[Richard Choi]

Fascinating quotes during today's Masters interview. Took me awhile to transcribe it...

Q: Do you feel that they were making the course difficult for the field or for you?

A: I’ve never felt that it was solely on me. I felt like that the golf course and I think that the changes today are not solely on Tiger. It is based on the type of player I was and the type of player Tiger is. And the type of player we had in those day, well I shot really low score, Raymond came along and scored low right after that, the game was changing and the golf course needed to make some adjustments to it.

I will just go through history of what my thoughts and feel about it. I think the golf course and Bobby Jones’ philosophy of golf course is totally different now than when he originally started.

He was very much the St. Andrews type philosophy; fairly wide off the tee, put the ball in the proper side of the fairway, get the angle to the green or to the angle of the pin, have a nice members’ course. You take the tees and you move’em back, you hide the pins, and you got Masters. And that was sort of his philosophy.

Now, as the equipment change and golfers started playing better, the scores started getting lower, things had to be done that would have to adjust that philosophy to the best that could stay with what Bobby Jones wanted, but they had to adjust it to the modern golf. I am not sure that the golf course today would be the golf course that Jones would have done, because I don’t think his philosophy was the same.

Is it a good golf course today? Yes, it is a darned good golf course today. Was it a good golf course then under the condition of what we played then? Yes, it was a darned good golf course then. So, but, the golf course has changed with the times. It is about the only golf course that I know that has totally changed what they have done to adjust to what’s happening with the times of the game and done it very, very well. And not many golf courses, I mean you see’em at US Opens where they take XYZ course, they put five, six new tees, and they decide to grow little longer rough and they move the tees and the fairways another 3 yards and that’s their answer to conditions of today.

Here at Augusta, it’s pretty well thought out. I think they’ve done a lot of things and created more accuracy of the tee; you still have to put the ball in the proper side of the fairway, but fairways are not as big as they used to be. And they still hide the pins and greens are little faster and harder than they used to be, but it’s more modern to what the game is today. I think they have done a very good job with that.

… it forced me to play better golf.

[Adam Clayman]

I was unaware that Philosophies were so inter-changable?

[John Moore II]

I was unaware that Philosophies were so inter-changable?

Philosophy is based on time. People play the game differently today than they did 75 years ago. If Mr. Jones played today and designed that course today, it would be much different. It all goes back to what I wrote in another thread. Do you retain the orignal design or the original intent? In order to remain relevant in today's golfing world, ANGC must make extensive changes every so often in order to retain the orignal intent of the course, at least somewhat.

[Richard Choi]

If Mr. Jones played today and designed that course today, it would be much different.

Jack isn't saying that. He says Jones would not design the course that is today if he was still alive. I agree with Jack there. I believe Jones would probably lengthen the course and modify some greens, but he would still stick with his philosophy of wide fairways and angles to the green, even against today's technological assault.

[Jaeger Kovich]

I saw the interview... He was in favor of rolling the ball back, which he said most of the players have sort of suggested via softer balls to add spin and combat the groove rule.

I felt his comments on the changes to the course were more along the lines of... Bobby Jones played with hickory clubs. We have made huge advancements in clubs since then. Jones would have been great with these clubs too, but he didn't have this, so thats how he designed his course. Due to the combination of the way we renovate courses / and the way that the pros play with the new clubs, this is what ANGC had to do (in their opinion) to keep their tournament the way they want it.

[Brian Freeman]

Jack makes some good points.  I know some folks have been highly critical of some of the changes, especially of late, and there are definitely a few I disagree with, but looking back, something had to be done.  Tiger hitting wedges into 15 and he and Phil, among others, having less than 100 yds into 11 and 18 was just unacceptable and threatened to fundamentally alter what the course was all about.

I think the tournament is clearly better now than it would have been had they elected to do little to nothing since '97.  Sunday last year was flat-out riveting.

[PThomas]

to have the course play as Jones originally intended, the course would have had to be a LOT longer than it is today, yes?  which is impossible because of the lack of space

i dont know how long the course was when it opened, but it would be interesting to extrapolate that figure based on how much farther the ball goes, better clubs,etc...

i wonder if that figure would be more than 8000 yds!

[Peter Pallotta]

I'm blinded in these matters by my childhood idolization of JN (and my continued respect for his basic decency and class). But with that said, I'm very impressed by his comments. Talking off the cuff like that, I can't imagine too many people who could give such a succinct and (I think) accurate assessment of what Jones and Mackenzie intended as this:

"He was very much the St. Andrews type philosophy; fairly wide off the tee, put the ball in the proper side of the fairway, get the angle to the green or to the angle of the pin, have a nice members’ course. You take the tees and you move’em back, you hide the pins, and you got Masters."

Who says JN doesn't listen to/isn't aware of the bedrock fundamentals and history of gca? It's just that, as a great golfer, architect,  businessman, and brand, he makes the design choices he thinks best -- and I think he makes them sincerely. Good for him.

Peter

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Jack could not have assessed the Jones vision more simply. Not bad Not bad at all.

[Joel_Stewart]

From 2006 Golf Digest Panelist Seminar.

"Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer reportedly have had enough.

In the April issue of Golf Digest, the golfing legends take issue with the numerous changes that have taken place in recent years to toughen and lengthen Augusta National, site of their 10 total Masters victories.

"I think they've ruined it from a tournament standpoint," Nicklaus says. "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.""

[Richard Choi]

Joel I was thinking of that article while listening to Jack. He certainly has mellowed out since retiring from competition...

[Sean Leary]

Joel I was thinking of that article while listening to Jack. He certainly has mellowed out since retiring from competition...

or has been admonished by the club of which he is a member...

[Chuck Brown]

One of the nice things about interviews with Jack Nicklaus is that he is so honest and unrehearsed. 

One of the problems in interviews with Jack Nicklaus is that he is so unrehearsed that sometimes the statements he makes, while honest, are unpolished and don't stand up to the test of time like the edited writings of people like Mackenzie, or Max Behr, or, nowadays, like Tom Doak.   

Still, is it not the case that among the many factors causing Nicklaus to declare in 2006 (when he already was an ANGC member) that they had "ruined" the course, some have been reversed, due in no small measure to those very complaints...?

[Adam Clayman]

JKM, Principles don't alter with time. They are foundational.

 Jack's comments focus only on few aspects of a golf courses "Philosophy".

 Let's go beyond the pretty foliage, I suspects Mack"s and Jones's philosophy on the "look" is nowhere near where the course is today. From the sharp cut of the bunker edges, to the added trees and ponds.(Versus creeks) The Master's on television affects, and IMO, the affects have been detrimental to everyone. From Owners and Supers, that have to keep up with the Joneses. To the customer who has to over pay, with money and time, to play.

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