Rather astonishing that there's no shuttle to downtown Bethesda. No US Open attendees staying at the Bethesda Hyatt or Bethesda Doubletree hotels? The organizers should get whacked with the 'that's obvious' stick.

by MattF on May 3, 2011 10:59 am • link • report

As if I needed another reason to hate golf.

by Jason Tinkey on May 3, 2011 11:05 am • link • report

Horros! Suburban county club nowhere near a metro station does not have good transit options! Who could imagine.

I love walking. I like my bike. I even use bikeshare. Cars, however, are an excellent transportation option as well.

by charlie on May 3, 2011 11:06 am • link • report

The website of TMS (the private shuttle service) has the info up. It's still $8 round-trip.

It's too bad the shuttles are free for drivers but not rail users. Do any WMATA restrictions come into play?

by Joseph on May 3, 2011 11:09 am • link • report

http://www.cvent.com/events/tms-official-shuttle-to-the-u-s-open/event-summary-fde64fa8e2c141e284bcc3d0274dbaf6.aspx

by Joseph on May 3, 2011 11:09 am • link • report

Newsflash: People who run golf tournaments for a living are more friendly to autos than mass transit. Not exactly man bites dog news.

by dcd on May 3, 2011 11:12 am • link • report

Very odd that they're using the fairgrounds parking lot. Did they do this the last time the tournament was at Congressional? Maybe tourists will be caught unaware of the actual distance, but the trip time from the fair grounds to the course would be 30+ minutes, depending on traffic.

I grew up in the area, and most people with farms or large pieces of property usually allow people to park. Even greater numbers of people park on the streets in the surrounding residential areas and just walk over to the course. I can almost guarantee that the Norwood School across the street would also possibly dedicate a portion of its property to the lucrative parking business since classes will be out of session by June.

In any event, if they're going to so heavily subsidize parking at a far-off lot by providing free transportation service that dedicated service to/from the Metro should also be provided. Grosvenor is probably the right station; there's enough space for shuttles to load and drop off passengers.

by Adam L on May 3, 2011 11:19 am • link • report

@dcd, charlie: Part of what this website does is point out the many ways that cars are subsidized or treated as "normal" while other things are treated as unusual or "alternate".

by Michael Perkins on May 3, 2011 11:23 am • link • report

@charlie

Cars, however, are an excellent transportation option as well.

Not for hosting an event like this, however.

Cars, like any other form of transportation, require some sort of terminal capacity (i.e. parking). Here, they are hosting an event in a location with very little parking and very high demand for attendance. This is not what I'd call an 'excellent' option.

by Alex B. on May 3, 2011 11:34 am • link • report

@Mperkins; right on. I can't wait for GGW to advocate bringing back mule trains or African porters.

by charlie on May 3, 2011 11:35 am • link • report

@Jason-- this was exactly what I thought. Golf courses waste a huge amount of water, pollute, and contribute to sprawl. I'll pass on going to the US Open.

by Ben on May 3, 2011 11:43 am • link • report

Past tournaments - such as the LPGA at Bethesda and the old Kemper Open at Avenel - had shuttles from the Bethesda Metro Station that worked very, very well.

That said, Metro was FAR more reliable ten years ago. Weekend repairs and delays were not as commonplace. The system did not have the financial problems and had more flexibility to accommodate events. And, sorry to remind you, but there were fewer safety and crime issues.

Thank you, Erik, for bringing up this issue. But, as one who has attended many golf tournaments, I would venture a guess that at least 90% of those who pay for tickets would NEVER take Metro because it's not convenient for them because of where they live (or, pass the Grey Poupon, unacceptable to them because of how they live).

Yes, the PGA could probably do better, but there are many issues that make using Metro difficult. Like how do you know what time the tournament will end - especially with the problem of late afternoon rainstorms? How do you plan for that? Who pays? What about track work? Who pays to delay it?

I'm not so sure it's "blatant transit-rider discrimination." It could be that other factors are at play, or that the PGA planners - taking the advice of the host committee - decided that Metro is neither reliable enough nor safe enough to play a major role and that parking half an hour away was actually less of a risk.

If that's the case, it's also a harsh indictment of Metro.

by Mike S. on May 3, 2011 11:51 am • link • report

What @Michael Perkins said.

