over 200,000 wiregrass plants were planted in its place.
650: The number of irrigation heads removed during restoration project. Total water usage was reduced 70%.
70: Number of plant species found in the sandy wiregrass areas.
111: Number of bunkers found on the course.
6,570: Average green square footage.
1907: Year of the original design by Donald Ross.
2: The number of mowing heights featured in this week’s championship- putting greens and the rest of the playing areas.
7,562: Scorecard yardage for the U.S. Open. Par is 70.