Feature Interview No. 2 with David Eger is posted

[Ran Morrissett]

With whom do you like to compare golf notes?

A person who sees little, knows nothing, and stays at home? I can give you Ted Sturges’s number if you really want it.

Instead how about a person who is an ace player, travels all the time, has set up courses for US Opens and PGA Tour stops, knows equipment and the Rules of Golf inside out, and has formulated strong views after being in the golf industry for three decades? That’s more like it and David Eger rings in the New Year for GolfClubAtlas.com.

This is his second Feature Interview with us and his first one in August 1999 can be re-read in our archives.

Given his broad background, the questions dance all over the place from the Champions Tour, equipment, modern architecture, his travels, and course set-ups.

As always, some of my questions are poor or at least leading . For instance, I was quite surprised with his answer to my question, “You joined the Champions Tour in 2002. What has been the biggest change in technology since then?” Obviously, I was fishing for something (not that I knew what) but I am surprised/intrigued by his answer that technology has been flat. In a lot of ways, I suppose the cat was out of the bag by 2002 as the 460cc size head had been discovered to be near optimal (i.e. the perfect balance for both control and distance) size. I consider the USGA’s stipulation in 2004 that confined the club head size to no bigger than 460cc to be nearly meaningless.

I love the incontrovertible information that his answer provides in question #5: David drives the ball 30 yards farther in 2012 than he did in 1992! I weigh 30 lbs. more than I did in 1992 but the similarity stops there. Technology, properly applied, really does help the good player.

Regardless of the quality of the questions, David's insights ring out. I am delighted to hear an event is coming to Wakonda as that Iowa course has always held a mystical appeal to me. And I need to find out more about this Billy Bell course in Newport Beach.

Several of his answers center around Pinehurst No.2 and the upcoming Opens. Much was made about the USGA’s set-up at Olympic and there has been some local grumbling about the decision to reverse the pars on the 4th and 5th holes at No. 2 for the US Open next year. David is fine with that but he weighs on the subject – and the timing of when to use – the ubiquitous drivable par four.

His answer about the lack of variety within par threes as a set makes me wonder: Whatever happened to the sub 140 yard par 3? The short par four is much loved and built these days but the short one shotter hasn’t seen a corresponding boost in enthusiasm. WHY IS THAT? As an armchair architect, I have always thought of the playing virtues of the last 130 yards of the ninth at Harbour Town. Replicate that as a 130 yard par three and you’d have a sterling one shotter with amazing elasticity in how it plays day to day.

The Interview ends on a somber note for David as he becomes aware that I turn 50 in a few months and that the jig will be up on the Champions Tour once I sort out a few minor details (like how to shave those last pesky 14 shots per round ). Until then, we wish him well!

Cheers,

[Mike Nuzzo]

Thank you Ran & David

David
Why do you say your prefer more variety when playing professional events - lengths of par 3s and approaches to par 4s?
Is it for more interest for you or to better test the range of the player or something else?

What injuries effect your play most - now and in the past?

Good luck for a fun and meaningful year
Cheers
Mike

[Jason Topp]

I had not heard that the Des Moines event was moving to Wakonda.  It will be interesting to see whether the television camera does justice to the scale of the place. 

[Jeff_Mingay]

You're a pretty cool dude for 50, Ran

[Nate Oxman]

I think Eger won the Hugh Wilson Invitational at Merion multiple times in the 90s. I wonder how he thinks the course will hold up against the big boys in June.

[Mac Plumart]

A person who sees little, knows nothing, and stays at home? I can give you Ted Sturges’s number if you really want it.


 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Ran,

Dave's comment about the lack of variety was interesting.

I suspect land restrictions and hi tech have contributed to the dilemma.

Dave has a perspective and experience that few can match, so it's always interesting to hear from him

[Michael Moore]

Ran -

Thanks for this realistic and slightly contrary interview. I do not feel that the sky is falling, and I believe that the only gains since the advent of the Pro V1 have been found in the fitness trailer and the yoga studio.

As a Mainer, I found this quotation to be right on the money - "Some courses seem to be nothing but short irons but then if weather is cool and wet, the opposite is true: middle and long irons mostly."

