RMD,
Thanks for the great photos.
The Creek is one of my favorite golf courses.
I think the reeds have compromised the hole, visually and tactically. Normally, I might not object to the visual blocking by the reeds, however, with water right next to the left side, rear and right of the green, the view of the green from balls driven in the fairway can be obscured, hence, I'd get rid of them.
As recently as 1998 that area was mostly sand, however the reeds were beging to encroach, especially near the banks of the waterways. Likewise, the area to the right of # 14 was mostly sand. So, it's within the last 10 or more years that the reeds were allowed to grow without restraint.
Perhaps environmental restrictions prevented their eradication.
Let's ask TEPaul when he returns from visiting my relatives
George Holland was kind enough to give me an old aerial photo that shows that area as sand. And better yet, every thing left of the fairway, almost to the green is sand.
It also looks like the entire 10th green is surrounded by sand.
The 17th is completely surrounded in sand as well.
The more trees that come down, the more the wind will come into play.
The Creek is a wonderful golf course and the facilities at The Creek are all-world.