NEWS // EDITED BY JOHN ANTONINI
Merion is undergoing extensive renovations in preparation for hosting the 2013 U.S. Open.
USGA
Merion gets toughened
in prep for 2013 Open
❯❯ The defense of Merion GC’s East
course in preparation for the 2013
U.S. Open has begun in earnest.
Two greens have been renovated,
seven teeing grounds modified and,
most interestingly, the fairways and
rough lines have already been established—accompanied by two notable
and dramatic changes.
The first is that the edge of the
rough will be beveled, or rounded.
This might allow a ball slightly off line
to penetrate the rough, but USGA
executive director Mike Davis prefers
that to a drive nestling up against the
collar, making the second shot even
more arduous.
Which leads to the second change,
and that is the elimination of the
standard 1½-inch first cut, also
known as the intermediate rough.
The fairway will transition directly
into graduated rough, which will
start at 2½ inches on longer holes,
such as Nos. 5, 6, 14 and 18, and
four inches on shorter holes. Those
lengths still will increase commensu-
rately about six yards away from the
fairway to even deeper rough.