The tour driving statistics are measured on hot days on perfect fairways by guys who just got a massage and aren't burdened by a golf bag. I play at sea level on a course with poor drainage, and I take the hot weeks off. Don't roll me back. Roll Tide.

[Mike Sweeney]

Ran -

Thanks for this realistic and slightly contrary interview. I do not feel that the sky is falling, and I believe that the only gains since the advent of the Pro V1 have been found in the fitness trailer and the yoga studio.

Perhaps if you had a finish like David Eger, you might feel differently:

[Mike Hendren]

(like how to shave those last pesky 14 shots per round ).
Cheers,

Ran, congratulations on the apparently recent dramatic improvement in your game!

Bogey

[Patrick_Mucci]

Ran -

Thanks for this realistic and slightly contrary interview. I do not feel that the sky is falling, and I believe that the only gains since the advent of the Pro V1 have been found in the fitness trailer and the yoga studio.

As a Mainer, I found this quotation to be right on the money - "Some courses seem to be nothing but short irons but then if weather is cool and wet, the opposite is true: middle and long irons mostly."

Michael, if you haven't been watching on TV for a number of years, you should know that the "Tours" don't play in weather that's "cool and wet".  They follow the sun.
Hawaii, California, Arizona, Florida then further north for the summer.

The tour driving statistics are measured on hot days on perfect fairways by guys who just got a massage and aren't burdened by a golf bag. I play at sea level on a course with poor drainage, and I take the hot weeks off. Don't roll me back. Roll Tide.

"Hot weeks" in Maine ?
Are those the weeks before and after July 4th ?

[Bill_McBride]

Ran -

Thanks for this realistic and slightly contrary interview. I do not feel that the sky is falling, and I believe that the only gains since the advent of the Pro V1 have been found in the fitness trailer and the yoga studio.

As a Mainer, I found this quotation to be right on the money - "Some courses seem to be nothing but short irons but then if weather is cool and wet, the opposite is true: middle and long irons mostly."

Michael, if you haven't been watching on TV for a number of years, you should know that the "Tours" don't play in weather that's "cool and wet".  They follow the sun.
Hawaii, California, Arizona, Florida then further north for the summer.

The tour driving statistics are measured on hot days on perfect fairways by guys who just got a massage and aren't burdened by a golf bag. I play at sea level on a course with poor drainage, and I take the hot weeks off. Don't roll me back. Roll Tide.

"Hot weeks" in Maine ?
Are those the weeks before and after July 4th ?

Patrick, have you been to Pebble Beach in January?

[Mark Bourgeois]

I am sooo looking forward to reading this and glad to see his first interview is back on -- it disappeared for a while. 

The reason I am looking forward and happy is this Q&A was such a revelation to me:

16.How has your skill as a player helped you set up a course for the U.S. Open or a PGA Tour event?

There is a tendency for people who don’t play extremely well to over estimate the abilities of the TOUR players. TOUR players are very, very good but two things they have a difficult time overcoming are strong winds and gravity. By playing extremely well I mean hitting all types of shots comparable to the players in question. Someone possessing a single digit handicap who averages hitting 230 yard drives and takes 24 putts per round cannot identify with today’s TOUR player anymore than can a ten or 15 handicapper. Clearly playing comparable to them and playing the courses several times helped me understand the shot requirements. I never purposely set up any course, hole or shot that I was unable to play successfully myself. It amazed me during the 1991 Tour Championship that players would continually aim for flagsticks, ignoring the contour of greens, trying to get their ball close to the hole. Being a little off at the US Open or the big TOUR events (TPC, Memorial or Tour Championship) usually resulted in a missed green and a difficult recovery. I researched the architect’s design philosophy and blended it into the set up. Hole locations were never determined without considerable time putting when the greens were their fastest from all angles to make certain they were fair. Putts would usually be straighter than believed and easier than was the approach shot. I didn’t mind so much that a shot 20 feet from the hole was considered good. Frequently the 20 foot putt was easier to hole that way. I was forever trying to open up fairways so players would use drivers more.

[Tom Fagerli]

Fine interview. What type of TP Mills, Ran?