[Mike Bowen]

If you were to build a course like Augusta National today that was designed to host a premier PGA Tour event every year for the rest of time, how long would you build it and how much room would you leave to add additional yardage?

I would build it at 7600 yards with room for an additional zero yards.  Seeing how Rory hits driver-wedge on 460 yard par 4's, I think you need multiple 500 yard par 4's to really force the best in the world to use long irons on holes other than par 3's and 5's. As for the additional yards, I don't believe the USGA will allow distance to make any great leaps forward if not a complete halt to future distance gains on tour.

[JESII]

If there are 4 or 5 par 3's or 5's that require a long iron into greens, why would you need par 4's to do that also?

[Mark Pavy]

I'd keep around 7000y. But I would design half the par 4s NOT to be mown/maintained between 280 and 330 from the tee apart from a 10ft wide walkway!

[Bill_McBride]

I'd keep around 7000y. But I would design half the par 4s NOT to be mown/maintained between 280 and 330 from the tee apart from a 10ft wide walkway!

That was the Euro defense of the par 5 17th at Valderrama.  Everybody hated it, very artificial. 

[Mark Pavy]

I'm sure they did Bill.  You're talking about a par 5, the holes where the Pro's eyes light up with a birdie opportunity. I'm talking Par 4's, what's the difference between having a lake in this range, which is very common, or "mulga"?

[Bill_McBride]

I'm sure they did Bill.  You're talking about a par 5, the holes where the Pro's eyes light up with a birdie opportunity. I'm talking Par 4's, what's the difference between having a lake in this range, which is very common, or "mulga"?

There's not that much difference between par 4s and par 5s on the Tour these days!

[jeffwarne]

I'd keep around 7000y. But I would design half the par 4s NOT to be mown/maintained between 280 and 330 from the tee apart from a 10ft wide walkway!

another misguided solution to avoid fixing the issue at hand (if one believes there is an issue)
Though I guess that's way to to get them to hit long irons (2 per hole in fact)
so everybody hits the second shot from the same place after hitting driver (if they're really Tour short) three wood,  hybrid, or long iron.

Mike,
What would make you think the "USGA" would not allow distance to make great leaps forward-or more to the point that they have anything to do with yardage gain.
All the substantial gains of the last 20 years have been within the rules-all while the USGA consistently stated the yardage gains each year were insignificant.
Well twenty years of insignificance added up to 30-40 more yards per player
The manufacturers are leaps and bounds ahead of them, to say nothing of additional gains through optimization, fitness, lightness, lower spin high loft etc.

[Jud_T]

I'd refuse to build it.  Life is too short.  Call the Donald...

[Josh Tarble]

It would be built like the Dye course at French Lick.  It can be stretched to 8000+ with a 300 yard par 3, a 700 yard par 5 and multiple 500+ par 4s.

[Mark Pavy]

So jeff, in your mind if it's a par 4 you should be able to hit driver off the tee? 

[Mark Fedeli]

Is it cheating to say I'd build it in the windiest possible spot and hold the event in the worst possible weather month?

[Mike Bowen]

Mike,
What would make you think the "USGA" would not allow distance to make great leaps forward-or more to the point that they have anything to do with yardage gain.
All the substantial gains of the last 20 years have been within the rules-all while the USGA consistently stated the yardage gains each year were insignificant.
Well twenty years of insignificance added up to 30-40 more yards per player
The manufacturers are leaps and bounds ahead of them, to say nothing of additional gains through optimization, fitness, lightness, lower spin high loft etc.

Although the previous distance advancements have all been within the regulations, there were regulations added during that time.  COR and volume come to mind immediately.  I think the USGA is more conscious now and may be quicker to react in the future.

The current Augusta National may have something to say when the next great distance advancement comes along.  I'm not talking minor tweaking.  I mean more serious advancements like graphite shafts, 460cc heads, launch monitors, and white paint jobs. 

[jeffwarne]

So jeff, in your mind if it's a par 4 you should be able to hit driver off the tee? 

Of course not, but why solve an equipment issue by forcing all players to same place off the tee.
If Im building Augusta National I'd sure want to find out who can hit driver to their advantage

[Garland Bayley]

I would just take them to Old MacDonald and require they use a limited distance ball.

[Mike Hendren]

If you were to build a course like Augusta National today that was designed to host a premier PGA Tour event every year for the rest of time...

As highly as I regard some of today's best architects, arguably there's no one alive that could pull it off.  In my opinion that's how good Augusta National Golf Club was - and that's how good it is.  Off the top of my head The Old Course is the only other course that meets your criteria. 

It's open season boys and girls - take your shots.

Bogey

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