Not that anyone really cares, but I was stunned the last few years to see the 11th fairway at Augusta National significantly shifted left. Anyone who's studied the strategy of the hole understands that the object for so many years was to drive down the right side in order to open up the green. Left side of the fairway was always a terribly difficult spot to approach from.

Funny, I recall seeing Tiger in that right rough a few times. I wouldn't be surprised if he smartly drove drive that right side, regardless of the rough, for the reason stated above.

Now I hear 36 trees have been planted inside the previous tree line down the right side of the 11th, and thus the only option for this year's Masters will be to drive down the left side of the hole and consequently face an approach over the pond from a terribly difficult angle.

Don't know exactly where I'm going with this thread, but I'm sure Bobby Jones and Dr. Mackenzie would be thrilled that tee shot options at 11 have been completely eliminated as of this year's Masters. At least when the right side was open rough golfers still had the option to drive into that position.

Where is golf headed?  

I have been among the few supporters of Augusta National Golf Club on this site.  As I sat in the barber's chair last week and looked at the photo of the cluster of trees at the 11th,  I WAS APPALLED

Mike

A graphic illustrating the position and quantity of new trees appears in the latest Golf Digest (with Jack on the cover).  It really is astonishing.  An entire area of the hole would appear (based on my review of the graphic) to have been taken out of play.  Regarding trees on courses, AN appears to be going in a different direction than other courses of note.

Adam,

With the exception of the planting of trees, I don't have much problem with the changes at Augusta.  The rough is silly, but likely gone by the Tuesday following the tournement.  Rough is somewhat of a misnomer as from my experience it looks and plays more like the greens I grew up on when they hadn't been mowed in a couple of days!  

I have said before that there's nothing wrong with this golf course that a couple of hours on the mower and a weekend with a chain and bumper hitch wouldn't remedy.  I'll stand by that.  

Everyone seems to miss that the greatest change in the course was from bermuda to bent on the greens.  

Mike

Jeff M:

The question isn't "where is golf headed" but where is Augusta National headed?

The "new" trees on the 11th are simply out of place with what Augusta was originally intended. Simply, Hootie got upset with the fact that a few guys had hit PW into the 11th and simply altered the hole with a slightly shifted tee and the trees that are now on the right side.

I mean if you look at the scoring average at the 11th over the years it has routinely finished among the top 3-4 holes at the course. Where was it weak before that required such a major change?

I used to be psyched to see the Masters each year ... I'm still going to watch but it will be with far less anticipation than in years past.  

Jeff,

If you recall, MacKenzie originally positioned a bunker in the center of this fairway which forced golfers to the periphery. Today, the perimeter is smothered with pines forcing golfers to the center (just the opposite).