I tuned in last night to The Pre Game Show on The Golf Channel, as Rees Jones was on for about 5 minutes to discuss the changes he has made to the South Course, but also to see just what changes he had in store for the North Course, which will go under the knife just after the Junior World Championship in 2004.
He was first asked: "Are you proud of what you have done on the South and what can we expect for the North". He replied that: "I am proud of what we've done on the South, obviosly the golfing world thought we did a good job, the US Open is coming here in 2008 and a great Champion, Olazabal, won last year. The North Course will be changed in 2004 and it will really be a classic golf course, it won't be as long as the South, it will be more of a players course than a championship one".
The next question asked just how much of the US Open Course the players will see this week, and Rees indicated that since it doesn't rain in San Diego in June the course will play differently. He deffered to Tiger who said; with the long Kikuyu rough, tight fairways and fast greens it will be as tough as any US Open Course. He admitted that with the wet conditions this week players will be able to fire at the pin.
Mark Lye then asked: "...with the 7600 and 7400 yard courses being in vouge these days have you been contracted to build any 6900 or 6800 yard courses?". Rees replied: "I think most of our clients want to go over 7000 yards. This course really is long so that it can be adapted. I don't think the PGA Tour will play it at 7500, they will probably throttle it down to 73 or 7200; so its' got all the flexibility. You really shouldn't look at the total length anyway, it's the length of individual holes; if you look at what Davis Love did last week on the 18th at Pebble Beach, a driver, 4 iron, that he just dropped and it stopped, its' not just the ball going off the tee, its' the ball going high and dropping and stopping on the green fast with much less club than they hit in the past".
Next question; "And with that Rees, there's been some talk of the PGA Tour perhaps needing to step in with the USGA and R&A reguarding equipment distances and the like...in your opinion, have we gone too far, and what type of golf course do we need to build in the future." "Well I don't think we've gone to far because we really need to make the game enjoyable for everyday players, it isn't just the ball, it's the conditioning of the athletes, the condition of the golf course, the greens are perfect now. I went over to Taylor Made yesterday and really watched how they create this technology. I learned alot about how the ball is flying, how precise they can be, it isn't just the length of the golf course it's the fact that every bit of the equipement is better".
Very comforting words from the Open Doctor. He admitts that the ball is going too far with both drivers and irons, but thinks the advances in technology are actually helping the average golfer. Of course if you are in the business of lengthening golf courses this must come as good news.