The Road Hole Was Looking So Much Better And Then...

You might have heard us talking about the Road hole on Morning Drive today and the most recognizeable hole in golf, while looking more like it's old self for the first 475 yards, still has some man-induced issues at the green.

With the advent of Pilates-infused distance increases over the last twenty years, the hole has seen a new tee, the pinch-point more defined to stop super-long drives and other attempts by man to use rough to keep the world's toughest and most historic par-4 as difficult as ever. (Nothing in scoring averages indicated it was getting "easy".) If you're playing the Golf Digest pick-the-hardest hole sweepstakes, it's a safe bet to rank #1 again this year.

As I noted in a post below, the R&A have gotten the setup just right off the tee. The fairway is wider and the left rough area that was so absurd in 2010 will allow for recovery shots. Don't be surprised if come Sunday someone gets too cute with an approach shot that would have been better played short.

In talking to John Huggan, R&A Chief Inspector Dawson covered the gamut talking about his vision for the 17th. He mentions how much more shallow the Road bunker once was, yet talks of the efforts to raise the surrounding volcano walls to collect balls, hold intimate conciertos and discourage a strategic play once afforded those willing to take an unusual path to the hole.

“The ground left of the bunker has also been remodelled so that more balls will feed into the sand. Going ‘long and left’ won’t be quite as easy as it has been in the past.”

I've put these images in black and white so you can see just how abrupt and out of proportion with the scale of the green the entire Road bunker has become.

And this is what is required to mow the Road hole ampitheater...

Just one of these years we'll get to come to The Open and find one of the world's greatest, strangest and most fascinating holes lacking any excess manipulation by man.

Comments

[dsl]

...or, they could just make it a par 2 and count their precious 'Other' scores all week long. Oh how the bubbly would flow in the R&A headquarters.

...or Lions, Tigers and Bears. Just erect massive fences around the perimeter of the course (cheaper than lengthening holes) and we'll see if the golfers hunting birdies and eagles can best the hunters looking for lunch?

[3foot1]

I hope Geoff will have a chance to ask Mr. Dawson, "What was broke?"

Apparently the not-so-old American aphorism is also popular in the U.K.

[Chuck]

Many years ago, Tom Doak had a wonderful comment about the still-brand-new Sand Hills when he wrote the first "Confidential Guide"; he commented that it appeared that Coore and Crenshaw had "moved earth by the spoonful."

I think it would be a good idea, if all earth-moving changes to The Old Course were required to be executed with a spoon.

[Tom S.]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/golf/33505817?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+co%2FNAwJ+%281+BBC+News+-+Home%29

I can't remember Tiger giving such an interview before a major like this, but I like that he gave it to the BBC.. Either way, I know there are a lot of Tiger Haters in the world, why I do not know, considering he has brought more to the game of golf than arguably any other golfer, but I can't help but think just how impossible he is going to be to replace.

[jjshaka]

Tom S.-
The cemeteries are full of indispensable men.

[St. Copious]

I blame the Yanks. You know they will, I just saved 'em the time.

[Center Cut]

Isn't it fact that decades of greenkeepers have changed the look, depth and topography of the road hole bunker? It is, I understand, re-riveted every other year, which as I understand means taking the sand out of the trap, pulling away the old turf, relining the bunker, re-rivetting and resanding.

I'd love to see an image of what the bunker was, say in the 1930's compared to now.

[Center Cut]

Hasn't the road hole changed significantly prior to the cosmetic touch up of last year? It gets re-rivetted bi-annually, an operation that means some significant work on the depth, face and surround of the bunker.

Anyone got a black and white of what it looked like 3 years ago and then compare it to one from the 50's?

[Center Cut]

Damn, double posted thinking the first had disappeared into the ether.

[Chico]

But you are right Centre Cut- it has changed almost as often as a tailors dummy. Personally I think Geoff does protest too much over this one- but he's the architect and I'm not so it will be interesting to see how it plays.

[Chuck]

Center cut:

"Revetted." Not "riveted."

I suppose that Pete Dye might rivet some of his bunker facings, if he ran out of railroad ties (uh, "sleepers") and resorted to galvanized steel.

But revet is a lovely old word that should get its due. Merci to Les Francais pour le word "revet."

[Center Cut]

Bloody grammar police.

[Center Cut]

Also Geoff, you state they have the tee shot set-up correctly...but looking at the interactive map, the tee box looks outside of the course confines and looks like they will have to both wait for players to hit up to the 16th green before hitting over their heads.

What a joke.

[DTF]

CC you should be thankful, in a friendly way Chuck is helping you improve. Never know what you're going to encounter here as the daily possibilities run the "gamet"...

[Sal Bonpensiero]

"considering he has brought more to the game of golf than arguably any other golfer "

Can you clarify with specifics here? Thanks.

[D. maculata]

@ Center Cut

Have a black & white photo from the 50s. Very unkept. A deteriorating face with ragged edges. Immediate periphery is not closely mown. Depth unknown as the pic is not from the right angle. A color photo of Doug Sanders in the bunker (1971) reveals it to be similar. Not as deep as later iterations but no gimme by any means. He saved 4. The last photo from 1984 depicts a deep bunker with neatly trimmed edges with the entire area is closely mown. The approach of Mark James has finished short left, five paces from the bunker with the pin tucked right behind it. He appears to have putter in hand and is looking well right of the chasm. Its been said that discretion is the better part of valor ;-)

[RM]

Here is a view in black & white from 2010, taken just a couple of weeks after The Open. http://www.robertmatre.com/golf/060114.html

[Boyer]

The greenkeeper with the fewest fingers draws the short straw.

[digsouth]

I dare any new course to put up a building to have tee off over, you know, in tribute to the road hole. And have a tee box that is OB as well.

I say fix these blunders before worrying about the bunker, just my opinion.

[ol Harv]

Does Scotland have OSHA?

[Michael]

"Pilates-infused distance increases..." love it.