JDoyle’s comment attributed to George Bahto is right on the mark. There has been a tremendous amount of work done to the course and a true restoration in inconceivable. That being said, I never had a bad day in the 10+ years I worked on that course.
The 1957 R.T Jones plan implemented the following changes:
Current #1: lengthened to a par 5
Current #2: shortened to a par 4
Current #5: Elimination of the “Alps Hole” to create a sharp dogleg right, approach played over a small portion of the lagoon.
Current #6: Originally #14, the tee was moved north and the optional fairway, left of the fairway bunker, became obsolete and removed.
Current hole #7: was originally #15, slightly shortened and the tee moved closer to #6 green
Current hole #8: was originally #16, small greenside bunker added (note: additional changes made to the approach in 1988)
Current hole #9: was originally #17
Current #10: This is a “new hole.” The Baritz, par 3 was originally in the middle of this fairway. The hole, at one point, was lengthened by going up the hill and was recalculated to a par 4. The Baritz green was eliminated and the new #10 green was constructed west approximately 150 yards and tucked slightly behind the new lagoon expansion.
Current #11: The green is the original #13. The hole played in from the north (the current fairway nursery is a portion of the old fairway) with the tee being placed east of the old #5 green (currently the green nursery)
Current #12: Originally #12 “Raynor’s Prized Dogleg” This hole was shortened to accommodate the new 10th fairway as well as the new 17th green. The dogleg was strengthened and par was changed to 4.
Current #13: Originally #6 the green was moved south approximately 50 yards.
Current #14: Originally #7 the tee was moved slightly left and back.
Current #15: Originally #8
Current #16: Originally #9
Current #17: This is a “new hole” created to help the routing finish at the clubhouse.
Current #18: This is a “new hole”
Original greens no longer used:
#5 (now the green nursery), #6 (green eliminated for the new #13), #10 (abandoned), #11 (Baritz), #18
There were other minor alterations to the course before 1957, primarily the elimination of bunkers and movement of some tees.
All that being said, it is a wonderful golf course! No two days are the same out there; conditions change daily, depending on the wind direction. Superintendent Dave Koziol has done a fantastic job with Bruce Hepner’s master plan.
There is an overlay drawing of the Jones plan out there. Perhaps Dave Koziol could scan that and post on this site.
If you have the opportunity to play this course consider yourself fortunate.
Pat Sisk