Course improvements because of tournament play.

[Tommy Williamsen]

What courses have been improved because they have hosted a major or any PGA Tour event?

How have they been improved, architecturally, aesthetically, or in conditioning? Or were they just changed and not improved?
Bethpage Black?
Torrey pines?
TPC Sawgrass?
TPC Boston?
Pinehurst #2Were the changes made because of the tournaments or would clubs have made the changes anyway?For instance, was the renovation made at East Lake because it wanted to host a tournament, or would it have been renovated anyway because Tom Cousins wanted to resurrect an historically significant course?

[Ally Mcintosh]

They’ve almost all been changed. Every time The Open is announced at a venue, some architect or other is brought in to make it “relevant for modern play”.


Most of the changes are unnecessary. Many are very good. Some are disappointing.


Some would have happened anyway. But if the R&A weren’t agitating for change, then I think clubs would feel less pressure. This knocks on to all other courses that follow The Open venues’ lead.

[Tommy Williamsen]

They’ve almost all been changed. Every time The Open is announced at a venue, some architect or other is brought in to make it “relevant for modern play”.


Most of the changes are unnecessary. Many are very good. Some are disappointing.


Some would have happened anyway. But if the R&A weren’t agitating for change, then I think clubs would feel less pressure. This knocks on to all other courses that follow The Open venues’ lead.

Ally, do you have any specific courses that you feel are significantly better architecturally because they hosted a tournament?

[Michael Whitaker]

Tommy - this doesn't qualify based on your mention of hosting "majors" or PGA Tour events, but...
Furman University's course was greatly improved as a result of being part of the Web.com Tour's BMW Championship. The course received a lot of attention from the Tour's staff and (I assume) financial assistance with improvements and enhancements. For example:

1) Tremendous number of trees were removed opening playing corridors and improving sight lines.

2) Areas under pines trees with exposed roots were improved by grinding the roots and covering with pine straw.

3) The green on one par-three was rebuilt (expanded by 1/3 + two new bunkers), greatly improving the hole.

4) General conditioning was improved through guidance and assistance from the Tour staff.

Overall, Furman is a much better course for having hosted the BMW Championship. I am told it was a very positive experience for all concerned.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Not many in recent times, Tommy.


None of the readying a course for top professional play has actually provided extra architectural interest to our Open courses. Certainly they might be better in terms of presentation but hosting a championship tends to narrow the architectural possibilities.


Most all of the changes have been along the lines of tightening courses up, not providing more strategic interest.


Perhaps we could argue for Portrush as those two new holes would not have been built if they didn’t need old 17 & 18  for the tented village.

[Sean_A]

I haven't seen it, but Turnberry looks much improved on paper.

Ciao

[Duncan Cheslett]

I haven't seen it, but Turnberry looks much improved on paper.

Ciao

I'm not sure that's "because of tournament play."


Unless we're including in that definition a proprietor's desperate and narcissistic need to see his course included once again in the Open rota!   

[Matt_Cohn]

While many courses have narrowed their fairways to host tournaments, some have also added short grass around greens that was later kept. Olympic did that around 6 or so greens that I can think of, for example.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I will be interested to see how the latest renovation to Baltusrol Lower turns out.