BTW, GGW, it would be nice to have a "like" button for comments; DCist has a pretty good implementation.

by Brad on May 3, 2011 11:53 am • link • report

@MPerk, Part of what this website does is point out the many ways that cars are subsidized or treated as "normal" while other things are treated as unusual or "alternate".

But cars are more normal. Normal in the same way that commuting by bike you own vs. rent is. This post sounds like one of those "it's that thing again - a stupid car" ones.

by HogWash on May 3, 2011 12:00 pm • link • report

Charlie,

I'm sorry but your comment is borderline idiotic. Cars are not an ideal mode of transportation to the CCC either when there would be 10,000 of them.

It would be one thing if they let drivers park for free at the club because driving directly there is definitely the most effective way to get there. Hands down.

But that's not what they're doing. Do you not recognize the idiocy, or at least incongruity, of providing a 30-mile round trip ride for free while charging $8 for a 14-mile one?

by Erik Weber on May 3, 2011 12:01 pm • link • report

No, HogWash, this post is pointing out that the USGA is completely subsidizing the cost of shuttling drivers 15 miles each way to and from their cars while asking Metro riders to pay their way on the 7 mile trip to and from Grosvenor Metro.

Their reasoning is probably something like this:

Well we have to make it easier for people driving to get to and from because there will be a lot of them. So lets not make them register and make it free. That way it will be easy and fast. But let's just have Metro riders register ahead of time for a shuttle and have them pay for it because there probably won't be many of them so it will be more expensive per person to provide that.

Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.

by Erik Weber on May 3, 2011 12:07 pm • link • report

@Mike S
Like how do you know what time the tournament will end - especially with the problem of late afternoon rainstorms?

Hmm the tournament will probably end before Metro closes, since you can't play golf in the dark.

I agree with Erik - talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. Parking is free and the shuttle from parking is free. Why the hell can't they do the same for the shorter Metro ride?

by MLD on May 3, 2011 12:23 pm • link • report

@Adam L, when Tiger Woods had his tournament at Congressional, it was a similar set up with parking at the County Fairgrounds and shuttling people to Congressional.

by Robin on May 3, 2011 12:25 pm • link • report

Hmm. I'm glad to see being a borderline idiotic sixth grader doesn't trigger any comment police. I love open and free discussion.

Now, Erik, if you bother to read my comments, you'll just see they are directed at the general proposition that cars are an excellent form of transportation. Alex was smart enough to make the necessary linkage, which is whether it is an excellent from of transportation to a golf tournament.

My guess is since they've done this before, and have about 1000x the experience of hosting large golf tournaments than you and I, they've made the satellite option a choice for people who are coming in from of town. Locals will be smart enough to find parking in Potomac.

If all you have is a hammer.....

by charlie on May 3, 2011 12:40 pm • link • report

Plenty of golf fans will head to the tourniment from downtown DC. If they drive they will have to drive more than 10 miles past their destination and then ride the bus 15 miles back and then do it all again when they leave. Depending on the time of day and others driving to the tourniment traffic could be a nightmare. A shuttle to the metro would get used and make a lot more sense for many fans.

by mike on May 3, 2011 12:44 pm • link • report

Erik, I get that. However, the sentiment behind the post is the same that you get from GGW in general. It's not that you all just present ideas for several modes of transit.

The problem I see is that mostly every idea I've seen floated here has always been to the exclusion of cars as if they are ever good alternatives.

Imagine the headline, "US Open pushes using Cabi over driving." I don't think most people would have an issue with that.

I know, I know, it's about increasing options.

Except driving that is..:)

by HogWash on May 3, 2011 12:59 pm • link • report

Not that I expect any of them to do so, but they could always bike out there. It is a pleasant ride on MacAuther out to Potomac. Of course, if you're going to ride out there, why would you want to get off your bike to watch golf?

by Ben on May 3, 2011 1:03 pm • link • report

Is TMS also doing the shuttle from the fairgrounds?

by Lou on May 3, 2011 1:05 pm • link • report

@Hogwash

There is nothing in this piece that says that people shouldn't be able to drive and park and take a shuttle, or that that option shouldn't be free. All it is doing is questioning the decision to make people who choose to take Metro pay for their shuttle AND make a reservation. I dunno where you're getting the idea that the piece says "don't drive take Metro!"

