119th U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA INFORMATION PACKAGE

June 13-16, 2019
Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.

www.usopen.com

Mobile app: U.S. Open Golf Championship

#USOpen; @usopengolf @USGA_PR (Twitter & Instagram); U.S. Open Championship (Facebook)

WELCOME

Please note the following information in advance of the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, which is hosting its sixth U.S. Open.
 

USGA Communications greatly appreciates your coverage of the U.S. Open and consideration of our media service operations throughout the championship. While we have endeavored to create a plan that is efficient and enhances your experience at Pebble Beach, we respectfully request you build time into your schedule to allow for transportation and walking to and from facilities.

In addition to reading the below information, we highly suggest you review the fan information section of usopen.com at http://www.usopen.com/fan-info.html. Starting at 8 a.m. PDT on Monday, June 10, you can also call the on-site USGA Media Center at (908) 752-4455, and additional media information will be available in the online media center, mediacenter.usga.org/us-open.

Lastly, USGA Communications will employ our Twitter handle @USGA_PR to share information more directly with you and to create a more accessible two-way communication between our team and the media. This dedicated Twitter PR feed will serve as a real-time trusted source for media and to enhance our engagement. Please take a moment and “follow” @USGA_PR.

Schedule of Key Events
All times PDT. All press conferences will be held in the Media Center, unless stated otherwise.

U.S. Open App
The recently released 2019 U.S. Open app allows users to create a personalized digital experience with on-site player tracking to locate players, both on the course and at the practice area. Users will be able to further personalize their experience with features such as local time-adjusted listings for tee times, TV broadcasts and live streams. The app also features real-time scoring and player highlights, as well as news, photos, videos and social media updates straight from the action at Pebble Beach Golf Links. General championship and player alerts will be available through the app, along with on-site fan notifications. The app is available through iTunes and Google Play.

OTT App

This year, the USGA, in partnership with Cisco, launched its Over-the-Top (OTT) App designed to deliver USGA championship content when, where and how fans want it. Available for Apple TV and Roku, the USGA’s OTT App will offer golf fans the ability to watch free, live-streaming bonus coverage of the U.S. Open. In addition, fans can relive iconic U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open moments with highlights, featured films and entire final-round broadcasts from some of the most memorable championships, including all five previous U.S. Opens at Pebble Beach. Viewers will also be able to enjoy the full library of USGA original programming, highlighted by the critically acclaimed “Golf Journal” series.

Media Center Information

Office phone numbers 

U.S. Open Media Center: (908) 752-4455

Media mobile device policy

Accredited members of the media at the U.S. Open may use mobile devices while on the course or in the Media Center and must comply with spectator guidelines outside of their work schedule. The following regulations will apply:  

• Phone calls allowed away from play only and/or in Phone Zones;
• Phone must be in silent mode, NOT vibrate;
• No photography while near play (except as otherwise approved through proper credentials); 

On non-competition days, photography and live video capture allowed on the property, but not on the golf course.

• No live video or streaming inside the ropes,
• No live video or streaming outside the ropes

On competition days (including any playoff), photography and video reporting are allowed on the property and from the flash area and Media Center interview room, but not on the golf course. Video is limited to three minutes per day.

• Any media outlet shooting video will be subject to Category 5: Television and Radio Coverage.
• Social media reporting is permitted, except (i) no play-by-play; (ii) no other activity that competes with live scoring and (iii) no other use of USGA intellectual property are permitted;
• Texting and emailing is permitted for coverage/business needs in locations where players will not be disrupted;
• Media must immediately comply with all on-course requests made by USGA staff and others designated by the USGA to enforce Media Regulations.

Note: Media must also comply with spectator guidelines outside of their work schedule.

Media registration

Media credentials and parking passes, if applicable, will be available for pickup in the Media Center starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 10. USGA staff will be glad to assist. Bag tags and equipment stickers will be provided at registration.

If you plan to pick up your credentials on Sunday, June 9, please email Pete Kowalski at pkowalski@usga.org, by Saturday, June 8 to coordinate proper credentials and parking. Parking will be in Lot M (Spyglass Hill Golf Course driving range). From the lot, media will board a shuttle to the Media Center. If you need a parking map and directions, email Joey Geske at jgeske@usga.org.

Please make sure you have printed your one-day gate pass prior to arriving at Pebble Beach. Your personal one-day gate pass will give you one-day-only access to media parking (Lot M) and/or the Media Center. Once you arrive at the Media Center, you will exchange your one-day gate pass for a media credential and parking pass, if you were issued one.

If you have not yet received your one-day gate pass via email, please check your spam folder. If you still have not received this email, email Joey Geske at jgeske@usga.org.

Prohibited items

Please remember the prohibited items list will be strictly enforced. Any bags larger than 6”x6”x6” (with the exception of clear/transparent bags no larger than 12”x12”x6”) will not be permitted without a USGA-approved “oversized” bag tag and personal luggage-type tag. At registration, USGA staff will provide the required tags, including a laptop sticker. All items will be subject to search prior to entry at any admission gate. Please take great care to keep your bag with you at all times. Any unattended bags, even if an approved tag is displayed, will be removed by law enforcement. Thank you for your understanding and help in keeping the championship a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Media Center (location and functionality)

The Media Center, located on Stevenson Dr., across from the Pebble Beach Golf Academy & Practice Facility, provides seating for more than 300 journalists along with 30 radio booths. The Media Center will offer high-speed internet access, a large digital leader board with scoring and video sections at the front of the room. Additionally, TVs located throughout the Media Center will show live telecasts of the U.S. Open as well as video feeds from the interview room and the flash area, an outdoor post-round interview space. Also included are areas for media workspace, a locker room, media-only dining and an interview area within the Media Center. 

