Best Declaration of Augusta National's Architectural Demise By A Former Champion In A Leading Role

Seem so long ago that we got to see Golf Digest's Ron Whitten flip flop on Tom Fazio's Augusta modifications after the floodgates were opened by Jack and Arnie much talked about criticism.

But for my money, Ben Crenshaw wins for his more subtle attack on the changes, printed in the USA Today by Jerry Potter.

Ben Crenshaw, a two-time Masters champion, says the Augusta National that Jones built after winning the Grand Slam in 1930 was "revolutionary in American golf course design at that time."

"It was completely different architecture," says Crenshaw, a golf historian when he isn't designing courses or playing senior golf. "The course Jones wanted had as many options to play a hole as was necessary to keep any golfer's fascination."

Jones wanted a course that was a pleasure for a recreational player and a challenge for a skilled player. It wasn't too long, it wasn't too narrow and it had no rough. It did have undulating greens that placed a premium on the second shot at each hole.

"There was a safe way and a dangerous way to play each hole," Crenshaw says. "It set itself apart from other courses."

Comments

[Steven T.]

ANGC, pre Fazio/Hootie, was THE ultimate member's course AND Tournament course.

[CBell]

Geoff, Thank you for continuing to beat the drum on this. I'm wondering if it isn't time for some more creative protest, like those pie-in-the-face guys, something to get the attention of the Idiots-That-Be.

Alternatively, maybe The Golf Channel, which after all has nothing to lose from annoying ANGC, should produce a documentary featuring interviews from everyone on THE List. Or on a new, yet-to-be-created (pun alert!) AN List...

[Hawkeye]

"It's like a giant driving range, it's just bombs away on every hole" - T. Woods, after his 1997 Masters win.

Remember, Geoff, I just copy and paste this stuff...
Of course, ANGC have gone over board with some of the recent changes. But think about the above quote regarding the old Augusta National. It was ten years ago, and it was stated by a kid with a steel-shafted driver playing a wound balata ball. What would the state of Augusta be today, if club leadership hadn't done anything? A giant driving range was certainly not Bobby Jones' original intent...

[Hawkeye]

...but maybe instituting a tournament ball instead of growing forests and buying land on neighboring courses would have been a somewhat more sensible idea. Hindsight is good and easy, foresight is better but far more difficult.