[Ted Sturges]

While watching the Memorial Tournament TV coverage last night, I noticed the pond on the 16th (didn't used to be there), how different the 17th looks today versus 20 years ago, and I know there have been countless other changes to this course over the years (mostly when somebody shot a low score there and Jack attempted to put more teeth into the course).  Got me thinking...     What other championship venues would make the list of "most tinkered with" over the years.

Here is my list...

(what would you all add to this list...and what course would be considered "most tinkered with" from its origins to today?

Muirfield Village
Pinehurst No. 2
Crooked Stick
Augusta National
Torrey Pines
Ocean Course at Kiawah
Doral


Others?


TS

[JSlonis]

I would think that Augusta National would have to lead this list in every conceivable way.

[JESII]

I'd imagine MV and ANGC are head and shoulders above the rest due to an annual event and huge budget. The things Nicklaus said in his booth interview yesterday were really astonishing.

1 - Finished the 16th hole last year (a totally new hole with all the water-works!)
2 - Added 30,000 sq. ft. to the teeing area of the driving range this year
3 - Added 7 new greens and recontoured much of the far end of the range
4 - Planning a complete renovation to the clubhouse beginning soon.

These are all very high dollar projects in my opinion. Glad they have it...but it amazes me.

[Mark Saltzman]

I think the more intereating question is which are the least tinkered with.

For most, Oakland Hills should be considered.

[Mark Pritchett]

What about Pebble Beach? 

[TEPaul]

Ted:


Believe it or not the least tinkered with may be the course that holds the record for hosting the most USGA championships----Merion East. At least that would be the case if one considers that the original designers (Wilson and Flynn) may not have felt the course was finally completed until up to twenty years after it was first begun (of course Hugh Wilson died suddenly fourteen years after the course was first begun). This might also explain why a considerable amount of people are sort of pissed they did what they did to it for next year's US Open.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Here's a vote for Congo. They blowed up everthing including the routing and entire holes.

 http://golfcoursehistories.com/Congressional.html

[Scott Sander]

Congressional
Medinah
Hazeltine

(Edit - Mark's faster.  And he has a link.  I'm so ashamed...)

[Mark Bourgeois]

In your defense, Scott, you did post three to my one. So...

2. Olympic: http://golfcoursehistories.com/Olympic.html

3. Oakland Hills (is 1949 too late to capture RTJ work?) http://golfcoursehistories.com/Oakland.html

[SL_Solow]

Medinah is right up there.  After redoing hole 2 green and completely rerouting the back nine while adding new holes, they rebuilt the 17th hole alone 3 times by moving the green.  Additional changes came in for this year's Ryder Cup.  Still a great membership and a real challenge even though stylistically it may not be everyone's cup of tea, including me.

[Will Lozier]

While watching the Memorial Tournament TV coverage last night, I noticed the pond on the 16th (didn't used to be there), how different the 17th looks today versus 20 years ago, and I know there have been countless other changes to this course over the years (mostly when somebody shot a low score there and Jack attempted to put more teeth into the course).  Got me thinking...     What other championship venues would make the list of "most tinkered with" over the years.

Here is my list...

(what would you all add to this list...and what course would be considered "most tinkered with" from its origins to today?

Muirfield Village
Pinehurst No. 2
Crooked Stick
Augusta National
Torrey Pines
Ocean Course at Kiawah
Doral

Others?

TS

Really disappointed with those changes to #16, #17, and the awful bunkering up the right side of #18.  Other changes have been more positive.  Still, I wish he would tinker less!

Cheers

[Jeff_Brauer]

We may under rate the changes to most venues.  For instance, Forrest pointed out here years ago how much Oakmont had changed (new greens among them).  I would guess most venues have changed, albeit, not always in very visible public ways.

[Sam Morrow]

It would probably be easier to find the least tinkered with championship venues.

[Pete_Pittock]

It would probably be easier to find the least tinkered with championship venues.

Least tinkered with could be Muirfield, Troon or Royal Lytham & St Annes.

[Mark Pritchett]

Tinkering is not always a bad thing.  Surprisingly for some, changes can be positive.   

[Carl Nichols]

Here's a vote for Congo. They blowed up everthing including the routing and entire holes.

 http://golfcoursehistories.com/Congressional.html

Wow.  It was so much wider back then. 

[Ted Sturges]

Tinkering is not always a bad thing.  Surprisingly for some, changes can be positive.   

That's an interesting point.  Which courses have benefitted from tinkering, and which have gotten worse.  The obvious choices for which have gotten worse would be ANGC and Muirfield Village (I would add Crooked Stick to that list).  What else?  What courses have been imporoved?

TS

[BHoover]

Tinkering is not always a bad thing.  Surprisingly for some, changes can be positive.   

That's an interesting point.  Which courses have benefitted from tinkering, and which have gotten worse.  The obvious choices for which have gotten worse would be ANGC and Muirfield Village (I would add Crooked Stick to that list).  What else?  What courses have been imporoved?

TS

Why do you think that Muirfield Village has gotten worse as a result of tinkering?  I'm not sure that I agree with that.

[Keith OHalloran]

I guess JNC Lyon is busy, so I will say Oak Hill East. They seem to do something every year.

[Ronald Montesano]

Oak Hill East did the deed back in 1979...what else of major importance has been done since, other than augmentation?

Medinah, Oakland Hills, Augusta, Pebble...who doesn't have a bit of surgery from time to time?

[Sven Nilsen]

Was Shinnie changed that much in connection with its hosting duties?

This is almost a rhetorical question with respect to US Open venues, as the answer could be all of them.  From recent history the USGA seems to have left its mark everywhere, including courses that have been open for less than 10 years and have yet to host their first Open (EH and CB).

ANGC probably wins the award for most total changes.  Hosting an annual event and being on the progressive side of adjusting the course to fit the modern game are two of the reasons why.

As for the changes with the greatest impact, the preparations taken at Bethpage have done wonders to revive the glory of the complex.  There's a similar discussion to be had regarding what we'll be seeing at Pinehurst.

As for the course that least resembles what was once there, Congressional probably wins.

[Cliff Hamm]

Surprised no one has mentioned Baltusrol...

BTW for architecture worth tuning into the LPGA on Golf Channel.  Being held at Seaview Bay, a Donald Ross design.  Matt Ward did not include it in his excellent list of Jersey top 10 publics, but it belongs there.

[JC Jones]

Tinkering is not always a bad thing.  Surprisingly for some, changes can be positive.   

That's an interesting point.  Which courses have benefitted from tinkering, and which have gotten worse.  The obvious choices for which have gotten worse would be ANGC and Muirfield Village (I would add Crooked Stick to that list).  What else?  What courses have been imporoved?

TS

Why is ANGC an "obvious choice"?

[Mac Plumart]

What "Championship Venues" of any age at all haven't been tinkered with?

[Alex Lagowitz]

Baltusrol is almost unrecognizable from its original course.
Most Rees "the Open Doctor" Jones redesigns end up far from their original looks and playability.

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