Esthetics vs. Cypress Point Club

[Andrew Cunningham]

After reading Ran's recent profile on the Cypress Point Club and the accompanying pictures I was struck by the relatively "new" rock wall on the face of the 16th green - see below.  The last time I was fortunate enough to play this course I recall the front of the green sloping in the ocean – i.e. no wall.  My question is does this man made wall reduce the relative esthetics of this hole?  In Golf Digest’s latest ranking CPC received a category leading 9.48 out of 10.  Would this number be less because of the wall?  And if the wall was reconstructed to look more rugged (even though being completely fake – like the 18th at Pebble) would or should this make a difference?

[Jordan Wall]

I say dont mess with CPC 16, though I've never even seen the course.

[Phil_the_Author]

Jordan, if man didn't intervene and "mess with CPC 16" then nature would sooner or later.

Storm driven water will erode that entire area unless it is protected. Having never been there myself and only based upon the above photograph, how can anyone argue against placing a wall there to protect it?

[Matt_Cohn]

Does anyone have a "before" picture?

[Eric Franzen]

I belive that the 15th also was reinforced in the same way, but with a look that blended the artificial work with the natural rocks.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Eric,

That's kind of my point.  The 16th wall looks a little fabricated in my mind.  The bigger question in my mind is whether it takes away from the esthetics of one of the world's greatest golf holes?  I'll try and find a before picture.

Andrew

[Forrest Richardson]

Having recently been to the 16th (and 1st through 15th, plus 17 and 18) I can attest that it is a bit disturbing. However, like many things on golf courses, it will weather and soon will blend to the cliffs, complete with bird droppings, algae stains and an oxidized finish.

[Jim Bearden]

The issue at hand is that there was erosion at 15 16 and 17 is terrible. They fixed 15 about 12 years ago after the path from the tee to the green along the ocean fell in. Given this problem they looked at 16 and 17 and found that if they didn't do something soon the holes would fall into the ocean.