Darwin's Portrush quote on Colt building himself a monument "more enduring than brass" is rapidly becoming a sad joke. I guess because the new holes (7 and 8 ) aren't long enough to replace 17 and 18 we lose another Colt green...
New Green on Dunluce 2nd!!
Where the hell is that going to go? Up on the ridge or to the left and farther on? If the new green site is to the left, I hope the club at least considers keeping the original green for regular play. Pine Valley has two holes with dual greens 8 and 9 so it's one way of preserving the original too.
Dunluce 5th was one of the great holes without a bunker, why does everything have to conform? How many bunkerless holes left on rota? 8 and 14 Dunluce, 1 and 18 TOC, 1 (3) Hoylake.
The article doesn't agree with what Jamie posted, they have the current 17 and 18 Dunluce becoming 1 and 2 on Valley. With Valley losing only 2 original holes.
Or why not keep the original Dunluce routing for regular play and have the two new Ebert holes in play for the Valley (as 5th and 6th) and only switch for the Open.
But Jaime has
4 lost Valley holes (5,6, 17 and 18). Why are they changing the Valley so much when it's not necessary for the Open changes and the current finish is an excellent stretch.
Many practicing architects are so not sanguine about changes to their own courses....but have no problem digging up classics for any kind of reason.
Changes have definitely been accelerated in past decade or so.