Which classic era courses have held up best to the modern equipment and ball?...

[Mike Schott]

Without adding much if any length or being redesigned? And what qualities do they possess that allow for this? I apologize if this has been addressed which it probably has. I suspect Pine Valley is in this discussion and Augusta National is not.

[Cliff Hamm]

Do not have the resume of many others.  But Shinnecock Hills comes to mind immediately.

[Mark Pritchett]

Peachtree

[David_Tepper]

Riviera and Colonial have held up pretty well as PGA Tour courses. One thing they have in common is smallish greens.

[Jonathan Mallard]

Crystal Downs

[Gene Greco]

Pebble Beach

[Jason Way]

It depends on what you mean by "held up best".  Does that mean that they have retained their level of interest and enjoyment for their members and guests?  Or are you referring specifically to PGA tournament venues and resistance to scoring?

[Mark McKeever]

Merion proved it  with the US Open in 2013.

I hope Wissahickon can prove it this summer for the PGA National Championship!   

[Mark Pearce]

Merion proved it  with the US Open in 2013.

Did it?  Or did the narrowed fairways and knee deep rough prove otherwise?

[Dan Boerger]

Aronimink held up very well for the two years it hosted the AT&T National ... and without amping up the green speeds or with crazy pin positions.

[Mark Steffey]

Merion proved it  with the US Open in 2013.

I hope Wissahickon can prove it this summer for the PGA National Championship!   

didn't merion add ~450 yds (6500 to 6950)?

[D_Malley]

Aronimink held up very well for the two years it hosted the AT&T National ... and without amping up the green speeds or with crazy pin positions.

What they did at Aronimink was slow down the greens and use pin placements that the members have never seen.

[Dan Boerger]

Good point Dave.

But they did not narrow any fairways, overly lengthen holes (save, perhaps, for #9). And I seem to recall it was 3rd or 4th in resistance to scoring those particular years on the tour. Pretty stout for a course "mostly" untouched (OK, touched and then restored) from Mr. Ross' design.

[Mark McKeever]

How long was Aronimink when Ross built it?  No way it's anywhere near the length it stretches to today.

Mark

[Dan Boerger]

Mark - I will check when I get home this evening, but I think 6,613 yds (give or take!). So, yes, it has been lengthened over time ... but long then and still for a par 70.

[Josh Tarble]

Aronimink held up very well for the two years it hosted the AT&T National ... and without amping up the green speeds or with crazy pin positions.

What they did at Aronimink was slow down the greens and use pin placements that the members have never seen.

Is that true?  That seems like the best method for "protecting" a course I've heard.  More should be made of this imo.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Without adding much if any length or being redesigned? And what qualities do they possess that allow for this? I apologize if this has been addressed which it probably has. I suspect Pine Valley is in this discussion and Augusta National is not.

Mike,

The real answer is that none of them have held up.

They've all had to be modified.

The most common modification has been added length, but, a few have had to soften their greens to accomodate higher speeds.

With the added length, Winged Foot West and Shinnecock seem to have provided a more than adequate challenge.

[Mark_Fine]

All the ones that have been carefully restored and/or rennovated 

[Mike Schott]

Without adding much if any length or being redesigned? And what qualities do they possess that allow for this? I apologize if this has been addressed which it probably has. I suspect Pine Valley is in this discussion and Augusta National is not.

Mike,

The real answer is that none of them have held up.

They've all had to be modified.

The most common modification has been added length, but, a few have had to soften their greens to accomodate higher speeds.

With the added length, Winged Foot West and Shinnecock seem to have provided a more than adequate challenge.

Thanks Pat. That's why I added the "best" qualifier. What design details about WFW and Shinnecock put them above most other courses in this regard?

[Sam Krume]

I think The Addington has maybe stood the test of time. I don't believe that many holes have been lengthened from what Abercromby originally layer out and it is still a great test.