The PGA Championship venues have been compared to 90s and 2000s bands, offering a unique perspective on the upcoming rota. This comparison is not just a random exercise, but a way to explore the courses and their characteristics. The USGA and PGA of America have both established their own rotas, with the USGA booking courses like Oakmont and Pebble Beach until 2050, and the PGA focusing on venues that could host a U.S. Open but won't anytime soon.
Quail Hollow (2017, 2025) - Coldplay
Coldplay is a band that doesn't demand attention, but it's still enjoyable. Similarly, Quail Hollow is a course that is easy to play, but it doesn't challenge the golfer in the same way as some other courses. It's a nice course, but it's not particularly demanding.
Aronimink (2026) - Weezer
Weezer's early albums are excellent, but the band has struggled to recapture its early magic. Aronimink, like Weezer, is a course that has seen better days. It's still a solid course, but it's not as challenging or innovative as it once was.
The Olympic Club (2028) - Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters are highly proficient at what they do, and The Olympic Club is a course that is well-known for its challenging layout. The course is like a chugging rocker with quiet-loud contrasts, just like Foo Fighters' music.
PGA Frisco (2027) - O-Town
O-Town was a corporate concoction that never felt like more than a rote exercise. PGA Frisco is a course that is similar in that it is a well-funded course that doesn't necessarily stand out. It's a solid course, but it's not particularly innovative or challenging.
The Ocean Course at Kiawah (2012, 2021, 2031) - Green Day
Green Day is a band that you may forget about for extended periods of time, but whenever they pop up, you're happy to hear them. The Ocean Course at Kiawah is a course that is similar in that it is a well-known course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Whistling Straits (2010, 2015) - Blink-182
Blink-182 is a good band, but they're not better than Green Day. Whistling Straits is a course that is similar in that it is a well-known course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Southern Hills (2022, 2032) - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty's songs are rather ordinary on the surface, but if you listen closely, you'll realize how well crafted they are. Southern Hills is a course that is similar in that it is a well-crafted course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Bethpage Black (2019, 2033) - Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses were a badass rock band in their day, but the live-concert experience has become notoriously dodgy in recent years. Bethpage Black is a course that is similar in that it is a well-known course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Oak Hill East (2013, 2023, 2035) - Oasis
Oasis is a well-loved band that has enjoyed a major resurgence in the 2020s. However, I don't get it. Oak Hill East is a course that is similar in that it is a well-known course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Congressional Blue (2030) - Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots are a solid group, but I find a lot of their stuff slightly anonymous. Congressional Blue is a course that is similar in that it is a solid course, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Bellerive (2018) - Bush
Bashing Bush feels redundant at this point, but think about it: can you sing more than three words of any Bush song to yourself? Bellerive is a course that is similar in that it is a solid course, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
TPC Harding Park (2020) - Dave Matthews Band
I'm glad Dave Matthews Band exists, but I just don't need this music consistently in my life. TPC Harding Park is a course that is similar in that it is a solid course, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Baltusrol Lower (2016, 2029) - Metallica
No one doubts Metallica's greatness, but by the early 00s, they had become something of a joke. Baltusrol Lower is a course that is similar in that it is a well-known course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
Valhalla (2014, 2024) - Spin Doctors
Whenever I hear that Spin Doctors song, I think to myself, 'Iguess this was cool in the 90s?' Valhalla is a course that is similar in that it is a well-known course that is enjoyable to play, but it's not necessarily challenging or innovative.
This comparison offers a unique perspective on the upcoming PGA Championship rota, and it's a way to explore the courses and their characteristics. It's a fun and engaging way to look at the courses, and it's a great way to spark curiosity about the upcoming events.
