Portrush Renovation Update: 2019 Open Seems More Secure

This week's YouTube upload depicting to captivating affect the Turnberry renovation plans got the Irish Golf Desk's Brian Keogh thinking about Royal Portrush's similar situation.

Keogh downloads and links to the 45.6 MB PDF by architects Mackenzie and Ebert, who have been charged with giving the course The Treatment finding two new holes while resolving what will happen to the Valley Course when those holes are created. And for anyone who has been to Royal Portrush, there has always been sadnessa bout what would happen to "Big Nellie," the 17th hole's larger-than-life fairway bunker.

He answers that question and more in analyzing the plans which should result in the R&A committing the 2019 Open to Portrush, as previously announced.

As for the two new holes, the downhill seventh will be a 572 yard par five, restoring the yardage lost with the elimination of the 17th, which features the much loved Big Nellie fairway bunker on the right.

Fear not, there will be a new Big Nellie on the new seventh for The Open, which will almost certainly be held in 2019 now that planning permission has been granted by the local authority.

“It is proposed that ‘Big Nellie’ from the existing 17th hole is recreated to the right of this new hole,” the architects explain. “It would fit in very well into the huge dune bank.”

The booklet is a must read for anyone interested in the evolution of a classic course and to see how much sand was exposed in the old days and how intimately-integrated golf and town once were.

State Of The Game Podcast 55: Another Magnificent Masters

Gil Capps, author of The Magnificent Masters and overseer of Golf Channel's Editorial Research Unit, joined us again to recap the Masters and talk about a few other matters with Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and myself.

Yes, we are a few weeks past the Masters but this is often the best time to reflect and I think you'll enjoy the discussion. Gil's book on the 1975 Masters is now available in paperback.

As usual, you can listen here, download the MP3 here, listen via iTunes or subscribe to the show there too. Or listen here:

EA Delays Rory Game To Open Championship Tuesday...

Does this mean Rory McIlroy will be prepping for The Open on the typically exhaustive EA ad creation and promotional circuit? Following his pre-Masters workout regimen to get ready for his workout shoots?

Anyway, Nick Menta with the latest on the eagerly anticipated follow up to the dormant Tiger Woods/PGA Tour edition, including the addition of Jordan Spieth to the game.

Details about the game have been slow to emerge but EA did confirm Masters champion Jordan Spieth as the game's second playable character earlier this week. Confirmed courses thus far include TPC Sawgrass, Wolf Creek and Royal Troon.

For gamers, Luke Kerr-Dineen adds this:

But Thursday proved a significant development. EA officially finalized its July 14th release date, and released a new trailer showing graphics and some actual gameplay features. There will be three different playing options, the hardest being the “tour” mode. In that setting, users won’t be able to zoom into the green, and they’ll use the analog stick to control the power of their shots.

Noted!

The trailer, which I suppose highlights just how beautiful Rory's swing is. Or how all of those sensors just can't quite capture the grace and athleticism of his move.