A five-and-half year wait will be put to rest on Monday when some of the largest names in professional golf make their way to Sahalee Country Club for the 2010 U.S. Senior Open.
“It just looks phenomenal out here,” said director of golf at Sahalee Country Club, Jim Pike. “The golf course is in great shape.”
The event, which was scheduled in January of 2005, begins with three days of practice rounds July 26-28. The four-day championship runs Thursday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 1.
An exact number of tickets sales were unavailable earlier this week, but the number of fans coming through the gates is expected to be significant.
“We’re anticipating about 120,000 fans Monday through Sunday,” Pike said.
The majority of those fans will bussed from Marymoor Park in Redmond in order to limit traffic congestion on the Plateau. The parking is free to tournament-goers and the bus is free also. The buses will running continuously from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. throughout next week. Approximately 12 to 15 grandstands will be placed throughout the course, with seating for 7,500 people. The remainder of observers will stand along roped off portions of fairways.
Those fans will get a chance to stand next to some of the more recognizable golf names from around the world, including Seattle native and the tournament honorary chairman, Fred Couples.
Others on the list of 50 and over golfers include defending tournament champion Fred Funk, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Watson, Nick Price and Jay Haas.
“Without a doubt there’s not a prettier golf course that I’ve ever played and I’m looking forward to getting back there and trying to get my name on that trophy,” Haas said, in a promotional video.
While scenic, Sahalee also has a reputation as one of the more challenging championship courses.
“I really don’t think any other golf course has the trees that Sahalee has,” Funk said, in a recent press conference. “You almost feel claustrophobic on some of the holes. It’s intimidating.”
Pike said Sahalee, which has hosted the 1998 PGA Championship and 2002 NEC World Golf Championship, definitely provides something not seen on many modern championship courses.
“It’s kind of unique in today’s play,” he said. “There’s currently a lot of to-do about distance and length. With Sahalee, it becomes more of a shot-maker’s golf course.”
There are a variety of ticket packages and promotions available for the U.S. Senior Open, including combined packages for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in Tacoma. Throughout the week of the championship kids 17 and under receive free admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
For more information about the tournament go to www.2010ussenioropen.com.
