Veteran fan, former Oakmont caddie offers suggestions for fans attending U.S. Open

Derek Gionta has seen the U.S. Open both inside and out.

That’s because, in addition to attending multiple opens over the years, the 44-year-old Monroeville resident also was a caddie at the Oakmont Country Club during his high school and college days.

“My brother was already doing it when I started,” Gionta said. “The first Open I went to was in 1994, when I was 13 years old. By the time I was a senior, I think half the Plum football team was caddying.”

Gionta attended the 1994 U.S. Open with a friend whose family had a sponsor tent.

“I remember being on the practice green with my buddy, and we watched Payne Stewart walk down the fairway,” he said. “I went to the 2016 U.S. Open where there was a lot of rain, and I remember walking a very swampy course when I watched the second round on Friday.”

This year, Gionta will be attending his fourth U.S. Open on opening day, and he had two words of advice for first-timers.

“Water and sunscreen,” he said with a laugh. “Specifically, SPF-50 sunscreen.”

But before worrying about sunburn, you have to get to the course.

U.S. Open officials will run fan shuttles from two main parking lots located north and south of the course.

The Red Lot is located at Hartwood Acres in Indiana Township, and the Blue Lot is located at the Monroeville Mall. Fans are advised to use the lot nearest to them.

Signage will direct fans to the parking areas. Shuttle rides are estimated to take 25 minutes or less. Fans requiring lift-equipped transportation are asked to email 2025usopen@usga.org in advance of the tournament for parking instructions.

What not to bring

Before we get to the essentials, let’s go over a list of things to leave at home, in addition to the obvious — weapons of any kind (regardless of permits), explosives or fireworks.

Fans should also not bring:

• Tablets or computers (or any mobile device larger than 7 inches); drones, selfie sticks or handheld camera stabilizers; cameras or video cameras (other than for personal use Monday through Wednesday); noise-producing devices including radios, TVs or portable speakers.

• Backpacks, briefcases, or purses larger than 6 inches in width, height and depth (transparent bags up to 12 inches high, 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep are permitted).

• Signs, posters, banners or memorabilia.

• Food or beverages, other than for infant needs (non-glass water bottles that are 32 ounces or less are permitted, provided they are empty at arrival).

• Glass or coolers except for infant needs (aerosol cans, spray bottles or personal cares items that are 3.4 liquid ounces or less are permitted).

• Pets or emotional support animals (only trained service dogs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act are permitted.)

• Lounge chairs or other oversized chairs, ladders, step stools or other similar items.

• Bicycles, Segways, scooters or other personal transportation devices (other than those to accommodate people with disabilities).

Where to watch

Tickets are available for a variety of packages at the U.S. Open. Daily gallery tickets allow attendees to walk the public areas of the course, with access to public grandstands. Upper-end packages allow visitors to watch the entire event from the comfort of indoor air conditioning with food aplenty.

Gionta said his preference was walking the course, and recommended it for first-timers. As a former caddy, he finds the entire course at Oakmont intriguing. But he did have some recommendations for viewing.

“The second fairway and the eighth green are very close to one another, so I liked to start things there on the front nine,” he said. “I always liked watching that second shot on No. 2. I’ve seen so many shots that looked great, and then the ball lands in the center of the green and rolls back out into the fairway.”

On the back nine, Gionta recommends watching the action at No. 12, a long par-five hole, and No. 17, where an infamous sand trap just below the green has earned the name “Big Mouth.”

“If Shaquille O’Neal was standing in Big Mouth and you were standing on the green, you might see the top of his head,” Gionta said.

Over the years, Gionta has had the chance to watch legendary golfers like Ernie Els, 2016 champion Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods battle with a course that has earned its challenging reputation.

“Even after I was done caddying in college, I’d go back and do it once or twice in the weeks leading up to the Open, because I wanted to see how the course looked,” he said. “A friend of mine who caddies put some pictures on Facebook recently, and you can barely see the ball when it’s in the rough. So you have super-thick rough and these lightning-fast greens.”

“If the weather’s warm and dry, it’ll be fun to watch,” Gionta said.