Augusta National changes: 2012 edition

[Howard Riefs]

Mickelson played a couple rounds at Augusta this week and noticed a few changes on the course.

"There's more grass coverage than in years past. Every year, two greens are redone with subtle changes, and this year those holes were 8 and 16."

“After looking at them, I think that some of the more challenging pin placements on those greens were softened a little bit, and made to be not quite as difficult ... I’m not saying it’s good, bad, indifferent.”


#8
“The green on eight in the front was widened. The hill on the left was softened. So little things that I felt like the back-right pin on eight was made much more accessible. It’s much flatter, a lot more room there. You can be a little bit more aggressive now into that pin. So, it was interesting.”

#16
“There were bigger plateaus up on the top right on 16,” Mickelson said.

"One of the most dangerous locations was front right, a tiny target. Anything too strong was over the green and into a bunker, while short meant the ball would roll down the hill. That area has been slightly expanded. ... Also, the bottom of the green toward the front has been built up, so that players who leave their shots on the top shelf don’t have to worry about the putts rolling down the slope and into the water."



http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/blogs/local-knowledge/2012/03/mickelson-notices-changes-to-augusta-in-masters-tune-up.html

http://golfweek.com/news/2012/mar/07/mickelson-augusta-softens-nos-8-16/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/casey-returns-from-shoulder-injury-early-reviews-on-augusta-national/2012/03/07/gIQAVc0exR_story_1.html

[Sven Nilsen]

Whatever his agenda, Mickelson seems to be one of a handful of players that is willing to discusses GCA. 

Makes me think there should be an annual award for the tour player that does the most to promote an understanding of GCA.  It would most likely come down to Ogilvy and Phil every year, but at least the review of their quotes would be a fun exercise.

[Jud_T]

am I missing something?  why do we get our panties in a bunch anytime a blade of grass at classic era courses is touched, and practically every year Augusta National is making changes, yet remains unscathed in criticism? Face it, you ain't getting an invite anyway, so you might as well fire away....

[Jason Topp]

am I missing something?  why do we get our panties in a bunch anytime a blade of grass at classic era courses is touched, and practically every year Augusta National is making changes, yet remains unscathed in criticism? Face it, you ain't getting an invite anyway, so you might as well fire away....

Unscathed?  I suggest you do a search.

[Sven Nilsen]

Jud:

I'd venture the majority of this board would love to see Augusta recapture some of the original design intent of MacKenzie/Jones.  At this point is a foregone conclusion that this well never happen and the changes made will be in an attempt to protect par from the onslaught of the modern player.  Its not that its going unscathed, its just that we've all accepted that the train has left the station.

Sven

[Simon Holt]

Sven,

Surely the changes have made those holes easier?  Making pin postions more accessible and softening slopes is hardly protecting par.

Just a thought- I think they learnt a lesson a few years back.  People like the roars that greet birdies and eagles.

S

[Sven Nilsen]

Simon:

First you lengthen the course, then you soften it a bit to accommodate the length.  Its a simple process of adding distance then removing contours. 

I'm partially kidding and am certainly not as well versed as to the changes that have been made over time as others, but I think there's a bit of truth to that equation. 

As for the changes to 8 and 16, it seems that they're part of the gradual series of tweaks being made in response to the desire to keep the greens running as fast as possible.  I'd love to know if there are pin positions that were used 60 years ago that are no longer viable.

[jeffwarne]

am I missing something?  why do we get our panties in a bunch anytime a blade of grass at classic era courses is touched, and practically every year Augusta National is making changes, yet remains unscathed in criticism? Face it, you ain't getting an invite anyway, so you might as well fire away....

