Tom MacWood,
One of the other changes was to the 15th hole which had a marvelous diagonal kidney shaped green, exceptionally well bunkered, with an option off the tee to carry a creek to the left side of the fairway leaving one with an ideal angle of attack into that green, or play a less risky tee shot straight away, leaving a more difficult shot into the narrow angle of the green.
Within the last year the ability to recreate/restore that hole has been lost as a retention reservoir has been built along the right side (old straight away fairway). This was built despite the fact that a firm was willing to dredge and haul away our large ponds that have silted in over the years. Over 15,000 cubic yards of excavated dirt from the creation of a retention pond has been relocated ON the Golf course in the form of mounds. All under the supervision and approval of an architect retained by the LRPC chairman, without consultation with the committee.
Despite all the work done to the 15th hole, the individuals in charge forgot, or didn't pay attention to ongoing drainage problems which they could have cured as the retention pond was being built.
In addition, when the 15th was first altered, and a mini pond created, I objected to same, but was assured that the pitch wouldn't exceed three (3) degrees. Unfortunately, the closer to the pond one gets, the steeper the grade, which exceeds three (3) degrees by a good margin, further adversely affecting the play of the hole.
One of the early solutions to the drainage problem when the hole was first altered was to plant weeping willows to soak up the water. But, the rocket scientists in charge of the project planted the weeping willows on the low side of the fairway.
When the retention pond was built this last year, I suggested that some of the non-clay fill be used to ameliorate the excessive pitch of the fairway, and that the drainage problem be addressed at the high side of the hole. Both suggestions were not pursued.
When I mentioned that the location of the new pump house was incorrect, and that it should be offset 20 yards from the far side of the pond, allowing for cart traffic, and to further hide the pump house, visually and accoustically from golfers playing the 15th hole, that too was ignored, resulting in a club joke about the pump house which now resides largely, and directly on the pond, casting a beautiful reflection for all golfers to enjoy.
The individual in charge suggested that carts ride to the left of the fairway, and then cross the fairway in front of the green between the pond and the green so that they could proceed behind the green to the 16th tee. This creates a terrible eyesore, and impediment to play.
However, I still feel that the original green can be reproduced, helping to recreate the advantage to a riskier tee shot, and leaving the safer tee shot with a more difficult shot to the green.
The three bunkers that now surround the HUGE green are so out of character with the rest of the golf course, and two of them are unplayable for most members as they are raised above the green, and slope to the green, creating downhill lies to a green that slopes away from the golfer.
I hope this provides you with a general idea of some of the changes that have taken place on most of the holes.
If you have any questions about the 15th hole, or any other hole, let me know.