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Jay Flemma

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Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« on: February 14, 2013, 09:28:47 AM »
A PGA rep told me today that there won;t be any major changes on tap for the PGA, and that day to day things will be handled by Oak Hill's Jeff Corcoran.  Any news from any one else?
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Dan Herrmann

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Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2013, 09:31:50 AM »
I wish they'd cut down some trees.

Michael Wharton-Palmer

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Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2013, 10:15:54 AM »
I think they have built a new green on number15, I think it is the par three?

Ed Homsey

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Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2013, 11:09:12 AM »
Tom Marzolf, Senior Design Associate with Fazio Design, oversaw reconstruction of the part 3 6th green.  Increased pin positions by removing back-left shelf, expanding green to the left and, essentially leveling the entire green.  I do not know details of changes made to the par-3 15th.   

Michael Wharton-Palmer

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Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2013, 02:51:59 PM »
When I was there for the Williams two years ago, I thought somebody told me they were redoing the entire hole,I may be wrong.

Matthew Rose

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Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2013, 03:53:50 PM »
I have read that when the original 5th got deleted, a lot of people were upset.

One thing I've noticed though when looking at overheads is that it appears to be still maintained. Do they ever put it in play?
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Kevin Lynch

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Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2013, 06:24:39 PM »
Paging JNC Lyon.....

Any mention of the 15th hole is sure to elicit a spirited response from young JNC.  Sending him a text now.

JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Not many changes coming at all for Oak Hill?
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2013, 09:31:31 PM »
Gents,

5, 6 and 15 greens, all Fazio greens, were altered two years ago.  5 was completely re-contoured, and a chipping area was added short-right of the green.  A large "wrinkle" in the left side of the 6th green was flattened.  15 was completely rebuilt, with a new green, new bunkers to the left of the green, and a new stone wall holding up the green from the pond.  Other changes were proposed, such as softening the 2nd and 13th greens, but these were nixed by the membership.  There is mixed speculation about whether these changes were for the PGA Championship or for everyday membership play.

Overall, though the course has not changed much over the past few years, and 5, 6 and 15 are still very much the same holes.  In my (unsolicited) opinion, these holes need to be rebuilt by another architect.  15's green gradually sinks into the pond and has to be rebuilt once every ten years or so.  Moreover, 15 is all but unplayable for anyone worse than scratch.  5 and 6 are not much better.  And, of course, Oak Hill needs to take out more trees.  I think Philly Cricket would serve as a great model for that project.

That being said, expect the course to be phenomenal condition for the PGA.  Jeff Corcoran does a great job with the turf maintenance, especially when it comes to the greens.

Matthew:
Yes, what you call "the original 5th hole" is still maintained as a practice hole.  It's a great place to spend a few hours working on your short game shots.  However, this par three is actually not original at all.  The original configuration had 5 playing in the current corridor for the 5th hole, run north to south.  The original 6th was a short, bunker-ringed par three, playing southeast to northwest to a green located near the current 9th tee.  They abandoned this hole (although left the green for awhile) before the 1968 U.S. Open, replacing it with the new par three that currently serves as a practice hole.  The original 5th then became the 6th for that tournament.  All of these holes were abandoned and/or destroyed when the Fazios re-did the course in the 1970s.  That practice hole (nicknamed "The Short Stop," which I always liked) is occasionally used as a sub when another hole is closed for maintenance.
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas