Golf-Inspired Exhibits, Events Coming To Town For U.S. Open
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The United States Golf Association wants you to know, the U.S. Open at Oakmont is more than just birdie putts.
"One of the things we noticed was here, is a championship that can inspire people, whether people go to the championship or just know that it is coming into town, it is a forum to say 'what is going on here,'" said Dave Aznavorian with USGA.
Enter Open For All -- different events all around Pittsburgh that use the game of golf as a jumping off point. Case in point, the Learning Science Through Golf exhibit at the Heinz History Center.
"We look at all the different things that happen within golf that the USGA is a part of and try to make them relatable as almost interactive science experiments. So, people that come over there can expect to have an experience that will allow them to see golf maybe through a different lens," said Aznavorian.
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Another event is being held at the Carnegie Science Center.
"Pittsburgh is the first venue to have it called american golf history coming to life where you can actually go an hit hickory clubs from the 1930's or steel shafted clubs from the 1960's and it's just a way for people who maybe have never put a club in their hands to be able to have the opportunity to do that and see whether golf maybe something that they do like," Aznavorian explained.
For those who attend the championship, the USGA built a replica of the 18th green at Oakmont where you can stand over some historic pressure putts.
"Three different putts at three different hole locations, have a photo that you can share on social media. If you look at experiences nowadays, people like to come and watch and they like to tweet, but they really like to engage so we wanted to be able to make something not just something for the fans that came back this time, but something that we could leave behind as a legacy for the community,"
Practice rounds for the open tee off Monday, with the championship opening Thursday Morning at Oakmont Country Club.
