From: WRXGOLFR [#1]
13 Jun 2018
To: ALL
I'm not sure with so many years to prepare how the USGA could mess up transportation to the Open but they did in a bit way.
If you're going, there are basically three ways to get there.
If you're local, ride your bike to Southampton College and lock it there. Walk across the street pretty much and you're there. This is the best option.
Train: This is the best means of public transportation but the MTA and USGA f'd up (IMO) and failed to add enough trains. If you go this route you'll miss a lot of action in the AM due to the crappy schedule.
Drive: Worst option. Only parking is at Grabeski Airport in Westhampton Beach. Here's an email I just got and thought I'd share. Plan accordingly.
On behalf of the USGA and the U.S. Open, we wanted to offer our sincere apologies to the volunteers who had to wait on the buses. . We appreciate your patience as we will continue to do our best and work with our joint police operations to mitigate travel difficulties.
In an effort to better inform everyone coming to the championship, below are the average shuttle times we have tracked over the last three days. We are anticipating similar traffic on Thursday and Friday and will continue to make improvements where possible.
Average Travel Times
Leaving before 5:30 a.m.: 30 minutes
Leaving at 6:00 a.m.: 45-60 minutes
Leaving between 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. : 1 hour 45 minutes
In an effort to get people on property earlier, we have added more buses in the 4:30 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. window. We hope that you will take advantage of these earlier shuttles, so that you can arrive on-site at your scheduled shift time. Please keep in mind that this area is burdened with very heavy morning (5 a.m. – 9 a.m.) and evening (4 p.m. – 8 p.m.) vehicular volume this time of year.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our championship, to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and to the greatest players in the world.Reply
From: bcjim [#2]
13 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#1] 13 Jun 2018
Went in 04 (?) No real trouble with the busses/airport. It wasn't ideal for sure but it was ok. Got dropped off by boat 1 day, that was nice though a longish walk.Reply
From: Brian (BRIAN11767) [#3]
13 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#1] 13 Jun 2018
Where are you staying?
Anybody that drives is crazy.
Reply
From: docmizuno (DOCTORMIZUNO) [#4]
13 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#1] 13 Jun 2018
Thats why Tiger said he was staying on his boat.
He said he wouldnt be surprised if some players missed their tee times.
Reply
From: WRXGOLFR [#5]
13 Jun 2018
To: Brian (BRIAN11767) [#3] 14 Jun 2018
I'm in Hampton Bays, about 6 miles from the venue. Not sure why but mapquest and Google maps says the walk would be two hours.
I don't work again until Friday am. I am going to see if I can purchase a $50 used bike tomorrow to use for the next three days.
Reply
From: JJ (ELVIS) [#6]
13 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#1] 14 Jun 2018
You couldn't pay me to deal with those crowds.Reply
From: NOSHORTGAME (MBATTS23) [#7]
14 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#1] 14 Jun 2018
They are wrong. Our bus started moving at 5:50 yesterday morning and didn't get off until 7:35. We had no idea about this till one of the volunteers told us to get comfortable it's going to be a hour and 50 min ride. Turns out he exaggerated by 5 mins. I agree, I'm not sure how the USGA missed this one, but in their defense this did not happen in 2004 so who knows. I'll never go back there, just an awful experience.Reply
From: Tom (TOM0956) [#8]
14 Jun 2018
To: docmizuno (DOCTORMIZUNO) [#4] 14 Jun 2018
If I was Tiger I'd rent a hovercraft and have the pilot drop me off and my bag o' clubs right on the beach.Reply
From: Tom (TOM0956) [#9]
14 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#5] 14 Jun 2018
Twenty minute miles walking...that's about right.Reply
From: Nat (NATROBIN) [#10]
14 Jun 2018
To: WRXGOLFR [#1] 14 Jun 2018
I went in '86. Took the train from Penn Station, got off an hour or 2 later, walked across a bridge and was there. They had extra express trains scheduled, it was so easy. I know there are way more people, but the train was so easy. I really thought this wouldn't be an issue.Reply
From: WRXGOLFR [#11]
14 Jun 2018
To: Nat (NATROBIN) [#10] 14 Jun 2018
First train from the west arrives after 9, too late for early.morning at or first shift marshal assignments. It's better if you're coming from the east (morning trains to NYC).Reply
From: Anser (ANSERMAN) [#12]
14 Jun 2018
To: ALL
We drove from massapequa hopped on a bus it worked like every golf tournament I've been to.Reply
From: 1XGEAFFCHAMP (SFMOY) [#13]
14 Jun 2018
To: Anser (ANSERMAN) [#12] 15 Jun 2018
people who live in the hamptons don’t like commoners to have easy access. if you drive, there’s literally one road from the west that gets bottlenecks like crazy. imagine construction in a 4 lane highway during rush hour that makes you merge into 1 lane. unless your bus has wings, it ain’t getting around that.Reply
From: Anser (ANSERMAN) [#14]
15 Jun 2018
To: 1XGEAFFCHAMP (SFMOY) [#13] 15 Jun 2018
And yet it did we were 1 hour from massapequa to being on a busReply
From: NOSHORTGAME (MBATTS23) [#15]
15 Jun 2018
To: Anser (ANSERMAN) [#12] 15 Jun 2018
We drove from massapequa hopped on a bus it worked like every golf tournament I've been to.
What time did your bus get to Shinnecock? I was told it gets much better after 10AM. When we left the course at 1:00 there was no problem getting in.Reply
From: Anser (ANSERMAN) [#16]
15 Jun 2018
To: NOSHORTGAME (MBATTS23) [#15] 15 Jun 2018
About 10ish. We met Patrick Rodgers on his back 9. Hes staying in the Hampton mansion of a local Stanford grad.
Course is brutal. No idea how members play it. Bethpage black rough was unplayable as well.
Reply
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