Driving up to Saucon Valley, just outside of Bethlehem PA, site of the 2009 Women's US Open for the first time today gave me that good ol feeling I remember from US Opens past.  Of course I have a lot of those memories banked up as I counted last week 25 past US Opens for me.  But this one is special, being my first time to qualify for an Open 3 years after my retirement. 

As Carrie and I pulled up to the course, it was fun to see this beautiful country club and course layout with the players dotted around the course, the volunteers busy at their posts, and the Caddies tending to their players.  Of course I am already checking out how high the rough is, how narrow the fairways are and what do the approaches to the greens look like. 

It didn't take long for us to find out, for our first job of the week was to get out there and walk the course and check out the yardages and greens.  I always like to make a point to draw out each green so that I know exactly where the breaks are and how do I approach the green from the fairway in order to get the ball close.  Carrie and I set out late this afternoon with just 3 clubs in our hands and a lot of motivation. 

Soon enough I bumped into a lot of my old friends from tour, Meg Mellon, Julie Inkster, Terry McNamara (Annika's old caddy) Pat Hurst and several other players and caddies and after the initial excitement of being back and the questions of my qualifying, the topic turned to how long the course is playing.  Remember, these are people who don't usually complain about that part of the game, so if it's long for them, then it must be long.  Me, as we know haven't gotten any longer in the past three years, so we got some work to do. 

The course is beautiful, did I mention that.  That's what so great about playing in the Open, you will play or see some of the most wonderful golf courses in the country.  This, my first time to Saucon Valley, I haven't been disappointed in the tight tree lined fairways, with very undulated greens that will give even the best of golfers a hard time this week.  The fairways are like carpet with hardly a divot to see, and the greens are like  roller coasters  with out the safety bar down.  This will be fun, if not a little scary. 

I'll keep you posted.  Take care,  Rj

Check out more blogs from Carrie and I about the Women's US Open on www.thelegendstour.com