Improved courses for tournaments?

[KBanks]

What are some examples of courses that have been improved in order to serve as the site of a professional tournament?

We can all cite to opposing examples.

Are there any unqualified success stories out there? The work to ready Brookline for the 1988 US Open is often cited as an example.

British Open rota venues don't seem to undergo much more than occasional lengthening. TOC seems to remain a vibrant test for Tiger with the mere addition of new "Tiger" tees.

Or, does the desire to host the modern tour pro necessarily result in a Faustian bargain for a classic venue?

Ken

[Phil_the_Author]

The Black.

[John Kavanaugh]

Torrey Pines South was much improved with the recent work.

[wsmorrison]

Philadelphia Country Club was significantly redone and improved for the 1939 US Open.  It probably was not the first, but it had to be one of the earlier makeovers for a major championship.

[John Kavanaugh]

Philadelphia Country Club was significantly redone and improved for the 1939 US Open.  It probably was not the first, but it had to be one of the earlier makeovers for a major championship.

Holy don't have a clue Batman....Baltusrol debuted the Tillinghast renovations of the Lower Course at the 1926 US AM and the Upper Course at the 1936 US Open.  This was after hosting 5 majors before Tillinghast ever set foot on the property.

[wsmorrison]

John,

Surprisingly, a little clarification is in order here.  

The alterations made to Philadelphia Country Club were done in response to the US Open being awarded to the Club.  The entire golf course wasn't redesigned nor was it rerouted.  Some individual holes were altered and tees were lengthened to stiffen the course for the touring pros.  The par for the tournament was changed from 71 to 69 as well.  Philadelphia Country Club wasn't completely obliterated and started anew as at Baltusrol.  The redesign and expansion to 36 holes at Baltusrol in the manner in which Tillinghast designed and built had nothing to do with alterations to an existing golf course specifically for an upcoming major tournament.

[John Kavanaugh]

Wayne,

A solid portion of at least 14 holes that were a part of the old course that hosted the 1915 US Open are now a part of either the Upper or Lower course.  I may be alone but I will call the work Tillinghast did at Bultusrol a renovation.  If you do not own the 100 year history book please IM me your address and I will send you out a copy.  Someday I might even fly out to pick it back up and in the mean time it will save me a ton of typing.

Please note that this is not a quid-pro-quo access request but more likely just another upswing in my meds.

[John Kavanaugh]

For anyone who cares there are two copies of the Baltusrol book for sale on ebay.  I believe it is the finest golf history ever written.  The link: http://tinyurl.com/2s4s4z

[wsmorrison]

John,

If 14 holes from the 1915 course are found among the current Upper and Lower courses at Baltusrol, I am mistaken in its history.  Still, the work was not done in response to an Open being awarded and thus would not represent the first case of Open doctoring.  However, it is news to me that Tillinghast incorporated so much of the original holes in his designs.  

While I am not a fan of the Lower course, I did enjoy the Upper quite a bit.  I would be interested in borrowing the history book.  I can mail it back to you or you are welcome to pick up the book on a golf visit.  I don't worry about access requests.  Who do you think I am, Tom Paul?  I don't got no stinkin' access...outside of my home course that is.