Dammit...if I don't do one other thing here on GCA I'm going to finish this f*ck*ng thread!!
I'm feeling a bit like the overpretentious early 80s metal band who puts out a triple-album with synthesizer flourishes, thumping bass, wall of sound production, soaring guitar leads, lyrics about mystical places and mythical creatures, and after spending 8 straight drunken and stoned months in the studio are too self-involved in their own project to realize that it sucks!
In examining proposed changes to the 14th, something hit me like a ton of bricks that I'm guessing some others may have noticed previously (I'm a bit slow sometimes), but there are enormous differences in the sizes of greens on the Ross drawings versus what exist today.
If anyone has any doubt that Golden Age greens have shrunk considerably, I give you exhibit A;
The first column is the Ross drawing. Where he proposed a new green I point that out, and where he suggests adding green space I mention that, as well.
The second column is the length of each green front to back today.
1 - 35 yards 28 yards
2 - 33 yards 23 yards
3 - 40 yards (proposed new green) 28 yards
4 - 25 yards (proposed changing green orientation and adding 15 feet) 29 yards
5 - 40 yards (proposed new double punchbowl green) 27 yards
6 - 40 yards (proposed new green) 24 yards
7 - 40 yards (proposed adding 15 feet to back) 27 yards
8 - 25 yards 24 yards
9 - 40 yards 28 yards
10 - 30 yards 24 yards
11 - 37 yards 28 yards
12 - 36 yards (proposed new green) 28 yards
13 - 25 yards (proposed adding 15 feet to back) 19 yards
14 - 40 yards 29 yards
15 - 25 yards (proposed new green) 27 yards
16 - 35 yards (proposed new green) 24 yards
17 - 48 yards (propsed adding 12 yards to back) 28 yards
18 - 35 yards 26 yards