Simply that all too many Country Clubs tend to use major championship venues as examples to emulate. RTJ's work at Oakland Hills caused the narrowing of landing areas in an attempt to defend par. This contributed in altering designs all over the country. The USGA's work with today's Open venues causes many layouts across the country to maintain high rough. Unfortunately, such an influence actually causes club courses designed by Donald Ross, for instance, to grow taller rough around their greens in an attempt to create championship conditions. This undermines the architect's design philosophy. Augusta is super green, so Country Clubs over water to create a similar look. And now, because of the ball and equipment, champioship venues, such as Augusta, are adding length to defend par. Country Clubs are following suit in wholesale fashion without any regard to design integrity. The barroom talk at every course I play seems to involve Augusta's additional yardage for this year's Masters which leads into the conversation of where they can add yardage on their course. Often it ends up being the short interesting par 4's which are ruined. These are only a few examples, and maybe they are not the best ones, but the fact is that Country Clubs do follow suit.
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