Port Royal, Bermuda - Venue of 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf

[Ben Stephens]

Dear GCA,

A friend of mine who is a member of Port Royal in Bermuda has just alerted me that there is a new club website with plans and images of the newly renovated Port Royal Course in preparation for this year's PGA Grand Slam of Golf which should feature this year's major winners - Cabrera, Glover, Cink and Yang.

The renovation was carried out by Roger Rulewich who used to work for Robert Trent Jones Sr. He also did the renovation work at Tuckers Point (formerly Castle Harbour) and the Jones course at Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island.

The pics show subtle changes to the majority of the course which was required for todays game - the major changes are switching 12 and 13 from par 3 then par 4 into a uphill par 4 and downhill par 3 to eliminate the blind tee shot on the old 13th. The pond on Hole 17 has been enlarged and brought into play more.

http://www.portroyalgolf.bm/
http://www.pga.com/grandslam/2009/
http://www.rulewich.com/

Cheers

Ben

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Ben,

Thanks for posting this reminder.I remember playing Port Royal about 20 years ago on a very windy day. The wind was coming off the ocean on the famous par3 16th hole. For the fun of it, instead of tying to hit a draw into the wind, I hit out to the ocean hoping the wind would carry the ball onto the green. It did.

Can anyone predict the tv ratings for this event?

[Stu Grant]

Hey thanks for posting this Ben.  I was a member at Port Royal in 2001 and 2002 and it is interesting to see the changes.

Most notable change that I can see is that holes 12 and 13 have been completely changed.  #12 used to be a 160 yard par-3 with a severe back to front slope (might have been nearly unpinnable for a PGA tour event?) and #13 was a short (380 yard) blind mostly downhill par 4 which would likely have been driveable for PGA Tour players. 

Now it looks like #12 is a par 4 heading left of where #12 used to be (nice view of the ocean on the approach by the looks of it) and #13 is now a par 3 which looks like it starts from where the fairway of #13 used to be.

Also I can see they've added a pond on #2, enlarged the pond on the formerly easy par-5 17th, made some changes to the bunkers, and also looks like they've taken out quite a few trees.

Hope to get back to Bermuda some time to play the new and improved Port Royal.  I'll definitely be watching the Grand Slam on TV.   

[Sean Leary]

2009 venue. 2010 as well?

[Ben Stephens]

Sean,

Yes it is for the 2009 and 2010 events. PGA Grand Slam of Golf agreement is to be on same course for no longer than 2 years. If its still in Bermuda  in 2011 the best bet it would be back at Mid Ocean.

Ben

[JeffTodd]

The course looks great.  While I have a fond memory of driving the green on #13 in what may be the best tee shot of my life, it certainly makes sense to remove a drivable, blind hole, if for no other reason than safety.

Below, the larger pics are mine and were taken in 2006. If I had a complaint about the course then it was the encroachment of vegetation that choked off some of the holes. Based on the photos I've seen they have really opened the course up on many of the holes.

 


#1 Drop shot, dogleg right, par 4.



#2, a three shot par five on the lower, flat portion of the course.



#6 is where the course starts to take off. Based on the photo, I think I prefer the simplicity of the previous verion.



#7, a reachable par 5 that used to have a great skyline green. The PGA site says the hole has been substantially regraded, so I wonder if that semi-blind shot has been altered.



#8, a mid-long par 3 with a great view.



#9, a par four with a big climb.



#10, short par four



#11, par 4 with a tremendous dropshot approach



#18, a medium length uphill par 4. The tree clearing is really evident in this photo.

[Pete_Pittock]

anyone watch the broadcast yesterday on TNT and care o comment about the course?

[PCCraig]

Port Royal is a really good golf course that doesn't get as much attention compared to it's neighbor Mid Ocean. It's a neat place and has a very different vibe than MO as it's actually a muni owned by the Government.

I haven't been since the changes but have played there maybe 10-12 times in the past. The par-3 16th is totally world class and site of a fond memory of my golfing youth when after hooking a 3-wood into the Ocean, I re-hit from the tee and holed out for a 3...closest thing to a hole-in-one I've had.

However if on the island and given the choice between the two, I would take Mid Ocean about 7-3.

[PCCraig]

And thanks for reminding me...I forgot it was on TV this week!

[Greg Tallman]

While understandable I am saorry to see the changes at 13. Loved playing that hole.

[Pete_Pittock]

The leader bogied 13 and 16 yesterday according to the paper.

[Wade Whitehead]

Can anyone predict the tv ratings for this event?

I honestly can't imagine a worse scenario for event sponsors.

WW

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