12 things I loved about the week at Hazeltine

I’ve lifted nearly a dozen major tournaments on the site, but last week was my first US Amateur. This one was fitting, since Hazeltine National Golf Club is only about 30 minutes from my house (still waiting for the membership invitation to arrive in the mail, guys), so I’ve had it circled on my calendar all year.

And? It was terrible. I watched Jose Luis Ballester lift the Havemeyer Trophy, Noah Kent introduced himself to the world and read – and told – the story of Godfrey Nsubuga, the first Ugandan to play in the US Amateur.

As for the other things I take? Let’s clean up the notebook. Here are 12 things I liked about last week’s US Amateur.

Playoff madness

I got up early Wednesday to catch a 14-for-11 playoff to complete the 64-player playoff field. The birdies were good enough to advance, but playing the difficult par-4 10th — where the tee shot and approach mattered — led to multiple bogeys and a bonus playoff. It was fun too look the players look their peers. As Gunnar Broin said, “A few of them are my friends, and you don’t like to cheer against him, but hey, I was enjoying the bogeys, I’m not going to lie.”

Broin was the first to make bogey, so he needed more to stay alive. After doing so, he birdied the second qualifying hole (par-3 17th) in spectacular fashion to secure his spot. As a Minnesotan and Hazeltine caddy, he received a standing ovation.

Second chances

Speaking of that 14-for-11 playoff game, Ethan Fang also found himself in it. He was on the fairway and on the green in 2, but he three-putted for bogey and had to see if he would get another chance. When he did, he averaged on the 17th to improve. He also used a lot in the match, he went to the quarterfinals, where he lost 3 and 2 to Kent.

Deck pilot

I wrote that this was my player of the week for Ballester, but his driver from the par-5 3rd fairway – in the wind from about 315 yards, to about 15 feet – was the most talked about shot I saw all week. It was also one of the most impressive I have seen up close with the players. Another that comes to mind happened a few hundred yards away, when I was standing behind the green when Patrick Reed teed off at the 2016 Ryder Cup.

Good friends

Ballester gave just one away pass to Hazeltine, which belonged to his best friend Navid Mousavi. He grew up with Ballester in Spain and now plays on the William Carey University men’s golf team in Mississippi. Mousavi teed off for most of Sunday afternoon and later waited for USGA communications staff to give him permission to greet his friend on the 18th green to celebrate together. As Ballester wrapped up his press conference Sunday night, he joked in Spanish, “You’re going to be in all the highlights!”

1 followers

In Wednesday’s round of 64, top amateur Luke Clanton faced Dylan McDermott. Clanton was 4 after 12, but on the 13th McDermott came in to save the stage. Two women watching next to each other celebrated. It was both of their mothers. They talked and walked a few holes together. “She’s so beautiful,” said Rhonda Clanton.

Number. 1 followers (Part II)

Luke Clanton’s sister, Abby, has powers actually to be his number 1 fan, especially since he wears a shirt that says “UMLANDELI KALUKE #1” and is easily heard talking about him at events. The former University of West Alabama football player holds a golf ball he threw at him during a tournament earlier this year. Now it is sitting in his hand as he watches. He calls it his fidget widget.

Reminders

What is unique about the US Amateur is that the players, caddies, volunteers and media share the same dining area. On Thursday I sat next to a two player chat strategy. I finally found out it was 36 year old Christian Brand in the am – who won the West Virginia Am by 21 strokes – and his looper Jason Grimmett. (“I’m an old guy,” Brand said.) They were preparing for their Round of 16 matchup against Ballester, the eventual champion. While they lost 2 and 1, at least they left Minnesota with a souvenir. Earlier Thursday, in their 32-round 1-over victory against Ethan Evans, Brand walked off the field and made an eagle 2 on the 4th 9. He was keeping the ball – and the divot.

Brand’s Instagram Story

It reads: “I was a professional golfer and used to have a sick mullet.”

The par-4 16th hole

What a playable hole and an incredibly beautiful part of the golf course.

Boredom is curable

A security guard, perhaps in his early 20s, was sitting on a chair outside the doors of the Hazeltine clubhouse, which was frequented by one member and the media. He just needed to make sure passers-by had the correct color badge, which isn’t exactly the hardest or most exciting line of work. I almost asked one day if he was tired. I didn’t, but I came back a few hours later and saw him laughing and playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with a few teenagers.

Now what?

After the press conference with the media, Ballester held up his new trophy, examined it and asked, “What do we do with this? Will we be able to keep it for the whole year?” (Yes you can.)

The secret

That’s how good the event is to attend (and cover). The US Scholarship is everything amazing about golf rolled into one exciting week in August. The fans walk along the beautiful streets, feeling the grass; the brave enough to remove their flip flops, feeling the cool bentgrass beneath their toes. Tickets are cheap ($30!), the access is unprecedented and the views (without the Grandstand) are spectacular. Lacking all the glitz and glamor often seen in the big leagues, the US Scholar feels like he’s stumbled into the thick of it at his local club. What a week.

Josh Behow

Golf.com Editor

As managing editor of GOLF.com, Berhow manages the day-to-day and long-term programming of one of the most widely read news and service websites in the sport. He spends most of his days writing, planning, organizing and wondering if he will ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and two children. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.