USGA expecting lengthy rounds at Chambers Bay

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. ( AP) — These might be some of the longest rounds in the U.S. Open, and it won’t all be down to slow play.

Chambers Bay is a long hike even without clubs.

USGA executive director Mike Davis set the time par at 4 hours, 45 minutes, which is not close to what anyone is expecting a threesome to get around in for 18 holes. Time par is merely used as a gauge to determine if a group that falls out of position (such as an entire hole behind) should be warned for slow play.

Don’t be surprised if actual time for the later groups is pushing six hours.

Davis said the average walking time between greens and tees at Chambers Bay is 21 minutes.

“Put that in perspective,” Davis said. “Last year at Pinehurst, we had 13 1/2 minutes. Merion the year before, 11 minutes. So we had to add some time to that. And then obviously, it’s a U.S. Open. It’s a tough test of golf.”

Davis said the USGA staff would have plenty of help from the PGA Tour and European Tour to help monitor the pace of play, and that players might be asked to clear the green once they all are on the putting surface to let the group behind tee off on par 3s and drivable par 4s.

EAGER TO GET GOING: The U.S. Open is in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in its 120-year history, and it shows.

Not so much by ticket sales. The U.S. Open typically is a sellout. The best measure is the volunteers. USGA president Tom O’Toole said it usually takes anywhere from three weeks to three months to sign up some 5,200 volunteers needed at the U.S. Open.

The list for Chambers Bay was filled out in 36 hours.