Merion Golf Course is one that is filled with history. It is where Bobby Jones concluded his Grand Slam in 1930 with a triumph in the US Amateur. It is where Ben Hogan fought back from a horrific car accident to win the 1950 US Open in a playoff with Lew Worsham and George Fazio. And it is where Lee Trevino defeated Jack Nicklaus in a playoff during the 1971 US Open. Throughout all of it’s history though, Merion Golf Club has been using the wicker basket sticks to make hole locations.
The wicker baskets on Merion’s East Course are red on the outgoing nine and orange on the incoming nine, with striped poles accordingly. And unlike the common flagsticks used regularly, the wicker baskets have poles that are solid metal (versus fiberglass) – if you hit one of these poles, the ball is really going to deflect a long ways! Just take a look at Lee Westwood’s shot below! Furthermore, the poles are 7 1/2 feet tall, including 14 inches for the basket itself – 18 inches taller than conventional flagsticks. This can definitely affect a golfer’s ability to judge distance by the naked eye. There is so much history behind these wicker baskets – so much that an authentic wicker basket from Merion was sold at an independent aution for $5,671.80!
Source: ESPN Golf
