By Design - Winter 2015

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of the Open Championship rota
courses still pose a challenge, even to
the best players, and thus, they define
their playing strategy around them, as
was the case with Tiger Woods during
his two Open wins at St Andrews, in
which he executed his game in such a
way as to avoid the bunkers above all.
“The bunker game of today’s tour
professional is so proficient that
normal sand hazards don’t typically
affect them, especially given the level
of preparation of sand bunkers and
the quality of the sand today—but
water does,” says Jones, “That’s why
Augusta is so challenging, because
of the water on the back nine.” This,
Jones points out, is another area where
the needs of the professionals and the
average golfer may clash; everyday
players may enjoy the visual appeal of
water-laden courses (and the challenge
of taking on a water hazard) but they
are also paying for their own golf balls,
and losing ball after ball to water can
get old fast.
Even among championship
organizers, there are different mindsets
about what constitutes an appropriate
test. Week after week Tour courses
are typically set up to allow players to
shoot at pins and make birdies, often
for excitement value. Traditionally,
the PGA and the USGA prefer a more
severe examination.
Jones says even those organizations
have realized that targeting a winning
score close to par is a futile exercise.
“I think we’ve gotten away from the
par mindset,” Jones said. “We can’t
control it. If we get rain before the
event, the greens are like targets,
and the players will score low. You
want the best players to prevail. I
think we’re going to see a lot more
double-digit, under-par scores
winning majors, and I don’t think the
USGA, the PGA or the R&A are really
concerned about that. The priority is
to test the player’s ability with every
shot in golf. The pros don’t have to hit
long approach shots much anymore,
and that’s a pity—throughout the
game’s history the approach shot
with a wood or a long iron to a well-
protected green has been regarded as
the supreme test for the best players.
So that’s why par fives which the
pros will almost always seek to reach
in two, or even drivable par fours,
have become increasingly important
in today’s championship golf.
Converting par fives into long par
fours is something which the USGA
and the PGA have done quite often,
and so, as long as you don’t overdo
it, I think it’s a good idea. We want
the players to have to hit every club
in the bag, not just a parade of drivers
and very short irons, and really, that
is one of a few ways in which we can
accomplish that strategy.”
In closing, Jones reminds us his
prescription for design success also
includes a sense of balance. “The
balance of a course is important
too,” he said. “Today, we typically
have four-to-six really good birdie
opportunities, six swing holes and six
really challenging holes, where a par
is a great score. We are looking for
balance, for holes that give the very
best players a good chance to gain an
advantage over the rest of the field. In
order for a championship course to
be compelling, it will always include a
variety of captivating holes.”•
ASGCA Past President Rees Jones,
ASGCA Fellow
Rees Jones established his golf design
business in 1974 and has designed or
redesigned more than 170 courses in his
career
The South Course at Torrey Pines in California was totally remodeled by ASGCA Past President Rees Jones, ASGCA Fellow,
in advance of the 2008 U.S. Open. It will host the championship again in 2021
Photo: courtesy of Rees Jones, Inc.