Pebble Beach Changes

Ken Ottmar has the gory details of Pebble Beach's latest renovation. Five fairway bunkers (!?!?!?!) have been added on the left of #15 including a nasty pot bunker near the fairway. The two greenside bunkers have been expanded and three trees on the right side adjacent to the green will be planted. And it will still be a driveable par-4 during the 2010 U.S. Open!

"We have to respond to the advances in technology or we risk becoming obsolete," Pebble Beach head pro Chuck Dunbar said. "But we do so with the idea of maintaining the integrity of the original design. At some point, every course will run out of room. So what we are left to respond with is ways that tighten the holes, either by adding hazards or adding more rough."

Remember the good old days when U.S. Open courses would not acknowledge that they were making changes to address technology, just to not embarrass the USGA? Ah those were the good old days when the distance problem seemed like it might go away.

***Update: News that the First Tee Open would be moving to Del Monte for the first two rounds gave Craig Stadler a chance to vent.

Stadler, 52, was characteristically blunt about the continuing tussle between technology and course design. He bemoaned the changes at Augusta National, in part because they make it all but impossible for him to remain competitive in the Masters. Stadler, the 1982 champion, has a lifetime exemption.

He also understands something must be done, given the impact of new clubs and new golf balls. Stadler told of hitting a 5-iron into No. 11 in the final round of this year's Masters -- and then watching Woods use a wedge on the same hole later that day.

"The USGA keeps saying they're going to limit the ball, they keep doing studies and then they don't make limits or propose anything," Stadler said. ".. . Fifteen years ago, you didn't think you'd ever finish a 7,400-yard course. Now that's very playable (for PGA Tour pros)."