Smiley Face Bunkers - 17th hole? Open Championship

[JR Potts]

Anyone know whether the bunkers surrounding the green on  the 17th hole are intentionally shaped to look like a smiley face?  If so, is there a story behind it?

[Ed Brzezowski]

I thought they looked like frowns, guess it's a matter of perspective?

[JR Potts]

My glass is always half full.  

[Joe_Tucholski]

I think right greenside of 17 is the set the really looks like a smiley face.

I always enjoy hearing my wife’s comments.  She saw the bunkers and said what were they thinking with the smiley face.  I agreed it looks ridiculous.

[Wade Whitehead]

My daughter said "Look!  An emoticon!"

WW

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Its clearly a smiling face. where are the UK guys to explain when the traps were put in that way.

[Duncan Cheslett]

I don't know when they were put in that way, but it is some time ago. This is the Google Earth shot from 2000 - the earliest available.

[Matt_Cohn]

Olympic has a great smiley face long-left of the 2nd green.

[Pete_Pittock]

Played RL&SA in June 2000 and have a Strokesaver from the round.The shape of the larger bunker is slightly different, slim in he middle and round at both ends. If it is accurate they added width to the middle of the outisde face