Security Will Be Tight for U.S. Open

BY MATTHEW MORIARTY: Staff Writer, The Pilot

In 1999, U.S. Open security consisted of making sure that everyone had a ticket.

Championship Director Reg Jones freely admits that things were a lot simpler back then. For this year’s Open, every spectator, member of the media, employee and vendor will have to go through security screening. The security will include passing through a metal detector or wand. Every ticket will have a bar code that will be scanned each time a person enters the grounds of the Pinehurst Country Club for the Open.

“It will be like going to the airport,” Jones said.

The increased security measures will result in a safer venue, but it should not appreciably affect the amount of time it takes a spectator to enter the championship grounds, officials said.

“The list of prohibited items has also been increased,” Jones said, “and we will scan tickets to help guard against counterfeiting. The increased security measures have been developed since the U.S. Open’s last visit to Pinehurst and have been in place at the U.S. Open Championship over the course of the last few years.”

Since 9/11, security has been beefed up everywhere from ports to high school basketball games.

The ticket bar codes, in addition to combating counterfeiting, allow the organizers to de-activate a ticket if a person is expelled from the course for any reason.

Anyone with special access, like a member of the media or a vendor, now has to have a photographic identification pass with bar codes.

There will be video surveillance covering the entire course. Jones said that about 20 cameras will be used.

In 1999, concerns over how the spectators would get to the Open was the top concern. Between the Traffic Circle and Pinehurst’s lack of parking, transportation logistics could have been a nightmare.

The strategy of using satellite parking lots and busing spectators in worked well. Pinehurst is using the same strategy this year.

Doubling Man Hours

Security is now one of the top concerns. Pinehurst plans on doubling the man hours spent on security from 20,000 in 1999 to 40,000 this year. More than 20 different local, state and federal agencies are part of Pinehurst’s security plan, Jones said.

“We’re looking at security this time sort of like we did transportation last time,” he said. “We want it to go smoothly, so that people don’t even notice.”

Most spectators will pass through security before getting on the bus at one of two satellite parking lots. They will be checked for prohibited items, which must be returned to their cars before boarding a bus.

Once arriving at the championship grounds, spectators have only to scan their tickets to be allowed in.

There will be three entrances. The main entrance is on Morganton Road across from the Pinehurst Harness Track, where the busses will drop off spectators. There will be an entrance near the clubhouse for locals who are walking to the Open. The third entrance will be at the old Golf Hall of Fame building. It’s for taxi and limousine dropoffs.

Organizers are encouraging spectators to use the satellite parking. It will be the fastest, most convenient way of entering and leaving the Open, they say. More than 120 buses will run continuously each day from June 13 through 19.

Spectators with parking passes and those within walking distance will go through an on-site security checkpoint.

Prohibited Items

The list of prohibited items includes things banned for security reasons and those not allowed by the United States Golf Association for spectator conduct reasons (cell phones being a good example), Jones said.

The prohibited items, which are listed on the back of each ticket, include cell phones, noisy electronic devices, cameras and camcorders (other than Monday through Wednesday when cameras are permitted for personal photographic use only, without cases), large bags, cases or covers, signs, posters or banners, televisions, radios, food and beverages, coolers, pets (other than service animals such as seeing-eye dogs), folding chairs, bicycles, ladders, metal-spiked golf shoes, weapons (regardless of permit) and any other item deemed unlawful or dangerous by the USGA or security personnel.

“Security for the Open represents the collaborative efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the USGA and Pinehurst management,” Jones said. “With cooperation from championship attendees, we anticipate that these additional screening measures will add only minimally to the time required to enter the championship grounds.

“Our goal is to assure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience at the Open.”