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| new bunker going in - courtesy of Mathew Mollina and GCA |
I truly believe the only good decision for a club is the one that is in the best interest of the membership.
I think you can make alterations
that create a better golf course for a visiting event, but since the members
will be the ones playing the course the remainder of the time, it must make the
course better for all the members every day.
Ne back tees are almost always
just fine since they don’t impact the architecture, but officials have begun to
be far more aggressive. Over the last dozen years I have watched a series of
clubs do horrible things to keep their course at a “perceived” championship calibre
at all times. Each time they have damaged a great piece of architecture with
their “championship” approach. The narrow fairways at places like Oakland Hills
and Merion have removed the options off the tee. The green rebuilding at many
championship courses have dumbed down some of golf’s greatest greens to allow for
one week of ridiculous green speeds. Worst is the modernization of places like
Royal Montreal where the course is now too difficult for the average member.
We are smarter than this.
As reported by Geoff Shackelford
The Olympic Club, host of this year’s US Open will add a bunker weeks before
the event.
“The rumors are true, the USGA has asked for and received the
installation of a new greenside bunker on Olympic Club's 17th hole just 56
days before the start of U.S. Open practice rounds on June 11th.”
See link to story: click here
I’m not questioning whether this
will be a good decision, I’m questioning whether this constant tinkering by the
USGA and R&A on course of great architectural heritage is good for the game
… and more importantly the members of the clubs. Frankly I’m sick of the heavy
handed approach that has evolved. The results like the 16th at
Turnberry have irrevocably damaged holes of high merit.
It’s time for clubs to say no and
only do things that are in the best interest of all their members.
