Els Description of Changes at Wentworth West

[Jason Topp]

Pretty interesting discussion by Ernie Els of the changes made to the course and the thinking behind them.  I always enjoy the matchplay but have never played there.  Any opinions on the changes or Els description of the thought process?


http://www.hsbcgolf.com/default.sps?pageid=138&pagegid=%7BCB4F6CF6%2D989F%2D4D5D%2DA003%2D3475D0B899B0%7D&pcpageid=8080

[Brad Tufts]

I haven't been to Wentworth, nor am I a very well-versed Colt-aphile, but this discussion, while thorough, seems a bit weird to me.

Obviously there are reasons for the changes, as it is a popular tournament venue, but if Ernie and co. are going to renovate the course, why hold on to lines like "we will not change the character of the course"?  I suppose it is/was done in the spirit of Colt, but it sounds like the course (save the greens) will be quite different.  

On the other hand, there does seem to be a progression on many courses in the UK to have several architects modify the the great courses over the years due to technology, safety, infrastructure, ease of maintenance, etc....

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

It sounds like Els is changing the way the course was meant to play.  His descriptions seem to indicate bottlenecking in the driving areas.  No doubt that players have been overpowering the course in recent years.  I used to play there quite often in the summer of '79 when my father worked nearby.  It was considered a very hard  course--I found the par 3's very tough--most importantly, it was a fair test of golf.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

It's many years since I played there, so I don't remember it totally, and my memories are based on my less-than-average play.  I walked round with O'Meara/Price and Montgomery/Harrington during the matchplay a few years ago and they made it look ridiculously simple, and perhaps some tightening of the drive is no bad thing.  

However, it strikes me that much of the extant design was about options.  Fairway bunkers were placed one side or the other of the driving zone, not both.  A perfect example was the 16th, where by aiming to the right off the tee took the bunkers out of play but then made the approach shot much more difficult.  Now there's a bunker on the right no one will take that option.

I watched some of yesterday afternoon's TV coverage and the general standard of play was scrappy.  On the whole winners won because their opponents played worse and there were some rank poor shots played.  When did Monty last drive so erratically?  The only person who looked in command of his game was Micheel.  

As for Els's changes, they were too tough for him on day 1!