Volunteers, Transportation and More Discussed at Presentation on 2015 U.S. Open

Last week, the USGA made its first big pitch to University Place residents - the people who will be most affected by the 2015 U.S. Open.

Championship Director Danny Sink offered one of the most comprehensive details of the tournament for locals, more than 200 of whom packed the Pierce County Environmental Services Building in UP.

He covered the numbers: 235,000 visitors are expected to converge on Chambers Bay Golf Course throughout the week of the 2015 event. Officials estimate $144 million in direct and indirect spending, including 9,000 hotel nights that must be booked for officials.

It was a lot of information to take in, so Sink offered a handful of takeaways he hopes UP will remember two years out from the event.

First and from a purely "inside-the-ropes" standpoint, Chambers Bay will provide a different experience than other courses, including Merion Golf Club, the site of this year's championship. Chambers Bay is almost double in size, has no trees (save for the "Lone Fir") and is situated next to the water. The USGA has reviewed the course and says it's ahead of schedule in terms of its condition.

Also, the USGA knows what it's doing with these tournaments, he said. It has this stuff down to a tee. While there are a lot of unknowns because Chambers Bay is a first-time host, organizing the championship - everything from shirts for the army of volunteers to herding some 2,000 media members to their tent - isn't anything new. It will also require patience from anxious locals.

"We are very comfortable with the process," Sink said, "but it's a little bit like watching paint dry."

University Place and the South Sound will be on showcase to the world - approximately 150 million viewers over seven days. Residents should be proud to host the tournament. There will be plenty of live shots of the water, the links course and Mount Rainier. This could be the region's biggest chance for national and international exposure.

"What's going to expose this area to world is the 2015 U.S. Open," Sink said.


More numbers (except the ones covering roads and parking spaces) 

The scope of the 2015 U.S. Open is something the South Sound and the Northwest has ever seen. A year out from the event, the USGA will begin recruitment of 5,000 "volunteers" for the tournament. Volunteers will have to pay $170, which will cover their clothing and other costs.

A weeklong ticket will run attendees $500, and kids will get in free with a playing adult. One thing that's great for locals -  active military members will get free admission into the practice rounds.

Now, for the whole transportation thing...

The issue that brought many University Place residents to last week's meeting had nothing to do with greens or hotel rooms or television audiences.

It was transportation. Specifically, how the USGA planned to bring tens of thousands of people to the golf course every day during the tournament.

Sink said the USGA hasn't finalized the details of the 2015 tournament's transportation plan, which isn't unusual for a championship that's two years out.

Once finalized, the plan will require tens of thousands of parking spaces and getting those people to Chambers Bay. While giving cruise ships and other watercraft direct access to the golf course seems like a long shot, there is a report that officials are considering using Sounder trains on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks to get people to the course.

Still, "public transportation options are limited," he said.

As far as local drivers, Sink admitted there will be inconveniences the week of the tournament, but they will still be able to move about the city.

"It may take you 10 minutes to get home instead of five minutes, but don't feel like you're going to be trapped in your home the week of the championship," Sink said. "That's not advantageous for anyone."

"You'll be able to get your mail," he added.

What are you most excited about regarding the 2015 U.S. Open? What worries you the most? Tell us in the comments below.