Lahinch man learns at Shinnecock Hills
FIVE Irish greenkeepers were among the 200 volunteers that helped the 50-strong Shinnecock Hills greenkeeping crew at last week’s US Open.
Thankfully for Lahinch, there’s no danger of the European Tour getting the set up as wrong as the USGA did last Saturday when the Co Clare links hosts next year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
“It’s a pity about what happened on Saturday but they didn’t expect the winds to pick up and the course to dry out that much,” said Lahinch’s Head Greenkeeper Brian McDonagh, who was joined in the Hamptons by Declan O’Connor from Royal Dublin, Ruairi Coyle from Glenlo Abbey, Gary Byrne from Galway Bay and Vancouver-based Stewart Sheridan, who is originally from Naas.
“You almost have to set it up for the guys heading out last and make allowances for moisture loss during the day but the USGA likes to be on the edge and with a few pin positions a little on the extreme side, they got caught out.”
McDonagh, who has volunteered at five Irish Opens as well as the 2013 Walker Cup held the National Golf Links of America next door to Shinnecock Hills, admitted to taking “a few notes” that will help him prepare for a big 2019 which sees Lahinch host the Irish Open, “the South” and the Home Internationals.
“I’m good friends with Mike Ford, who is the Senior Assistant Superintendent at Shinnecock Hills,” said McDonagh.
“It was a huge operation with 2,500 volunteers altogether and there are always things you can learn that will help you in the future.”