17 at Bay Hill

[Tommy Williamsen]

What think ye of the changes?

[Andrew Harvie]

The change seems extremely bland considering the "after" could be a hole anywhere, but I guess it makes it more difficult for the TOUR which was probably the objective.


Brad Faxon shared a photo of Bay Hill in 1962... it could use a restoration! I'm working on being able to embed social media posts here right now, which will hopefully make it easier to share posts here.

[Ryan Book]

I prefer the new version; the old bunker provided an airbag of sorts for those who choose to attack flags around the edge...maybe not necessarily for someone of my skill level but the sand wizards on Tour don't quite suffer for their sins of attacking near pins when that bunker is in place...they are almost as likely to end up with a par as someone who takes the traditional conservative route by playing to the back of the green.

(If you have the shot-tracking stats handy to tell I'm wrong, please do).

I'll be curious to see if the two remaining bunkers find more visitors this time around. 

[Kalen Braley]

I read an article yesterday, can't find it now, that said the primary motivator was maintenance when big storms came thru.

Left that beach bunker in a helluva state to get back to normal.

P.S.  I preferred the old look for its uniqueness even if the logistics were challenging.  In its current state looks like just another Florida green with water in close proximity.

[Jim Sherma]

Wow - the 1962 picture linked to above really shows how much the course has changed. It's at least as dramatic as TPC Sawgrass' evolution through the years. 

[Matt_Cohn]

Looks like a flip version of 16 green now. Also looks impossible if firm.

[Michael Felton]

From my recollection, that green is very shallow and firm and slopes away - it's also a very long shot that they're hitting into it and it's super hard to hold the green. If you want to hold it, especially Sunday, you have to land it pretty close to what used to be the bunker. I suspect that now there isn't that bunker there to save one that comes up a yard or two short, they'll play it more conservatively and it will be less exciting to watch.

[MCirba]

Ironic that they removed the "beach bunker" which was a favorite of the Arnie Palmer Design group and perhaps their architectural trademark.


The linked Dick Wilson course photo is certainly more compelling.

[Rob Marshall]

I like the look of the beach bunker. IF I remember correctly there are a few holes with bunker/waste areas running directly into a pond or marsh at Bulls Bay.

[archie_struthers]

 


Definitely tougher. I always liked the beachy bunkers although it can be a maintenance nightmare at times. The back left bunker is improved, though not dramatically. Not a whole lot of difference in the end

[Paul Jones]

I played it last year and was disappointed to see the beach bunker gone.  I was told by the member they did it inhouse and did not consult an architect as it was a maintenance budget issue.

[Edward Glidewell]

I like the look of the beach bunker. IF I remember correctly there are a few holes with bunker/waste areas running directly into a pond or marsh at Bulls Bay.

Bulls Bay definitely has at least one hole like that. I think True Blue does as well.

[Tim Martin]

I like the beach bunker and agree with Michael Felton that it’s elimination makes the hole less exciting.

[Stewart Abramson]

I like the look of the beach bunker. IF I remember correctly there are a few holes with bunker/waste areas running directly into a pond or marsh at Bulls Bay.

Bulls Bay definitely has at least one hole like that. I think True Blue does as well.

There are a couple at True Blue



True Blue #3 par 3 


True Blue #16 par 3

[Ben Hollerbach]

Aesthetically the previous version looks better, but I would not be surprised if the current version is better as a tournament golf hole.

[Michael Felton]

I like the look of the beach bunker. IF I remember correctly there are a few holes with bunker/waste areas running directly into a pond or marsh at Bulls Bay.

Bulls Bay definitely has at least one hole like that. I think True Blue does as well.

There are a couple at True Blue

There is one at Pine Valley too

[Ryan Book]

My premise may be flawed by faulty course setup...Michael Kim noted on Twitter that the rough is so thick on that front slope that balls that land near will likely not make it back to the water.

I prefer the new version; the old bunker provided an airbag of sorts for those who choose to attack flags around the edge...maybe not necessarily for someone of my skill level but the sand wizards on Tour don't quite suffer for their sins of attacking near pins when that bunker is in place...they are almost as likely to end up with a par as someone who takes the traditional conservative route by playing to the back of the green.

(If you have the shot-tracking stats handy to tell I'm wrong, please do).

I'll be curious to see if the two remaining bunkers find more visitors this time around.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I understand that the former hole was a maintenance issue. The bunker set it apart from dozens of other Florida holes.

[MCirba]

There is one at Pine Valley too

Hopefully they'll fix that before the 2044 Walker Cup.

[Matt Kardash]

I have not watched this tournament in many years, but I remember this hole being already borderline impossible when the hole was back right over the bunker. The green was firm and sloped away. So unless they really soften the green in a big way this hole likely went from borderline impossible to unplayable.

[Chris Hughes]

I much prefer the "before" version.

Noticed someone said it was done "in house"...would be curious to know who has that hammer in Arnold's absence?

[Tim Gavrich]

True Blue #16 par 3

The sand and water still meet on this hole at TB, but I miss the days when the sand on the right-front corner of the green went all the way up to an almost vertical face. I guess the grass face is meant to stabilize things but Strantz had it as sand nearly all the way up.


Texture is an important aspect of course design, IMO, and the change to 17 at Bay Hill takes away texture. I'm not a fan.

[Tommy Williamsen]

They moved the tee from 230 to 179. Made a huge difference. Does anyone know why they moved the tee?

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