@charlie
If you make a comment about the utility of cars in response a specific article people are going to necessarily tie it to that article. So first you made a snarky parody comment about how Congressional doesn't have transit access (which is not what the article is about.) Then you say "cars are excellent!" and end it there without any actual contribution to anything.

Allow me to break it down for you: USGA has highlighted two transportation options to get to the event. BOTH require shuttle rides. ONE of those shuttles you have to pay for, the other you don't. Care to explain how that makes any sense at all?

by MLD on May 3, 2011 1:13 pm • link • report

@HogWash:

I know, I know, it's about increasing options. Except driving that is..:)

This is a bit like bemoaning the fact that there aren't any PSAs encouraging elementary school children to eat more candy. We've had 60 some-odd-years encouraging the use of the private automobile to the exclusion of all other modes of transit. So, yes, "increasing option" necessarily excludes the default, heretofore unexamined, mode.

by oboe on May 3, 2011 1:27 pm • link • report

I was down at Hilton head Island for the Heritage PGA tourney last week. They provide free shuttle from designated parking areas. Maybe that's why the PGA wants to move the tourney from HHI to somewhere that offers highway service to their events.

by dk on May 3, 2011 1:34 pm • link • report

@MLD, maybe you're reading someone else's post because I don't recall saying that the "article" suggests that people consider metro as an option to the exclusion of cars.

Could be referring to me saying that the general meme throughout this community tends to push ideas to the exclusion of cars? If so, then I can't imagine that you disagree with that.

by HogWash on May 3, 2011 1:48 pm • link • report

This wouldn't even be an issue if either the parking shuttle also incurred a charge/cost or if the Metro shuttle was free.

by Froggie on May 3, 2011 1:52 pm • link • report

@HogWash
You wrote, However, the sentiment behind the post is the same that you get from GGW in general. It's not that you all just present ideas for several modes of transit.

So if you think the sentiment from this article is the same as the general sentiment of GGW, which is, as you put, "The problem I see is that mostly every idea I've seen floated here has always been to the exclusion of cars as if they are ever good alternatives." then yes, you are saying that this article, like the rest of everything on GGW supposedly, is pushing Metro at the expense of cars.

So yeah, I guess you didn't say "this article is pushing Metro at the expense of cars." But when you put two sentences next to each other that say "this article is just like everything else on GGW" and "the general sentiment on GGW is to push Metro at the expense of cars" it sure sounds like you're trying to say that.

by MLD on May 3, 2011 2:03 pm • link • report

"No, HogWash, this post is pointing out that the USGA is completely subsidizing the cost of shuttling drivers 15 miles each way to and from their cars while asking Metro riders to pay their way on the 7 mile trip to and from Grosvenor Metro."

I think it's worth noting that the amount of the "subsidy" that USGA is providing could actually be much greater for the metro riders, if only a small percentage of the attendees will be arriving by metro.

I am guessing the reason that they are asking people to reserve the shuttle in advance for the Metro is exactly for this reason: they anticipate little demand, and want to be able to match the size and frequency of shuttles in the best way possible. Offering the same level of service to a tiny fraction of attendees riding metro would be extremely costly on a per-user basis, and no matter what, it's going to be more costly since they will most likely be running big buses from the parking lot.

I'm not saying that the way they are presenting this is necessarily the best, but there are simple realities at play here: the demographics of your typical golf tournament attendee probably does not have a lot in common with your typical public transit-bike-walk lifestyle person.

I am sure they couldn't care less whether they shuttle people from a parking lot or from the metro. But if the reality is that not that many people are going to be coming from a metro, which I couldn't say for sure but doesn't seem that unlikely, then it would be a waste of money and resources for them to provide a level of service as if there were.

by Jamie on May 3, 2011 2:47 pm • link • report

Jamie, I guarantee if the parking lot charges $15, the parking lot shuttle charged $15, and the metro shuttle was free, suddenly you'd find yourself in a situation where the parking lot had little demand and the metro had a lot of demand.

Then you could justify the $15 parking shuttle by saying "they anticipate little demand, and want to be able to match the size and frequency of shuttles in the best way possible."

