Rich,
The answer I wanted was what was the mission statement of Mackenzie and Jones when they went off and built Augusta National and how has the course strayed from that mission...I of course think they are right on track. This thread seems to prove my point once again.
From the London Evening Standard, April 2006;
Among the first to react to confirmation that six new tees have seen Augusta National grow by 155 yards to a mammoth 7,445 yards, making it the second-longest course in major championship history, were Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Nicklaus, winner of a record six Masters green jackets, was unequivocal. "I think they've ruined the tournament," he said. Palmer, with four Masters titles to his name, added: "I love the place, but now I'm not sure."
Gary Player, three times a Masters champion, revealed he heard defendingtitle-holder Tiger Woods claim that only six of this week's 99 contenders stood a chance of tasting victory come Sunday evening. "Six people! Ernie Els told me personally that he thought the number was 10," said Player.
"For me that says it all. Is that not sad? That 10 guys can win the tournament? It has become strictly a longhitter's course."
Adding length to a golf course as a means of defence against the new breed of big-hitting young players exploiting advances in club and ball design is not new.
In the case of Augusta National, however, argument rages over whether these latest changes detract from the original vision of golf course architect Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones, cofounder of the Masters, which sought to place a premium on the skill of shooting to some of the game's toughest greens.
Hootie Johnson, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, defended the new-look holes by insisting: "As in the past, our objective is to maintain the integrity and shot values of the course as envisioned by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie."
But Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, believes they have got it wrong.
The Canadian is among the shortest hitters on the US PGA Tour, standing 172nd in the average driving distance table on 275.3 yards, and after playing two practice rounds he said: "I'm sure if Bobby Jones were around it would be like ' what are you guys doing?' "What disturbs me is they're getting away from the character of the golf course. I think Mr Jones wanted creative shots from all over the place into tough greens. They're taking away some of the excitement of the tournament."
Nicklaus supported Weir, saying: "Augusta has meant a ton to me in my lifetime. It's a big, big part of my life and I love it. That's why I hate to see them change it.
"They've totally eliminated what Bobby Jones tried to do in the game of golf. He believed golf was primarily a second-shot game. He believed that you should have enough room to drive the ball onto the fairway, but if you put it on the correct side of the fairway you had an advantage to put the ball toward the hole. He wanted to give you a chance to do that shot."
John, I would think you'd value the opinions of Jack, Arnie, and Gary over mine. They don't mince words, either.