When I was there someone had an old yardage book from the 60's. At that time the center bunker, short of the fairway, was just a nasty looking little pot. (Very cool looking ask Michaud) Now it appears to have a sea lion swoop to it. What's with that? What was fascinating about the old yardage book was the carry distance of that pot, from the old back tees?....150 yards.
Great thread. The rough will likely be more than 3" deep. 5-6" of moist Poa annua would be far more difficult than a fairway bunker shot for the pros. It's like swinging through a salad.
Thanks to Tom for the Dye philosophy about a single bunker on the outside of the dogleg. I'm thinking about the Johnny Carson impersonator (Dana Carvey, perhaps?) who would say, "I did not know that."
Does anybody think the whole is more attractive this way? Forgive me in advance for saying I think it looks nice.
John, Eye candy is eye candy. When it's obvious construction, against the flow of the terrain, it jars my eye on an aesthetic level. I suppose, It puts the accomplished golfer at ease. I would not know.
Sean, I do recall how the naked natural hillside, was awkwardly dominate in my mind's eye, looming like a green wall menace if I bailed right. I would assume, that awkwardness puts all players, ill at ease?
Sully, Failure to carry the trees is extremely penal (Or it was 10 yrs ago) The trees sit a ravine that also comes into play right of 16. Almost a guaranteed lost ball when it was unkept.
Isn't it always the U.S Open where you hear those telling words "Get in the bunker? Isn't this just another example of the non-penal nature of bunkers at a us open?
I wonder if Mike Davis ever considered moving the tees up on this hole, tempting the players to go for it. I know the fourth is being considered, so I suspect this one wasn't. But, it sure could test these guys restraint.
Bryan, I agreed with everything you said in your first post sans aesthetics. To me they're hideous warts placed on sacred ground.