What a disgraceful way to end the Australian Open with Allenby and Nitties being rushed down the 18th fiarway in golf carts to avoid a weather delay when the lightning was already in the surrounding area. A public announcement was warning spectators of the danger of using umbrellas whilst Allenby and Nitties were forced to finish their round in the same dangerous conditions.

Nitties had already hit a great drive down the last when the “cavalry” arrived in carts to rush them him to his ball. He only had an iron to the green and still had a chance to force a play off with an eagle. Even a birdie would have a huge financial reward but the circus that followed was totally unacceptable.

People taking photos whilst he played his chip shot, marshalls and spectators rushing for cover from the rain created a very unfair situation for Nitties.

The decision to take the players from the last tee to trheir balls was one thing, but the total lack of management and control of spectators was appalling and it should never have happened. The storm went through and all was okay within 20 to 30 minutes.

Just another example of “amateurs” running a professional event.

hmm…..I think your being a bit harsh

what would you rather happen..the siren goes..plays suspended…tthey come back tomorrow in front of no one and the tournament is decided then…now thats farciacal

also if these guys want to play in the states they will get that noise all of the time

the right guy won simple as that

taking the guys in carts I would actually say was quick and common sense thinking

probably the only best decision made this week by GA!

Everything else, barring the Oakley Hole, was a total disaster!

Just an aside, Nitties or Allenby could have discontinued play of their own volition on the grounds of the lightning, and the officials GA anyone couldn’t have done a damned thing about it. The player has the final say in that instance….

interesting to know..

Top marks for both of them..

then again who would want to come back on Monday and play one hole!

The other question has to be why were Nitties and Allenby so far behind anyhow? They were putting out on 15 after the group ahead had tee’s off on 17 so a full hole back.

Not saying that made everything else right, but perhaps they should have been given a bit of a hurry up earlier?

What a disgraceful way to end the Australian Open with Allenby and Nitties being rushed down the 18th fairway in golf carts to avoid a weather delay when the lightning was already in the surrounding area.

probably the only best decision made this week by GA!

Everything else, barring the Oakley Hole, was a total disaster!

Rubbish, I thought it was a great even bar the scoring mishap, but apart from that it was great. What was so bad?

What a disgraceful way to end the Australian Open with Allenby and Nitties being rushed down the 18th fairway in golf carts to avoid a weather delay when the lightning was already in the surrounding area.

I’m interested in exactly what you as an organiser would have done in the same situation.

He wouldn’t be the organizer, its easier to sit back and bitch about someone elses job of it.

What was piss poor was the coverage of Won Joon Lee, imagine if he had “won” they had only shown the last 3 shots of the Aussie open champ.

Heads Up

Very Harsh. Its fine to point out where you think they went wrong. Feel free to suggest what you would have done.

Are you sure you do not have a personal axe to grind.

Personally I think they did a pretty good job.

Don’t think it has anything to do with the fact the Amateur body was in charge of the event. I am sure PGA would have done similar.

probably the only best decision made this week by GA!

Everything else, barring the Oakley Hole, was a total disaster!

Rubbish, I thought it was a great even bar the scoring mishap, but apart from that it was great. What was so bad?

where do you want me to start?

transport in Sydney, getting there (disgraceful), the scoreboards not working, officials that were rude, dealing with the members of the hosting club, paying Sydney prices for hotels and drinks, getting “glassed” at the Rocks by some Sydney thugs, who also do not speak english well and all look the same, getting into a cab going the “scenic route” everytime and where the only sound you hear is a driver speaking in a foreign lanuage on their mobile phone ..the list can be endless…

bring it back to Melbourne and play it at a proper layout…Sydney sux…never again…

Makes you wonder how they held the Olympics..then again didn’t everyone get out of the place during those two or so weeks!

OWL

I think you are a knob. So you are blaming the transport, the hotel prices, the cabs, the drink prices, the lack of parking etc all on the GA.

No wondered you got glassed…..

Ohh and you would’t be a racist would you.

GA promised “Big City Golf” did they not?

I appear to have got then value for money in Sydney…

racist..never…just want to get in a cab in Sydney, go the direct route and have a driver that speaks english…not too much to ask?

What else would you expect someone from Melbourne to say about Sydney. (& personally I dont like either place) The ill feeling between the two cities is quite amusing for the rest of Australia. Keep up the good work

Owl – everything you hates seemed to happen away from the actual Open. Your issue seems to be with the city of Sydney – I don’t know if the Open organisers could have changed much of that…

Heads Up – how would have you handled the situation? They had TV to contend with – they could have called off play half way down the 18th but that would have made the event a farce. It was pretty clear that an eagle was unlikely after his drive – if he was in the guts of the fairway and 6-iron out then it would have been Nitties decision as to whether play is called off. He hit a poor drive and 3rd shot – an unlikely eagle was never on the cards.

Plenty of people like to bitch and whinge about the Open but offer no solutions…man up and offer some solutions rather than just bagging.

Besides the scoring I thought they did alright. Good point about Lee’s coverage on Seven – pretty disgraceful…

GA promised “Big City Golf” did they not?

I appear to have got then value for money in Sydney…

racist..never…just want to get in a cab in Sydney, go the direct route and have a driver that speaks english…not too much to ask?

and there’s an abundance of taxi drivers in Melbourne that know the direct route and speak English as a first language…...........

