Phil the Author,
With respect to Jamie Duffner's comments, I would take issue with tampering with the greens.
While it sounds great on paper, you may change the playing and putting characteristics of those greens if you recontoured and rebuilt them, and that may cause unacceptable inconsistency yo those surfaces for either a major or daily play.
I did like the concept of extending the 2nd green around behind the bunker, but would have to look at the land again.
I believe there is significant fall off that would have to be filled, and that might affect the look of the left greenside bunker, which fits into the slope of that green pretty nicely.
Isn't the challenge of that hole the lie in the fairway, and the golfers ability to drive the ball around the dogleg, hugging the more dangerous left side ? A side hill, uphill lie does present its challenges early in the round.
From a playability point of view, three of the par 3's all play at about 207. While one is level, one downhill and the other uphill, I found that disturbing. The idea of someone making
# 14 into a 200 yard par 3, I find disturbing as well.
I did like the falloff of the rear portion of the green at # 3, and perhaps that feature at # 14, coupled with a deep rear bunker would make that hole a little more demanding.
While the offset trees are majestic at BPB, I might be tempted to clear the trees around the 14th hole in order bring the wind, more into play.
On # 10 I hit a good drive and was about 6-8 yards short of the fairway. But, I played on a day after it had rained, with no roll. The pros are 30-50+ yards longer than me so it seemed reachable under all but the worst conditions. On the other hand, the comment that the bunkers were out of play seems accurate, If the tee were moved up, I'd be curious to see if these guys would hit three wood off the tee to keep them out of play.
I don't think that the course needs much in the way of changes, perhaps a fairway bunker or two at # 1.
From the back tee, what is the carry over the fairway bunker at # 12, left, right and center ? That may answer the question. If the pros do carry it over the left side, they'll be in the rough. I like the idea of widening the right side of the fairway, it also makes the next shot longer, if you take the safer route.
I still don't understand how # 18 can be lengthened.
Lastly, everybody is complaining about # 18, who designed it that way in the first place ? What's so bad about it, as is ?
Holes # 13, 15 and 16 have no fairway bunkering off the tee, so perhaps extending the fairway bunkering back toward the tee might place errant irons in jeopardy, causing the players to have more to think about.
I like the hole, but these guys are good.