Part of the tradition at Augusta is change.
If that's all they changed, it's a very benign year.
Augusta unscathed? here?
hardly

[Sven Nilsen]

Golf Digest has a nice summary of all changes since 1934.  Good way to kill some time:

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/georgia/augusta-changes

[Simon Holt]

Sven,

I dont think either hole can come under the 'first you lengthen it, then you soften it category'.  Again, not picking a fight, just saying I dont think ANGC should get its knuckles rapped every time they make changes under the charge of protecting par.  One could easily argue that this time they are promoting better scoring and 'fairness'.

On those particular holes they are not protecting par by making pin positions a)more accessible by softening the mounds on 8 and b) easier to hold by widening and softening established pin positions on 16.

Neither hole has been significantly lengthened in recent times as far as I can remember.  I could easily be wrong however as I dont know huge amounts about the evolution.

S

[Simon Holt]

Sven,

I dont think either hole can come under the 'first you lengthen it, then you soften it category'.  Again, not picking a fight, just saying I dont think ANGC should get its knuckles rapped every time they make changes under the charge of protecting par.  One could easily argue that this time they are promoting better scoring and 'fairness'.

On those particular holes they are not protecting par by making pin positions a)more accessible by softening the mounds on 8 and b) easier to hold by widening and softening established pin positions on 16.

Neither hole has been significantly lengthened in recent times as far as I can remember.  I could easily be wrong however as I dont know huge amounts about the evolution.

S

I know your comments were general by the way so apologies if it seems like I am jumping on them.

[Sven Nilsen]

Simon:

Perhaps I could have been a bit more concise.  It seems to me that the course has undergone a series of renovations followed by minor adjustments.  In later years, the renovations have focused on defending the course against the increased length of the modern player.  The adjustments, in general, have taken place as a reaction to the renovations.  They might not occur immediately, so it doesn't surprise me that in 2012 they're making adjustments to a back-right "Sunday" pin position on 8 that was created in 1997, especially after the hole was lengthened by 20 yards in 2001.  The green on 16 was rebuilt in 2001 and in 2006.  2012 seems about right for the adjustment schedule.

If the renovations are the flood tide, the adjustments are the ebb tide.

Sven

[Kyle Henderson]

Having never come within 100 miles of Augusta, I can only judge what I see on TV. Despite their constant reworking, the greens appear to be a study in brilliance. I hope that is and will continue to be the case.

On the other hand, I think the current presentation of the bunkers is less than attractive. The Golf Channel recently aired the 1960 Masters, and the change in shaping from then to now (do to maintenance practices I assume) is astounding.

I failed to find representative photographs. These two images offer a hint of my perception.

Then


Now

[Tom Kelly]

It does seem a bit strange to have made such a deal about protecting par over the past few years with added length and rough only to then 'soften' greens which will surely make it easier for the pros to attack the pins. As Sven says though I suppose it is only natural to go backwards and forwards tweaking bits and pieces until you get it just right when you are striving for perfection as I am sure they are.

Personally and I guess most on GCA would have liked to see it happen the other way round. Wider the fairways with more angles but punish those who poorly position themselves by making the pins inaccessible from those spots? Would it not be much more fun for the spectator that way? More groans as we all watch balls dribble off the green into the pond on 16 or massive roars when shots do manage to hold the tiny plateaus next to the pin? As Simon points out though it all comes down to the age old discussion of what is 'fair' on a golf course, which is clearly impossible to ascertain and more birdie and eagle opportunities can't really be too much of a bad thing for spectators on a Sunday afternoon. It is certainly something that Augusta seems to have finally cottoned onto.

It is nice to hear changes are being made to any tour venue course course let alone Augusta that don't involve extra rough or moving tees back though!

[Matthew Rose]

Things I found while looking at Google maps....

If you find Augusta and then zoom into a certain level, you can see #8 and #16 greens stripped bare.

A few of the bunkers are without sand. Also, the right half of #5 fairway looks like it might be getting re-turfed. Appears #6 tee is being regrassed as well.

[Chip Gaskins]

they flattened out the 7th green a little as well...possibly made it just a touch larger, though hard to prove the size change.