Behind the Scenes: WhereAbouts Steel City, PA

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By Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

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  1. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    1/53
    Our first stop upon arriving on Monday in the...
    Our first stop upon arriving on Monday in the Steel City was to make the short drive to Oakmont Country Club, which is hosting the U.S. Open for a record ninth time this year. Oakmont member Bruce McGuff, who makes up the teams for The SWAT, gave us the grand tour of the iconic Tudor clubhouse. This is a view of the back of the clubhouse, taken from near the 1st tee. 2/53
    As you step down from the back patio of the...
    As you step down from the back patio of the clubhouse, you’ll see is the massive green complex that serves as both the 9th green (where the players in this shot are putting) and the practice putting green (foreground). Mr. McGuff told us that at the season-ending SWAT tournament, he likes to place the pin for the 9th hole way back, tucked in one the corners of the practice green, adding as much as a 3 or 4 clubs to the approach shot. 3/53
    We were up bright and early on Tuesday morning and...
    We were up bright and early on Tuesday morning and on our way to our first location, we spied this beautiful sign detailing the history of Pittsburgh. The city was named in 1758 by General John Forbes, in honor of British statesman William Pitt. Forbes was a Scotsman and historians believe that the pronunciation of the name was originally intended to sound like “PITS-brə” or “PITS-bə-rə” (similar to Edinburgh, Scotland). Maybe this Scottish connection explains why there’s so much great golf in Western PA.4/53
    Whereabouts filming began at the workshop of Team...
    Whereabouts filming began at the workshop of Team Tileist member John Malecki.5/53
    John is a custom furniture designer and...
    John is a custom furniture designer and fabricator. He makes amazing things from reclaimed metal and wood…6/53
    …like this beautiful black walnut table.
    …like this beautiful black walnut table.7/53
    This wooden bow-tie key not only serves as a...
    This wooden bow-tie key not only serves as a beautiful accent - it also prevents this split in the walnut from spreading. 8/53
    After a busy few hours it was time for a wardrobe...
    After a busy few hours it was time for a wardrobe change and we met John at Grand View Golf Club in North Braddock. As you may have seen in John’s video, he wore number 74 on the gridiron throughout his high school and college career and even wore 74 at times in the NFL.9/53
    Tom Beeler, Director of Golf and GM at Grand View...
    Tom Beeler, Director of Golf and GM at Grand View rolled out the red carpet for us, right down to the miniature Titleist flags on the practice putting green.10/53
    Here’s John with two of his playing partners at...
    Here’s John with two of his playing partners at Grand View, Team Titleist members Michael Polanichka (left) and Matt Auge (right).11/53
    John, an instant before ripping his Pro V1x around...
    John, an instant before ripping his Pro V1x around the corner of a dogleg right.12/53
    Here’s Michael after a successful tee shot on the...
    Here’s Michael after a successful tee shot on the short, but treacherous par-3 9th hole.13/53
    A second group of Team Titleist members joined us...
    A second group of Team Titleist members joined us at Grand View and provided essential background on Pittsburgh - not to mention some great b-roll for our videos. In this photo, our Director for the shoot, Titleist Video Manager Joe Hafera, captures Team Titleist member Craig Slaughbaugh as he tees off on the 1st hole. Team Titleist members Greig Saylor (left) and Chuck Meyers (center) look on.14/53
    Here’s Joe strolling off the beaten track to find...
    Here’s Joe strolling off the beaten track to find just the right perspective…15/53
    …of John’s approach shot into the par-5 7th hole,...
    …of John’s approach shot into the par-5 7th hole, nicknamed “The Monster on the Mon”. (For the Monongahela River, which borders the course.16/53
    John treated the cast and crew to an impromptu...
    John treated the cast and crew to an impromptu Show-and-Tell from his playing days.17/53
    Titleist Director of Advertising, Darren Feeney,...
    Titleist Director of Advertising, Darren Feeney, couldn’t resist the chance to try on an authentic helmet from the Black and Gold.18/53
    The same went for photographer Nick Hamilton, who...
    The same went for photographer Nick Hamilton, who channeled his inner Malecki for this photo.19/53
    Here’s a shot of the entire group from our Day 1...
    Here’s a shot of the entire group from our Day 1 shoot. From left to right: Michael Polanichka, Rick Veitch, Craig Slaughbaugh, Keifer O’Neill, Greig Saylor, Darren Feeney, Joe Hafera, Chuck Meyers, John Malecki, Matt Auge, John Hafera.20/53
    The Titleist crew had a special consultant during...
    The Titleist crew had a special consultant during Whereabouts shooting, Joe Hafera’s father, John, a PGA teaching professional at Congressional CC, who grew up in Pittsburgh. Here’s Joe and John after a successful first day of filming.21/53
    We were up with the dew-sweepers on Wednesday...
    We were up with the dew-sweepers on Wednesday morning, arriving at Oakmont CC early enough to see the grounds crew hard at work on the 18th hole.22/53
    No shortage of manpower when it comes to...
    No shortage of manpower when it comes to preparations for a U.S. Open.23/53
    We were welcomed by Oakmont member, Chick Wagner,...
    We were welcomed by Oakmont member, Chick Wagner, a three-time club champion. Chick is good friends with Jack Druga, the Head Golf Professional at Shinnecock Hills GC. Jack, a member of Titleist’s Advisory Staff, is also a Ben Hogan expert. After some research, Jack was happy to inform Chick that his locker at Oakmont (seen here) was the only one that Hogan ever used at Oakmont... 24/53
