Flashback

While doing research for a story, I stumbled across this article on Tiger from May, 2001. He was asked if course design was in his future.

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player began their design businesses in their 30s and 40s.  The 25-year-old Woods said he has no clear timetable for beginning a design career. He also said that he wouldn't necessarily design long courses just because he is known for his length.

"You really don't have to have the hole 470 or 480 yards for it to be challenging," Woods said.

I point this out because 470-480 was sort of still a "long" hole four years ago for most players, except maybe Tiger.

Yet how many times during the Presidents Cup did you see players hitting wedges into 475 yard holes?  And NBC's announcers making sure to point it out?

While watching I was thinking that you would need another 75-100 yards to create a "long par-4" in the modern professional game, assuming you would like to see a mid-to-long iron approach.

Comments

[The Big K]

And how about those tight, firm, perfectly raked bunkers at RTJ? The ones that glowed on TV? If one concedes that modern pros will routinely drive the ball 320 to 350 yards, at least make them think twice about landing in a bunker. Oh, but this is the PGA Tour. We don't want the boys looking bad. After all, when it rains one could get mud on your ball. We can't have that.

[Geoff]

This really was a low point in the history of the bunker. Not only offensive to look at, but so groomed that they appeared to be nearly equivalent to drawing a fairway lie. Pathetic!