(Photo: USGA)
Kittansett Club would be beautiful in the rain or snow, but the bright blue sky and vexing wind made it an incredible host for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. The venue is in a section of Massachusetts that could be described as "Cape Cod adjacent" and the laid-back attitude of vacation.
The field was a treasure trove of legends. Kittansett seems a fitting spot to wrap up a busy USGA schedule in Massachusetts. The U.S. MidAm was on Nantucket in September 2021, the U.S. Open was at The Country Club in June, and now the seniors are in Marion, Mass. I spent a couple days down by the ocean watching golf and chatting with folks.
Here are some of my observations:
Fred Ridley
Probably the most recognizable competitor in the field is better known for his role in a professional major. Fred Ridley played this week at Kittansett. The 1975 U.S. Amateur champion and current Chairman of Augusta National arrived on Sunday in khaki slacks, a white polo, and sun sleeves; it was like seeing Santa Claus in shorts and a t-shirt.
Ridley was incredibly kind and spoke to everyone that approached him. I crossed paths with Ridley on the 16th hole, I stepped aside to let him cross a small bridge of a creek. He looked up and asked me how I was doing. Frankly, it was jarring.
Fred Ridley (Credit: Sean Melia) After the round, Ridley spoke about not being sharp enough to compete.
"I turned two 75s into a 79 and an 80," he said.
He dug deep into his memory to remember the last time he had played golf in the New England. The Northeast Amateur came to mind, but otherwise, he believed it had been 25 years since he pegged it in this region.
Shockingly, he also admitted he's never played The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
Ridley was impressed with Kittansett. J.P. Connolly, Kittansett's Director of Golf, said that Ridley told him what a great golf course he has.
"I wasn't sure how to respond," J.P. said with a laugh. "What's the comeback for Fred Ridley when he compliments your course?"
Twilight Golf
After spending three days at Ridgewood for U.S. Amateur, it was incredible to see the seniors battle a golf course. Golf carts zipping around, braces and bandages on every joint, and swings built over years that negotiate with the body's aches and pains. In contrast, the U.S. Amateur was college kids and a smattering of MidAm players slamming driver and finding it.
All these players are over the age of 55 and have learned how to get the ball in the hole in so may different ways. The greens and green surrounds at Kittansett certainly identified some of the best players in the field. The subtle breaks and tricky chips from below the raised greens become harder as the pressure builds.
Golf in their twilight years looks different, but it was a pleasure watching all the various swings and methodologies at play.
A featured pairing
I spent some time watching
Paul Simson,
Gene Elliott, and
Billy Mitchell in their second round. All three made matchplay. Mitchell was confused about the pairing, Elliott is the 2021 U.S. Senior Am and British Am champion. Paul Simson is a three-time U.S. Senior Am champion (2010, 12).
Mitchell, the U.S. Senior Open low amateur in 2021, joked that after Simson and Elliott were introduced as past champions his intro was short, sweet, and conspicuous.
"All just said, 'From Atlanta, Georgia: Billy Mitchell,'" Mitchell said with a laugh.
Love of the game
I ran into a few people while I was at Kittansett. One person had his son with him. We crossed paths on the third hole, a spectacular setting.
Jim Doing stopped to say hello to the third grade boy and ask if he played golf.
"It' the greatest sport," Doing said. "I'm sixty-two and still get to come out and play in these cool events at places like this."
Later on in the week, after Doing lost his round of 32 match, I overheard him talking about his flight home, which wasn't until 7:30pm. He had time to go play a quick round before heading back to Wisconsin.
"It'll be so much fun," he said. "We can go play and not worry about our score or where the ball goes."
Mike McCoy and Stephen Jensen had quite a Tuesday in Marion. First he defeated defending champion Gene Elliott and then in the round of 16 he took down Mike McCoy.
Much to the Kittansett members' pleasure, the wind kicked up on Tuesday. It was muggy and windy, an odd combination that felt more tropical than Cape Cod.
Jensen was right at home in the wind. He plays a fair amount of golf at Trevose Golf and Country Club in Cornwall.
"It's usually a three club wind," Jensen said. "You wouldn't want to play there all the time, it would destroy your golf swing."
He looked around and continued.
"If it was this windy over there and you complained, they'd ask you what you were moaning about."
The 56 year old from North London was delighted with his day and his advancement into the quarterfinals in his first USGA event.
"It's a great day for England," he said proudly.
Jensen had the choice to play in the European Senior Men's Team Championship in Slovakia this week and decided to head to New England instead.
"I heard from a couple of the guys over there, and it seems like I made the right decision to come play here," Jensen said. "I couldn't be in a better place. The USGA puts on a first class event."
The Legend of Paul Simson
The 71-year-old made it to the round of 16 after beating Massachusetts Hall of Famer and 9 time Massachusetts Player of the Year
Frank Vana Jr.
It took
Rusty Strawn 19 holes to beat him. The conversation when Simson is mentioned always comes back around to his putting.
"We were watching him line up a 12 footer on 18 and I told my caddy he was going to make it," Strawn said. "And he did. I mean, he's has won everything four times."
The two rounds had worn out Strawn.
"I can't believe this is what I do for fun," he joked.
The fun will continue through Thursday when a U.S. Senior champion is crowned at The Kittansett Club.