    …and this view is the reason why. As Chick told...
    …and this view is the reason why. As Chick told us, Hogan would arrive early at Oakmont and gaze out the window overlooking the 18th green, visualizing the course over and over and planning his strategy before each round. Not a bad vantage point from which to prepare.25/53
    After spending a little time with Chick, we met...
    After spending a little time with Chick, we met with Oakmont’s club historian, John Fitzgerald, who gave us crash courses…26/53
    …on the history of Oakmont Country Club, which is...
    …on the history of Oakmont Country Club, which is now a national historic landmark…27/53
    …as well the history of The SWAT.
    …as well the history of The SWAT. 28/53
    As players were phoning in to join the Wednesday...
    As players were phoning in to join the Wednesday edition of The SWAT, the Titleist crew headed out on the course to capture some of the scenery. Here’s Joe Hafera framing up the famous Church Pews bunker, situated between the 3rd and 4th holes at Oakmont. Chick Wagner told us that, originally, there were eight separate bunkers and that the turf mounds were once tapered and irregular in shape, much like writhing snakes.29/53
    Another great bunker, divided by gnarly turf...
    Another great bunker, divided by gnarly turf mounds. You can find this bunker running up the left side of Oakmont’s 15th hole, adjacent to the 18th hole tee box.30/53
    After an extensive tree removal program...
    After an extensive tree removal program (initially, many trees were actually removed secretly, under cover of night) nearly every hole on the course is now visible from the clubhouse. This is view of the 9th green (foreground), with the 8th green and then the 4th and 3rd holes in the background.31/53
    You’d never know this looking out over the course...
    You’d never know this looking out over the course from the clubhouse, but did you know that the Pennsylvania Turnpike runs straight through Oakmont CC? The highway divides the course in two, with Hole No. 1 as well as Holes No. 9 through 18 on the west side of the road. Holes No. 2 through 8 lie on the east side.32/53
    After a brief scouting excursion, the crew caught...
    After a brief scouting excursion, the crew caught up with Chick as he played The SWAT.33/53
    Here’s Chick teeing off on No. 3, a 428-yard...
    Here’s Chick teeing off on No. 3, a 428-yard par-4.34/53
    Chick’s approach on No. 9 came up just short of...
    Chick’s approach on No. 9 came up just short of the green, but an easy chip and putt gave his SWAT team a par.35/53
    A view from behind the green at No. 17. Get too...
    A view from behind the green at No. 17. Get too aggressive on your approach and double-bogey is in play for even the best players in the world.36/53
    One of our favorite moments: Chick’s toast, a...
    One of our favorite moments: Chick’s toast, a tradition inspired by a cold and wet round that Chick played at North Berwick GC with a former secretary of that club. In every round he plays at Oakmont, and after his group tees off on No. 18, Chick leads a toast with his playing partners, “To golf, to good friends and to Oakmont.”37/53
    A peek inside the scorecard holder on No. 1...
    A peek inside the scorecard holder on No. 1 inspired us to take a photo…38/53
    …to celebrate Titleist’s 68th consecutive year as...
    …to celebrate Titleist’s 68th consecutive year as the #1 ball at the U.S. Open.39/53
    Nick Hamilton (left) and Joe Hafera (right) as we...
    Nick Hamilton (left) and Joe Hafera (right) as we say goodbye to legendary Oakmont CC. It was a memorable day of filming.40/53
    However, our day wasn’t over. On Wednesday...
    However, our day wasn’t over. On Wednesday evening, we hit the road for Butler, PA, home of W. Rick’s Taproom and Grill.41/53
    “The Dub” as it’s known to locals, is a...
    “The Dub” as it’s known to locals, is a family-owned business overseen by General Manager and Team Titleist member, Talbot Reiber.42/53
    Talbot was named for Talbot County, Maryland, the...
    Talbot was named for Talbot County, Maryland, the Reibers’ original home, and the Maryland connection explains The Dub’s house specialty…43/53
    …crab cakes!
    …crab cakes!44/53
    We interviewed Talbot in a narrow corridor leading...
    We interviewed Talbot in a narrow corridor leading from behind the bar to the establishment’s outdoor deck.45/53
    Getting just the right angle…
    Getting just the right angle…46/53
    …to capture Team Titleist members Craig...
    …to capture Team Titleist members Craig Slaughbaugh (left), Greig Saylor (center) and Michael Polanichka (right), who joined us to meet Talbot and catch the Penguins playoff game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.47/53
    After a great night at W. Rick’s, Thursday found...
    After a great night at W. Rick’s, Thursday found us at the Pittsburgh Field Club, one of the first golf clubs in America. Talbot would be joining us for some filming on the course, but first we met with Dave Martin, Head Golf Professional at The Field Club.48/53
    Dave shared the story of The Field Club’s...
    Dave shared the story of The Field Club’s elevator, believed to be the only on-course elevator in the country.49/53
    The elevator transports golfers from the 17th...
    The elevator transports golfers from the 17th green up some 75 feet to the tee box at No. 18.50/53
    Here’s a great view from seven stories up of the...
    Here’s a great view from seven stories up of the 17th fairway, as seen from the bridge at the top of the elevator. That’s Talbot near the bunker just off the 17th green.51/53
    Joe celebrates after surviving the elevator ride...
    Joe celebrates after surviving the elevator ride up.52/53
    All smiles for Team Titleist members Dave Weber...
    All smiles for Team Titleist members Dave Weber and Talbot Reiber as we say, “That’s a wrap!” from WhereAbouts | Steel City, PA. Our sincere thanks to everyone in Pittsburg who made this experience possible!53/53

