Merion 2016

[Ben Stephens]

Merion 2016

Following Joe Bausch’s thread with the images of Merion in 1916 this is a fictional exercise for Merion in 2016 – assuming that a road tunnel is created at Ardmore Avenue lowering the road and building the golf course over it. This gives a chance to restore the 1916 layout but taking Merion into 21st century championship course standards.


Current


Proposed

The major changes are 1, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Assuming the shortening of hole 2 into a long par 4 and reverting to the hole sequence of 1916 – the course would be lengthened by 500 yards taking the course yardage to about 7200 yards par 70. The 13th is a new par 3 over a stream behind the clubhouse.

Tom Fazio did a proposal that the 12th to go to the 13th green and a new 13th like what I have just drawn. My 13th is based on the 1916 designs.

Enjoy this!

Cheers
Ben

[Dan Boerger]

Ben - That's very interesting stuff! Imagine the approach shot on #11 with a long (er) iron. Is 12 a 5 par? Also, you need to make sure the tunnel is large enough for the Tastykake trucks to get to Havertown and points west.

[Mike Sweeney]

Incredibly well done.  

Just curious if you have the driving distances on number #11 to get down the hill. If you don't have a flat lie, there is no way to hit that green.

Is #12 now a Par 5 ? What is the distance?

I also disagree with the concept of turning #2 into a Par 4. Who cares if a few players can hit the green in two? With OB up the right side, let's see them swing for the fences on the tee.

In the fantasy world and the above road is allowed to be closed, the biggest problem becomes getting into the clubhouse. I think you just blocked it off from civilization!! Many Merion members might like that.  

PS. I see you could place the driveway to the clubhouse between #12 and #13. Who has Haverford Township's Planning Committee email !!??

[Steve_ Shaffer]

What is the cost of the tunnel  and course reconstruction?  Would the members object to an assessment?

[Ben Stephens]

Ben - That's very interesting stuff! Imagine the approach shot on #11 with a long (er) iron. Is 12 a 5 par? Also, you need to make sure the tunnel is large enough for the Tastykake trucks to get to Havertown and points west.

Dan,

Yes 12 is a par 5 - 570 - 580 yards based on Google Earth path measurement. Anything is possible with tunnels or they could have a height limit and build a separate access road for trucks.

Cheers
Ben

[TEPaul]

I was over there the other day for the Baily Cup Matches and since I'm a smoker and consequently a fifth class citizen, I wandered out to the wall on the driveway over-looking the old 13th green. It looks to me like they have recently built something quite serious right on top of a portion of it.

[Ben Stephens]

Incredibly well done.  

Just curious if you have the driving distances on number #11 to get down the hill. If you don't have a flat lie, there is no way to hit that green.

Is #12 now a Par 5 ? What is the distance?

I also disagree with the concept of turning #2 into a Par 4. Who cares if a few players can hit the green in two? With OB up the right side, let's see them swing for the fences on the tee.

In the fantasy world and the above road is allowed to be closed, the biggest problem becomes getting into the clubhouse. I think you just blocked it off from civilization!! Many Merion members might like that.  

PS. I see you could place the driveway to the clubhouse between #12 and #13. Who has Haverford Township's Planning Committee email !!??

Thanks Mike,

The driveway remains where it is - there are two separate tunnels  north and south of the entrance driveway- probably helps to offset the costs of building a single long tunnel.

11 becomes a more tricky hole - we could make the green more accesible or make it a short risk/reward par 5.

2 is ideally a par 5 - but with the new fantasy 1st green it may have to be shortened.

Cheers
Ben

[Ben Stephens]

I was over there the other day for the Baily Cup Matches and since I'm a smoker and consequently a fifth class citizen, I wandered out to the wall on the driveway over-looking the old 13th green. It looks to me like they have recently built something quite serious right on top of a portion of it.

Are they building a new maintenance shed with a grass roof? If so maybe they have temporarily dumped the subsoil where the old 13th was.

[TEPaul]

"Are they building a new maintenance shed with a grass roof?"


Apparently. Whatever it was on top of a part of the old 13th green it looked like some structure to me but what do I know----at that point I may've been hallucinating.

[Rob Bice]

Very impressive.

Members might have to wear hard hats as they approach the first green.  Although maybe the trees off the 10th tee will protect the errant duck hook.

Looks like you could also possibly set the 11th green back a bit and, as you say, make it a shorter risk/reward par 5.

I hope Bernanke/Geithner are considering the fate of the 2016 US Open - this can't be cheap so we really need that economic recovery!!

[Rob Bice]

Very impressive.

Members might have to wear hard hats as they approach the first green.  Although maybe the trees off the 10th tee will protect the errant duck hook.

Looks like you could also possibly set the 11th green back a bit and, as you say, make it a shorter risk/reward par 5.

I hope Bernanke/Geithner are considering the fate of the 2016 US Open - this can't be cheap so we really need that economic recovery!!

Sorry, 2013 US Open...I guess we don't have enough time...

[Ben Stephens]

Rob,

Thanks for your comment

I have always thought Merion looks tight in between holes - so the gaps may be bigger than we think. We have golf courses in the UK where the holes run tighter than Merion (120 acres) - Sean Arble went to Edgbaston and 18 hole Colt course on 92 acres!!

