The LACC U.S. Open Experience

This year, the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club marked my third one I’ve attended. While it’s always so much fun to watch golf at a high level, I will say this was my least favorite U.S. Open I’ve been to.

The course was beautiful, as they always are for this tournament, but the fan experience was interesting.

As a fan, I like to be up by the ropes and be as close as I can to the golfers. I couldn’t do that at this course. And yes, at times there were too many people inhibiting my ability to see, but that doesn’t stop me at the WM Phoenix Open from seeing my favorite player. Also, at this course, there were dead ends and times you couldn’t see a hole. At all. Literally on hole nine, the players tee off OVER you. Yes, the ball goes over your head and you have to turn around to look up at the players.

The course was also very difficult to walk. Many times we had to hike up or down a dirt path to see a golfer for a few seconds. We were taken routes that went out of the way and the crossings on the course lead us to different holes than the one we were trying to get to. And the map didn’t help much because you didn’t know where the crossings were on each hole. Needless to say, it was hard for a directionally challenged person to get around this golf course.

What I will say is that Los Angeles Country Club seemed to be a good test for the players and provided some good entertainment.

We were able to get the full Jordan Spieth experience as he would hit a shot way right, yell a profanity, have a chip shot on the side of the hill and still make birdie. And yet, he would then hit it on the green and three-putt, only to miss the cut by one stroke. All part of the Jordan experience.

I was happy that golf tournaments are beginning to have more inclusive food options for those of us who don’t eat meat, dairy or gluten (i.e., me). Near the 10th hole, there were multiple food stands and we ended up getting a taco bowl with chips and salsa, and for a decent price I might add. I’ve seen the progression from the 2015 U.S. Open to now and it has been incredible to be honest.

After winding around trying to find my cousin, Megan, we finally found her in between holes 1 and 18, we went to go watch Scottie Scheffler who was playing with Max Homa and Collin Morikawa. Again, it was difficult to see every shot as the course isn’t designed for spectators, but we saw as much as we could.

While walking with this group for a bit, my legs all of a sudden got really tired. We had been out there since 8 in the morning and it was nearing the late afternoon, so those hills were catching up to me. Megan suggested we take a break in the grandstands off the 16th green and it was a great idea. The stands were not crowded at all and we could see the green and beyond to the 17th tee box. We were even able to watch players like Rickie and Viktor come through while we sat there until the sun was going down.

Walking out of Los Angeles Country Club was a sight to behold. The crowds had died down, the sun was setting behind the club house and the three of us were reminiscing on a great day. I think the moment of walking across the first hole with the sunset in the background is a moment burned in the back of my mind that I don’t want to forget.

I will say this U.S. Open was memorable as they always tend to be. It’s always so fun to watch the highest level of golf at a new course I haven’t attended. I look forward to going to more tournaments in the future and who knows maybe even working for them someday.

And congratulations to former University of Oregon player, Wyndham Clark, on his victory at the tournament! It’s great to see a former Duck win and especially Clark as he lost his mom 10 years ago and as someone who is super close to their mom, I definitely teared up reading how he wanted it for her. It was a special win for him and he will be a player to watch in the future.