Local TV affiliates will have access to pooled workspaces within general media seating to edit video. Feeds from Fox will also be available (details to follow). Local radio stations will also have access to pooled workspaces to edit audio or for broadcasting.

Locker room

Media interested in using the lockers can obtain a combination lock from the registration area.

Media dining

Media dining is in a tent adjacent to the media work area. A continental breakfast will be available from 5:30-10 a.m., followed by a buffet lunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Afternoon snacks will be available from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 4-8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Grab and go options will also be available throughout the day.

Interview areas

The main interview room is located within the Media Center, adjacent to the media work area. All pre-championship interviews will be conducted in this location and select players will be interviewed in this area following championship rounds. The 18th green flash interview area is located behind the Lodge and a short walk from the green, adjacent to scoring. For competition rounds on Thursday and Friday, another flash area will be located close to scoring near the ninth green. 

Pre-championship interviews on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of U.S. Open week will be conducted in the main interview room. During competition, leaders will be asked to visit both the flash area and interview room. However, you should expect that most interviews will be conducted only in the flash area, so you should seek USGA staff or volunteers to ensure requests can be made to the players as they depart the scoring area.

Audio and video of the interviews will be housed on a portal managed by the USGA and Hardcastle technicians and will be available on the online media center and transcripts of these interviews are also located there. 

Flash area assistants will coordinate player interview requests. These assistants include longtime USGA volunteers Steve Merrill, Skip Foreman, Bob Condron and Rob Boulware. Also assisting are Richard Stern, Kyle McRae and Steve Tebbs.

U.S. Open Media Shuttle Route Information and Timing 

The USGA will look to utilize its existing 1st/10th Tee player shuttle fleet that Fugazy Transportation will be operating. Priority of the SUVs in motion will be given to player arrivals/departures from each pick-up point. Approximately 20 SUVs will be in motion at any one time during peak days.

The pick-up points will be:

1) 1st Tee Drop (next to Gallery Café)

2) 10th Tee Drop / 9th Green Pick-Up (on 17-Mile Drive, through the player walkway – 

similar to 2010 U.S. Open and 2018 U.S. Amateur)

3) 18th Green Pick-Up (located adjacent to Flash/Scoring)

Forecasted travel times (numbers above):

#1 to #2 = 5-minutes

#1 to #3 = 10-minutes

#2 to #3 = 5-minutes

#4 to #1 = 5-minutes

#3 to #1 = 5-minutes

Media services

Information regarding the U.S. Open will be available at usopen.com and http://mediacenter.usga.org/us-open

The official 2019 U.S. Open hashtags are #USOpen and #USGA. You can also follow along via the official 2019 U.S. Open mobile app. The app is an on-the-go resource with an interactive course map, practice round starting times, player locater, real-time analytics, push notifications, three live-streaming channels and other features.

The 2019 USGA media guide and 2019 U.S. Open Players’ Guide are available to download in the online media center. Limited print quantities will be available. Several terminals located throughout the Media Center will display scoring information media guide links and will be connected to printers. Photo lightboxes (for electronic download) will also be available.

Media working on-site at Pebble Beach will be emailed daily throughout the championship with up-to-date information, which will also be available in the online media center. 

Media shuttles from The Tides

Parking passes will not be issued for media staying at The Tides. Instead, a shuttle service will be provided to and from the golf course starting Monday, June 10. These shuttles will run from the hotel to the Media Center between 4 a.m. and midnight. The ride will take approximately 15-plus minutes, variable depending on traffic.

Media Parking Lot Shuttles: Shuttles will run from Lot M/Spyglass Hill Golf Course driving range to and from the Media entrance drop at the Media Center. Shuttles are scheduled to start at 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Drop off and pickup points will be noted with signage. Shuttles run continuously. 

Directions to local media parking (Spyglass Hill Golf Course driving range)

Those with parking passes for the media lot should follow the directions on the one-day gate pass. From the lot, media will board a shuttle to the Media Center. Lot M will open at 5 a.m.

As previously mentioned, if you are coming to the Media Center on Sunday, June 9, please contact Pete Kowalski (pkowalski@usga.org) or Joey Geske (jgeske@usga.org) for additional information. 

Inside-the-ropes access

All credentialed media will be allowed to walk the golf course outside the ropes Neon-colored lanyards will be given, in limited numbers, to walk with players from tee to green and from hole to hole. A walking map, which includes specific directions and the locations of the viewing areas, will be distributed before the competition begins.

Championship trophy ceremony procedures

There are procedures in place to secure the area around the 18th green for the post-championship trophy ceremony. As a result, a very limited number of special 72nd-hole ceremony badges will be distributed to allow access to the green. Please stay tuned for more information later in the week regarding the procedures for that ceremony.

USGA Media Contacts

• Craig Annis, Head of Communications, (cannis@usga.org); 908-887-1848
• Beth Major (bmajor@usga.org); 908-218-4024
• Jeff Altstadter (jaltstadter@usga.org); 973-908-9991
• Janeen Driscoll (jdriscoll@usga.org); 910-690-9711
• Brian DePasquale (bdepasquale@usga.org); 908-655-3395
• Julia Pine (jpine@usga.org); 510-701-1491
• Amy Morton (amorton@usga.org); 973-248-7210
• Danny Vohden (dvohden@usga.org)
• Joey Geske (jgeske@usga.org); 651-328-3000
• Pete Kowalski (pkowalski@usga.org; 908-216-8435