$8 for 7 miles? On top of metro fare? Who would pay that?

by JJJJJ on May 3, 2011 3:46 pm • link • report

@MLD, this article doesn't push metro as a viable alternative to cars because (i assume) it's likely not the best option here. However, it does fall in line w/others questioning "why car" over "bike/metro" which has been instrumental in creating the us vs. them situation that has become more commonplace during the past several years.

IMO, every area event that doesn't involve transport by bikes and metro shouldn't be so criticized as often happens here and other places.

by HogWash on May 3, 2011 3:57 pm • link • report

@JJJJJ - umm, we're not talking about getting to a flea market. A daily ticket to the U.S. Open is $370. That is, if you're paying face value - Sunday is sold out.

Do you really think that $10 or $20 either way makes one iota of difference?

This is a luxury. Who would pay $8 for 7 miles? Probably, someone who already was spending about a half a G for the day of entertainment, wouldn't really care one way or the other. They are going to use the option that is the best one.

Like I said I don't necessarily approve of their approach to this, but it's not the additional ~2% surcharge over the ticket price that's stopping anyone from using the metro service. It's the other way around.

The fee is surely meant to be a "guarantee" so they can be have a good estimate for how many buses they're going to need. If they didn't charge, nobody would bother making a reservation, and they wouldn't have good numbers. I really don't think they're going to make any money off this.

by Jamie on May 3, 2011 4:02 pm • link • report

Probably the worst thing about this is that the shuttle for the car drivers will go directly into the Course, while the shuttle from the Metro will sit in traffic and wont have it's own lane.

by Ryan on May 3, 2011 5:24 pm • link • report

Montgomery County probably needs to modify their regulations concerning golf courses, to require balanced transportation demand management planning for special events such as this.

This isn't done as a matter of course, but should be.

This is similar to the issue of events on the National Mall, which probably since 2007 or before, I've been arguing that there need to be TDM planning requirements that are more serious than those currently extant (although there are some sticky first amendment issues, because requiring payments for add'l WMATA service could be an issue).

by Richard Layman on May 3, 2011 5:40 pm • link • report

@MLD: Regarding not knowing what time the tournament will end because of DC's tradition of late afternoon showers:

I have been to tournaments where play ended at 545pm, and others where it ended after 9pm because of rain delays. Remembering that weekends means shorter trains and less service, how can you plan for thousands of passengers leaving at about the same time if you don't know when that time will be?

No one is talking about Metro shutting down. I'm talking about the possibility of a huge number of passengers overwhelming a station - and the system - at a time when there is weekend service.

And perhaps I should remind you that on Saturdays and Sundays, players tee off in reverse order to their score, with the leaders teeing off last. So the vast majority of people leave at about the same time. And if you don't know when that time will be, it will be expensive and difficult to plan for it.

by Mike S. on May 3, 2011 9:30 pm • link • report

I think the more important question is, who wants to watch golf?

by Ben on May 3, 2011 10:48 pm • link • report

Jamie, a ludicrous amount is a ludicrous amount, doesnt matter how rich you are.

You know yesterdays article about people crying about a $6 toll? I guarantee a good portion of them are paying large sums of money to enjoy the weekend at the beach. And $6 is still an issue.

by JJJJJ on May 4, 2011 2:52 am • link • report

It's annoying that this tournament pitches itself as taking place in the national capital, when it's actually out in the 'burbs.

How about moving to a transit-accessible location, and having the tournament at the Langston golf course in the future! That would actually be in the city they purport to be having this tournament in.

by Geoffrey Hatchard on May 6, 2011 7:23 pm • link • report

I think the bottom line is that the vast majority of fans will be using a car as part of their journey and all fans will be using a shuttle bus as part of their journey. Just like getting people to switch modes more than once as part of a daily commute must be avoided at all costs, so is switching from car -> Metro -> bus. Taking Metro certainly isn't going to save many people any time and it won't be cheaper even if the bus is free. With all of this in mind, it is no surprise that the USGA isn't that excited about subsidizing it. There are only so many courses capable of hosting a tournament of this caliber. We should be happy it is here at all.

by movement on May 8, 2011 9:29 pm • link • report