    Traveling throughout Pittsburgh a few weeks ago for the filming of Whereabouts | Steel City, PA was an unforgettable experience for our entire team. We visited some legendary golf courses, met many fantastic people and, for a few days, became completely absorbed in one of the coolest cities and golf scenes in the country.

    Being behind the camera on shoots like WhereAbouts provides a great view of all the action, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite behind-the-scenes images and notable sidebars in the gallery above.

    Thanks to everyone who helped bring WhereAbouts | Steel City, PA to life!

    -Rick

  2. Dave N

    Dave N
    Dade City, FL

    Where can I see this film?
  3. Blake B

    Blake B
    Harbor Springs, MI

    Dave,

    You can see it if you click on the "Videos" section in the sidebar. Well put the together, can't go wrong with that narrator ;)
  4. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff
    Dave, you can check out all our WhereAbouts Steel City, PA videos here:

    www.titleist.com/whereabouts-steel-city

    Thanks!

    Rick
  5. Steve S

    Steve S
    Tuckerton, NJ

    Great post Rick. Makes me even more proud to be a TT member, if that is possible.
    Play Well,
    Steve S.
  6. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff

    Steve S said:

    Great post Rick. Makes me even more proud to be a TT member, if that is possible.
    Play Well,
    Steve S.

    Much appreciated, Steve.

    Fairways and greens for you, too!

    Rick
  7. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    Great Photos!
  8. Brian D

    Brian D
    Norton, MA

    Rick, what a great way to wrap up US Open week in the "Burgh". Nice to see TT folks all over the country get their time in the spot light.
    Hope you all had a great time, thanks for sharing
    -Brian
  9. Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

    Rick V., Team Titleist Staff
    Duxbury, MA

    Team Titleist Staff
    Thanks, Brian! It's always great when we can get out and meet with Team Titleist members in their own hometowns. Looking forward to visiting and sharing stories from many more great golfing communities like this going forward.
  10. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    IMO, i think this was the best "WhereAbouts" yet.... Loved how they planned this out..

    Looking forward to the next one :)
  11. Tim Tiger

    Tim Tiger
    Tucson, AZ

    Scorpion and his glorious travels.

    TT
  12. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    Phenomenal film. Your video team is topnotch!

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