Clayton On Masters

Mike Clayton, previewing the Masters:

There have been critics of the changes, most notably Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and the objections have centred on the use of great length, narrow fairways and trees in an attempt to maintain the relevance of the course in the face of the debacle of modern technology.

Jones might have been particularly upset by the use of trees to reign in the long bombers of the modern game. 'I see no need for a tree on a golf course' was one of his famous utterances.

The equipment rules were designed to stop exactly what has happened but the minds of the scientific geniuses employed by the equipment companies have run rings around the moribund bureaucrats at the USGA and the R and A who are seemingly still in a case of denial.

Augusta is fortunate to have enough room to be continually moving tees back but our best courses like at Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath have no such luxury and they are in desperate need of preservation by way of a new ball for professionals.

He goes on to look at the struggles of Australian players in the majors and considers possible contenders.

Comments

[RM]

It's the tree plantings that are the most troubling, and really just plain crazy. Changes to Augusta- tees, bunkers, etc.- always blend in perfectly, but these new trees just do not belong. They don't look right and feel out of place, not to mention they just make the holes claustrophobic, contrary to the strategy and charm of the course. They could always just cut them down, but I have a feeling Hootie would never let his pride take such a hit.