I believe I should respond to some of you guys.

DAVE – as I stated, the storm passed in 20 minutes or so and had plenty of time to finish before Ch 7 went of the air. They new when the storm was going to arrive with the use of radar (not Wayne Riley who was last seen running down Gardners Rd)

TRYSIL – I agree with your comment that the players had the final say, but the decision to cart them to their balls appeared to be the correct one at the time. The problem was they no plan to manage the crowd. About 100 of us were left around the last teen when the players were escorted. Many people actuallt ran after them and were still running up to them when they were playing shots to the green, not good.

THE OWL – Monday would not have been needed as previously stated. Presentation was done and usted by around 4.00pm I think.

TOOLISH – Do not believe every thing you see on TV. Ch 10 had coverage of the PGA in QLD on a one hour delay so that the finish would coincide with their 5.00pm news. I stood on the front of the 16th Tee and cheered Parry’s putt on 17 whilst watching Allenby and Nitties putt on 16.

PUBLISH – what would I have done? Suspend play earlier to assist players and specators take cover and safety as is the norm at any major golfing event. The fact that they were advising spectaors not to use umbrellas and seek cover whilst the last 2 players were approaching the last green is justification that it was a bad dedcision made for thre wrong reasons. Time was not a problem.

RACINFARMER – your immatrure comment really does not justify a presponse other than say you are a long way off the mark.

PHANTOM X – The only personal axe to grid is that I got drenched due to the very poor judgement and timing and lack of vision displayed by officials which left me in a dangerous situation which could have been avoided. You are correct about my comment regarding Ams running the event as one cart was driven a GA official and the other by a PGA Tour official.

PS – The Australian is a great place for this event as it is the best viewing course in AUS and excellent for spectators to get around and see plenty of golf. The players put on a good show.

lol….. owl that is a classic

You sound like the problem, majority of those things you listed have nothing to do with the event, and more to do with Sydney….. you must have had a great attitude on your visit.

I thought the event was fantastic, I just thought they may have set it up a little tougher.

RACINFARMER – your immatrure comment really does not justify a presponse other than say you are a long way off the mark.

Tell me how you really feel newbie.

Its 2:46AM my time, I’m going to bed. I expect a thought out responce.

probably the only best decision made this week by GA!

Everything else, barring the Oakley Hole, was a total disaster!

Rubbish, I thought it was a great even bar the scoring mishap, but apart from that it was great. What was so bad?

where do you want me to start?

transport in Sydney, getting there (disgraceful), the scoreboards not working, officials that were rude, dealing with the members of the hosting club, paying Sydney prices for hotels and drinks, getting “glassed” at the Rocks by some Sydney thugs, who also do not speak english well and all look the same, getting into a cab going the “scenic route” everytime and where the only sound you hear is a driver speaking in a foreign lanuage on their mobile phone ..the list can be endless…

bring it back to Melbourne and play it at a proper layout…Sydney sux…never again…

Makes you wonder how they held the Olympics..then again didn’t everyone get out of the place during those two or so weeks!

Your an idiot.

Youv’e just made every comment on here regarding the scoring issue redundant, as anyone with any clout will read that and think this site is a waste of time.

I now feel bad about the couple of comments I’ve made about the scoring because now it’ll be read in conjunction with your post.

Officials and members were probably rude to you because your an idiot, and you were probably glassed because your rascist.

As far as the weather issue goes, best of a bad situation I guess.

probably the only best decision made this week by GA!

Everything else, barring the Oakley Hole, was a total disaster!

Rubbish, I thought it was a great even bar the scoring mishap, but apart from that it was great. What was so bad?

where do you want me to start?

transport in Sydney, getting there (disgraceful), the scoreboards not working, officials that were rude, dealing with the members of the hosting club, paying Sydney prices for hotels and drinks, getting “glassed” at the Rocks by some Sydney thugs, who also do not speak english well and all look the same, getting into a cab going the “scenic route” everytime and where the only sound you hear is a driver speaking in a foreign lanuage on their mobile phone ..the list can be endless…

bring it back to Melbourne and play it at a proper layout…Sydney sux…never again…

Makes you wonder how they held the Olympics..then again didn’t everyone get out of the place during those two or so weeks!

Owl, apart from your other rants, you are way out of line with the racist comment… Very poor taste… You wouldn’t bag the guy with an accent if he was driving a 911…

I am from Melbourne too and can admit that Sydney is a fantastic place..

You can get glassed here too mate, there are thugs in every state….

ScottL

Don’t stress about The Owl comment.

his comments don’t reflect our views of the whole scoring topic and I am sure people reading this will see through it.

Maybe admin will remove altogether

The_Owl…..even by my standards…

very poor taste…back onto the issue of this thread..

I personally thought the finish was great.

O’Hern on the 17th where he knew he lost it, Parry’s effort on the 17th..great stuff.. fairway bunker on right, then one of the best up and downs in tournament golf.

In the background you had Won Joo Lee already in the Clubhouse with a score posted, nice and dry..

It had all the elements of a great finish, although it would have been great to see Nitties chip in.

Agree the use of carts were fine to get the last group down the 18th…

Slow play warrants a 2 stroke penalty at most courses !