Forest Hills Closing For The Summer

Forest Hills Golf Course is closing for the summer.

Here’s the story.

Christmas time, 2022, we had extremely cold temperatures.  Weather like we’ve rarely seen.  For almost a week, the nighttime lows were well below freezing. That weather took its toll on the over 20 year old greens at Forest Hills.

By the time we got to the spring of 2023, the damage was becoming evident.  Forest Hills and Augusta University holds a pair of prestigious college events, both women and men.  The greens were an issue.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2023, they did not improve.  By the fall of 2023, conversations were beginning to take place as to what could be done to rectify the situation.  By the time we got to March and April of this year, and once again the women and men were hosting their tournaments, the conversations about the greens had become louder.  There were now coaches talking about whether or not they would return if something wasn’t done.

Earlier this week, the membership at Forest Hills learned of the plan.  On June 17th Forest Hills shut down.  A team that has worked on some of the finest courses in the country will come in, tear up the greens, to about six inches deep and then begin the work of preparing the soil to be sprigged.  Tiff-Eagle grass has been chosen, a grass that can stand up to the heat of Augusta summers and still provide a wonderful surface on which to putt.

This project will close Forest Hills for the remainder of the summer.  Prime growing season, with a plan to reopen the course on October 1^st.

Greens have a shelf life.  20 years is a long time for greens.  The greens at Forest Hills were replaced in 2003, so they were due.  The situation was compounded by the weather of December 2022. 

In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m a member at Forest Hills.  This work is overdue, but it is also costly.  I for one, can’t wait for this fall.  I’m very much looking forward to the completion of this project.

The U.S. Open tee times and groupings for the first two rounds have been announced, and Pinehurst is going to be crowded.

The 2024 U.S. Open will feature 156 players starting the tournament. One player - Jon Rahm - has withdrawn, but was replaced by an alternate already. From those 156 players, the low 60 scores and ties will make the cut for the weekend.

Pinehurst No. 2 is playing as a 7,548-yard, par-70 course this time around, and it's going to be a heavy task for every player. Rounds will begin on both the first and 10th holes both days.

Action begins at 6:45 a.m. Thursday, with the group of Michael McGowan from Southern Pines, alongside Carter Jenkins from Raleigh, and Logan McAllister. From the 10th hole at 6:45 a.m., we'll have an international grouping of Rico Hoey from the Phillipines, Tom McKibbin from Northern Ireland, and Matteo Manassero from Italy.

The final groups on both Thursday and Friday won't tee off until 2:42 p.m.

The golf world's top player, Scottie Scheffler, will see his Thursday round begin at 1:14 p.m. on the first hole. He will be grouped with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.

And if you're wanting to catch Tiger Woods during his opening round, you'll have to get up early, as he will tee off from the 10th hole at 7:29 a.m. on Thursday (and from the 1st at 1:14 p.m. on Friday). Woods is grouped with Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Below, we take a look at all of the U.S. Open tee times and groupings for the first and second round from Pinehurst No. 2.