... or a U.S. Amateur Doctor?

Because if you are contesting an event at match play, you don't need one.  When you think about it in a head-to-head context, any course is fine for match play, and it doesn't matter much if any particular hole is twenty yards longer or shorter.

In other words, all these "championship remodelings" occur EXCLUSIVELY because of the winning score total.

Paul,

Merriam defines Professional thus;

 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs,(a professional golfer)

The British PGA look upon this tournament as their Holy Grail and woebetide any purist among their members who would suggest that they remove their lipstick and rouge and return the game to its roots.

It is all about the money....and don't you forget it.

Bob

Paul,

Merriam defines Professional thus;

 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs,(a professional golfer)

The British PGA look upon this tournament as their Holy Grail and woebetide any purist among their members who would suggest that they remove their lipstick and rouge and return the game to its roots.

It is all about the money....and don't you forget it.

Bob

unfortunately you are absolutely correct Bob

it just is so wrong....perhaps the game's greatest event played multiple times at ....The Belfry?!?!? ...that course doesn't even get close to the top tier of courses, much less be in the top tier

the almighty dollar rules again, unfortunately

just imagine how great it would be to see them playing at Ballybunion, or Royal COunty Down, etc., etc., etc...........

The US Am does have a stroke play component (36 hole qualifying rounds), hence there has been some "doctoring" going on.  Witness the modest hole lengthening at Olympic for next year's event.

It might be noted, at this juncture, that most 'Golden Age' courses, if they were designed for anything, it was matchplay. Strokeplay didn't become the dominant format until?? When was it?? Could there be a correlation between the ascent of strokeplay and the descent of design aesthetics??

To answer the original question, there is no "Doctor" because there is no illness!  Come on, guys--try to name an uninteresting Ryder Cup.  You could play it on a potato field (e.g. the Belfry, PGA National, etc.) and it would be riveting.

Come to think of it, great architecture is really only revealed when one has a card and pencil in ones hand..........

Tom D is right.

Corporations sometimes hire CFO's who know how to "manage" earnings.

Likewise, the USGA hires architects for their ability to "manage" winning scores.

Design talent - traditionally understood - has almost nothing to do with the choice.

Bob

Bob Crosby, I like that "manage" usage.  I was thinking "massage" applies to both financials designed to suppress losses and hide expeditures and perks as does doctoring championship venues to suppress scoring and hide quirky or interesting architecture, as well.

The goniff's approach to GCA and CFO's, indeed.

Bob,

What about East Lake & Ryder Cup 1963 ?  Seem to recall some early doctors were called in for work at East Lake.  As early as 1963,  US courses were doctored for Ryder Cup.

Can anyone speak as to changes at the Belfry (1989, 1993, 1997, 2002 ) ?   Cannot imagine that they just mowed the grass and teed it up.

Valhalla is presently undergoing revisions by Nicklaus to host 2008 Ryder Cup.  I will let 'those in the know' speak as to the extend of the revisions.

Gleneagles Centennial is being re-worked for '14 Ryder Cup.

There isn't the two or three favored doctors as for US Open at US venues,  but the courses on each side of the pond have been doctored for the Ryder Cup even though it is match play.

From Celtic Manor website,  and it is implied (not stated) in my opinion, that the following course work is planned for the Cup.

"  What changes are planned for the course and other parts of the resort?     Holes 5-12 remain, 7 new holes are being built and holes 3 & 13 are being modified. A new clubhouse will also be developed. The new holes will possibly be completed by Spring 2006. "

Looks like some major reworking at that parkland venue.

How about a modern, complete redo for a Ryder Cup ?

From George Bahto, The Evangelist of Golf,  

"  In 1977 Jack Nicklaus was brought in to strengthen the #3 course in anticipation of the Ryder Cup Matches. An entirely new course, longer and less forgiving emerged - sadly eliminating Raynor's original work.  The new Greenbriar impressed the PGA however, who selected it to host the Ryder Cup matches in 1979. "

How about them apples for a match play event ?   The doctor couldn't or didn't save the patient in this case.

And the result was not unlike many of the current redos... not the greatest. Some fun holes on the course but overall not inspiring.

Aren't most US Am sites doctored in preperation for future US Opens? I know that Oakmont and Merion had work done for the Am that was really prep for the US open.

While I am not doubting that you are accurate re:  Merion - isn't it a little early to do doctoring for a tournament that is almost a decade in the future, at least at the time that work was done in prep for the 2005 Am?

Quote from: Rich Goodale on August 18, 2006, 01:55:59 PM

Come to think of it, great architecture is really only revealed when one has a card and pencil in ones hand..........

I can't believe you lot are giving Rihc a pass on this little gem of rubbish.  Wake up out there!

Ciao

Sean

He say irony
I am prepared to pass
but not on haiku