This has been discussed countless times before.
The answer always has been no, is now no, ever shall be no.
The photoshop alone decides it for those with no imagination.
With the trees it is one of the world's most unique golf holes, requiring thought and execution.
And by the way Bill, you obviously haven't been reading the 15 other threads about this hole - I have trumpeted that play right of the trees for years - risky shorter shot, very very unique. Now bombing it all the way PAST the trees on the right, that's a play that just became real recently. That's a game with which we all ought to be unfamiliar.
Sean - jeez I should have used photoshop the last 10 times we talked about this... I tried EVERYTHING to get you to understand how the trees dictate the play - as Mark just said. But they do. Without them then hell why bother hugging the right? The angle is no better.... in fact it might be worse. It does shorten the hole a little but who cares? It's not that long to begin with. No, sans trees it's just a mindless blast to the left, only thought being don't go right. I simply can't see this as being better. Those who can play a different game than I do... don't want to have to be made to think, I guess.
Without it it becomes like oh so many others derided on Pete Dye courses (cape-ish with diagonal water hazard). Oh it's prettier than those, but that's it.
I'm quite surprised you ask this, Pat. Because I guess I can see that for the Tiger Woods's of the world, removing the trees does give them a very tempting play, just left of the green.. that is does allow them to bomb away. But the percentage of golfers for whom that is a real play - trying to drive the green, or the very left side anyway - has to still be very very tiny, no? So do you really want to ruin the golf hole for the vast majority just so that today's bombers have some temptation? Aren't there plenty of holes already where they can do this... and precious few where they are made to think more, throttle back?
I don't get it. Save yourself by saying "I was just asking the question."
In any case, if you want to change something on this hole, remove the bunkers behind the green, make it a skyline/sea-line greensite. That too has been proposed countless times before.
TH