Hi All,
Sorry for the long wait -- still having computer problems, but have my fingers crossed it won't be too long!
As to the changes -- there are more trees on the back nine and this was due to the maturity of the trees there and the overall scrub from the clearcut of the front 10 years prior to building the course. There was some cutting on the back, but not nearly so uniformly wall-to-wall as the front. I would have initially cut more trees on the back for many reasons: agronomics for the pure fescue turf, tie-in to the front nine openness, and an overall appreciation of the roll of the land.
As on any project, trees are the most controversial subject of all. Everyone is a tree-hugger to some extent and want to keep the beautiful specimens, even if they are impeding the turf (remember that trees steal the sunlight, air movement, nutrients, and water -- that's 4 strikes! -- from the turf). In the beginning, there was resistance to cutting more on the back from the owners and we have been removing trees every year to improve the turf quality -- as Nick pointed out, we have tweaked the trees on 17 many times and this year we expanded the hole as you see from my earlier discussions with them about what the hole could become.
All the tees will remain in their current positions this year but we will change them next year. The gold (back) tee is staying where it is, but we will add another tee about 30 yards back, near the current turnaround circle. The blue, white, and red tees will move to the left of the current cart path and lose a little yardage from the current sets -- this move better aligns the average player with the widened hole and gives them more options. When the tees move over, we will also re-align the cart path on 16 to run adjacent to the fairway, giving better access to the hole and less disruption between the 2 holes when it is busy during events, thus improving the flow through this area.
The main advantages to the changes are dramatically improved turf conditions for the fescue by providing the 4 essential items noted above. There will be increased options for players of all levels -- the ability to drive it over the hill now is only afforded to the big hitters, but the new left route will give shorter players a chance -- the actual drop-off is shorter by about 10 yards, but the flat ground spot on the left is at least 30 yards shorter, and with the dry, tight fairways where the ball always runs, hitting over the hill becomes a very doable option. The left alley is a little narrower to offset the shorter carry required and the 2 new bunkers will make the 3rd shot longer, as the recovery from them will not permit a long shot from them. The retention of the gold tee where it is and the new longer one will still demand the good players hit a really clean shot to get it down the big hill. The left alley has a little flatter pitch to it than the existing right side -- there are a few areas that will make for a flatter stance in spots -- and the angle of the approach to the green is advantageous for certain pins and shot types, so that leads to more variety. The look from the left also sometimes obscures the green surface, due to the large ridge that comes off the left hillside above the fairway bunker that was on the left but is now in the middle. The look of the hole is very dramatic, both from the tee and the green, looking back -- I am very pleased with the work. An interesting note to the strategy -- one of the better players in the club prefers to be on the top of the hill so he can cut his 3W into the green. He said the maple next to the bunker and the one near the green knocked down that shot every time but now he can go for it. My hope is that players will be more tempted to go for it and have an opportunity to do so more often.
We are also adding a new back tee on 14, adding about 25-30 yards for the gold tee there -- a similar challenge as was done on #10 a couple of years back.
Hope that answers the questions!
Mike