Years later, Rees is constrained in his work by the reality of logistics. The USGA was paying for the work but would not pay for a repiping of the sprinkler system other than at 18 where the green complex was being changed. New York State was not going to spend a penny that they didn’t have to and therefore they were not going to upgrade the sprinkler system. So you see, technology does and did impact the renovation, though granted in an odd sort of fashion, the SCOPE of the restoration project.
When all is taken into account then, Bethpage Black was a true restoration project where the entire course was brought back to its original design intent. All shot angles and values, including those for the most accomplished of players, was returned to what Tilly had in mind, with the exception of two holes.
Nearly every person I have every spoken with, on GCA or elsewhere, insists or insisted that something HAD to be done to change the 18th hole. Since we are dealing with Tilly’s design intents what I think is important was his attitude that where a hole had to be changed, to change it; even if he had designed it.
Yet, the new hole itself still plays remarkably similar from tee-to-green as Tilly envisioned it. A new bunker scheme and a smaller green, but the tee shot has the same choices and the shot into the green was always to fly it in; even with the open front one would not play a shot along the ground as it rises too sharply in the last 100+ yards. The green itself is the SAME as what existed before with only a reshaping of its dimensions and not its surface. So the putts faced are the same ones that Tilly designed, just some of them no longer exist as those green portions have been eliminated.
Kyle, you stated, “Now, to say that what was done to the 14th hole was anything other than Rees original work would be dead wrong…. Please tell or show me how or why that change was justified if the effort was to preserve the Black.”
You are wrong in your supposition and let me show you how. First, you ascribe the change to Rees Jones. I can categorically tell you that the changes to 14 made since the Open, were NOT his idea. I can do this because I was there for the discussion and was asked my opinion on them before decision was made.
The idea for adding the new top green section high right and in back of the bunker was Craig Currier’s. When the decision was made to do the work, it was Craig and his staff who did the entire job.
The reason for considering it was to address what was universally felt as a weakness during the Open. The 14th hole was just too easy, mostly because there just weren’t that many good pin positions to use. By putting in this section it allows for some very challenging ones high and back right that will make the hole play much tougher in 2009. When it was agreed upon to do that, and only then, Rees suggested that we go further and extend the front left portion out and down to allow for a difficult front pin position. The left hand bunker was added to accentuate this.
All of you know that I am not afraid to share my opinion and this essay certainly proves that. I agreed with all of the changes. I feel stylistically they fit and that there was a clear need. Yet even these changes do not change the way the hole will play for the every day player as these tough positions will almost exclusively be used in 2009. The hole then still plays the same for them.
Also, the other universal belief from all who play the Black was that this hole needed toughening. T seems everyone wanted to see a new tee placed back across the service road, but the logistics to do this were insurmountable. First, a forest of trees would have to be cut and then a new hill would have to be raised. In order to create a hill for the tee, a literal mountain of dirt would have to be brought in and the hill would need pilings and retaining walls to stabilize it. What seems like a good idea falls once again to the assassin named logistic.
The only reasonable option, especially since the State of New York would have to pay for it, was to do what was done. I am waiting until 2009 to see how it stands up before I decide if it was the right thing to do. I believe though that it will be a wonderful hole then and now.
Finally, Tom, you wrote, “I reckon I've given the original design more study and the early architectural history of the course more study than just about anyone on this site, with the exception perhaps of Phil (and even there I'm not sure because Phil is not really into the details of architecture).”
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I am quite certain that you are wrong in this. You appear to take my not agreeing with what you define as definitions of redesign and restoration and how it applies to Bethpage and changes there as the reason for this conclusion. I would suggest that you read the interview with Rees in my book, Golf for the People: Bethpage and the Black, if you have it. Like it or not, you will find that I asked him pointed questions dealing with the work done and the reasons for it on almost every single hole.
Frankly, it is only because he respected my knowledge of the Black and its architectural history that he chose to allow me to increase that initial one-hour interview to over three hours in length despite his busy schedule, and that he made arrangements to spend even more time on other occasions in discussing more points about the project.
Finally, once again, I would really appreciate knowing how any & all would define the terms restoration and renovation and the aspects where they might overlap. I think it would create a completely different atmosphere for this discussion.
Also, Tom Mac, I’m going to be back up in New York during October. If I send you the dates far enough in advance, how about joining me for a day at Bethpage? I’ll make arrangements for you to spend time studying and examining the ACTUAL 1938 aerial rather than photocopies of it. You will be surprised what shows up on it that doesn’t in copies. Sometimes what one sees isn’t exactly what is there to be seen, otherwise Linus Pauling and the triple-helix would define our understanding of DNA (That one was for you Dr. Childs!)
Hopefully this hasn’t broken a Mucci or TEPaul record for length!