Cheers
Ben

[D_Malley]

The old 11 green looks like it was in front of the creek at the end of the current fairway.
And the structure that sits on the site of the new 13 green is the caddy shack

[Michael Blake]

Merion's perfect as is.

[JESII]

Well let's take them one-by-one...is the first hole better as a long dogleg left from behind the clubhouse? Nope. I think we'll see plenty of birdies, but you just can't beat the starting point, and you do have to hit reasonably good shots to get that birdie...it's no guarantee. Current version 1 up.

#10 - The green on the new version would be the tie breaker, but the current version, if it could be set up to entice an inordinate number of attempts at the green is a really cool hole with potential for all sorts of disaster when you go at it with a driver or 3 wood...not so much with a wedge. Draw until the green on the new/old version is presented. Current version still 1 up.

#11 - If you can shorten the length so that it's about 290 to carry the left hand bunkers and move the fairway over there a bit it'll win, but as is, the current version wins. Current version 2 up, pending redesign.

#12 - New version. Will be required to get par 70, and would be a better par 5 than #2 because of the second shot...also balances the course a bit, which is less of a consideration but maybe a tie breaker. the short left approach bunker is a good mirror to the approach bunker on #5 when it's a bit firm. Since they are already redoing the green, why not the hole...Current version 1 up pending shortening of #11.

#13 - Current version hands down because for me, I can't make a friggin par so it must be good. Really is a cool looking hole with a cool setting right below the clubhouse...and I seriously cannot finish the hole, let alone make a par...Current version 2 up pending redesign of #11, which could result in a wash...

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks very much, gents. What an interesting exercise/set of photos. That second shot to 11 would probably force me to quit the game, squeaking mouse-like all the way back to the parking lot.

Peter

[JSlonis]

Well let's take them one-by-one...is the first hole better as a long dogleg left from behind the clubhouse? Nope. I think we'll see plenty of birdies, but you just can't beat the starting point, and you do have to hit reasonably good shots to get that birdie...it's no guarantee. Current version 1 up.

#10 - The green on the new version would be the tie breaker, but the current version, if it could be set up to entice an inordinate number of attempts at the green is a really cool hole with potential for all sorts of disaster when you go at it with a driver or 3 wood...not so much with a wedge. Draw until the green on the new/old version is presented. Current version still 1 up.

#11 - If you can shorten the length so that it's about 290 to carry the left hand bunkers and move the fairway over there a bit it'll win, but as is, the current version wins. Current version 2 up, pending redesign.

#12 - New version. Will be required to get par 70, and would be a better par 5 than #2 because of the second shot...also balances the course a bit, which is less of a consideration but maybe a tie breaker. the short left approach bunker is a good mirror to the approach bunker on #5 when it's a bit firm. Since they are already redoing the green, why not the hole...Current version 1 up pending shortening of #11.

#13 - Current version hands down because for me, I can't make a friggin par so it must be good. Really is a cool looking hole with a cool setting right below the clubhouse...and I seriously cannot finish the hole, let alone make a par...Current version 2 up pending redesign of #11, which could result in a wash...

Why the trouble with #13?

It's a gap wedge or a pitching wedge shot to a decent sized green.  I agree that a miss there can be really tough but on a course filled with really tough shots, I've always thought it was one of the easier holes on the course.

[Mike Cirba]

Did I hear correctly that flattening the green on #12 (and I assume #15?) is already fait accompli?   

[JESII]

I swear that green is the size of a top hat...and don't tell me any different...

Double Bogey - Bogey in the Philly Open a few years ago.

X against Mike in a team match last year...

Prior to that I did OK, but I'm a momentum guy and that hole has my number...

[JESII]

Did I hear correctly that flattening the green on #12 (and I assume #15?) is already fait accompli?   

Mike,

Maybe not, but my understanding is that it's a near certainty...I might have jumped the gun but I think they're using 6 distinct hole locations at 13 feet as the pass bar...and it doesn't have that...

[JSlonis]

Perhaps you can park your car off to the side of Ardmore Ave, bring your shagbag to the tee and hit til your phobia subsides.   Then again...maybe not.

[JESII]

How about in that Open I played #'s 1 and 13 six or seven over and the other 32 holes one or two over...

[Mike Cirba]

Mike,

Maybe not, but my understanding is that it's a near certainty...I might have jumped the gun but I think they're using 6 distinct hole locations at 13 feet as the pass bar...and it doesn't have that...

Six distinct hole locations...glad they have it down to a science.  

The irony is that on holes like 12 where only a short pitch is required, the defense of the green is about all the hole has left to counter the top professional at that level of play.

Thank God they don't play pro tournaments at Pine Valley....what would they do there?   Double the size of the 8th green??   

I'm going drinking.

[JSlonis]

How about in that Open I played #'s 1 and 13 six or seven over and the other 32 holes one or two over...

That's unbelievable.

I played so lousy that year on most holes that I dont really remember what I did.  Although, I always seem to play #13 quite well.

[JESII]

I made a 40 footer for 2 the first time I played it and have been paying back ever since...