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St. Andrews rework

• Ducati916 1,116 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 3:54 PM

  Comment and I guess a question for WGT.

  St. Andrews is going to undergo some modifications to the old course in the next few years...road hole bunker getting bigger....bunkers to the right of #2 moving closer to the green...fairway bunker deleted and one added on #3...that huge depression at the landing area on #7 being filled in and a bit of a mound going in...bunker going in on the left side/just short of #9 green....the back of #11 green being re-done to slope away...and a few other minor ones as well.  Was wondering if WGT would anticipate modifying their layout to reflect the changes prior to the 2015 Open....  Yes, I know that's 3 years away, but, I was wondering if WGT had ever envisioned needing to do a re-work, and what their plan was for something like that.

• TarheelsRule 5,564 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 6:36 PM

  That is a great question and hopefully we will see a quick answer since some of the older courses on WGT are probably being redesigned.

• 9,041 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 6:45 PM

  Hopefully it's in the contract that WGT have to keep the integrity of the course and incorporate significant changes that happen IRL on this site.....Andy

• fmagnets 3,640 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 7:07 PM

  If they do update the course, they could also remove the Out of Bounds problem. There are so many holes at St A where you can hit onto the adjoining fairways, yet if they are off the hole maps on WGT you lose a ball. Going left on 14 and 17 are particularly popular options in real life in certain adverse winds.

• TarheelsRule 5,564 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 7:18 PM

  My understanding in the case of the out of bounds that really doesn't exist is that it is a problem of how much can be shown on the screen, not what has been shot.  If that is indeed the case I don't see it improving.

   

• fmagnets 3,640 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 8:39 PM

  If you bail out left on the second shot to 14, you get a view of where your ball has finished, but if it is outside the bounds of the hole map on the bottom right of the screen then it is designated out of bounds. The hole map wouldn't have to be widened much to encompass a bit more of the 2nd fairway to aim at. Don't know if this is an easy or hard thing to do though.

• Ducati916 1,116 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 8:49 PM

  Here is a copy of part of the article that gives a few of the details the upcoming changes.

  In the first significant changes to the home of golf in some 70 years, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and St. Andrews Links Trust have agreed on altering nine holes in a two-year project. Work already is under way on the first phase, which includes widening the famous Road Hole bunker by about 20 inches.

  Three bunkers will be moved closer to the putting surface - two on the second hole, one on the fourth hole. Two bunkers well to the right of the second hole - close to the third tee - will be removed. On the third hole, one fairway bunker will be removed, and one will be added about 275 yards off the tee. Another bunker will be added on the short par-4 ninth hole, about 25 yards short and to the left of the green.

  The corners of six greens will be recontoured, which includes lowering the back of the green on the par-3 11th hole. A large depression in the landing area of the seventh fairway will be filled and a slight mound created.

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Wed, Nov 28 2012 9:51 PM

  I too has read this article and did wonder whether WGT will make these changes for the next open. Sadly to do so would mean re-photgraghing any changed holes and I am not sure if the cost involved would warrant them doing so.

  Yes it would be nice to have the updates but personally would think the addition of more courses would be better than just an update of the new configuration. Obviously they are trying to make the course a little harder as apart from the history and tradition of the course, the course has become easier with the progression of equipment over the years. That said it has given me goosebumps when I have played the Old Course in RL and I would recommend anyone this is a MUST play golf course if you get a chance.

• brysoni23 693 Posts

  Fri, Nov 30 2012 2:33 AM

  Some pictures of the work that is taking place at the moment

  http://www.hookedongolfblog.com/gallery/courses/Scotland/TheOldCourse/OldCourse17Changes_004

  Cheers

  Brys

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Nov 30 2012 6:19 AM

  Ducati916:

  .the back of #11 green being re-done to slope away.

  Ouch in a tailwind. :-)

  I have a somewhat silly question about that course. Do they actually mow all of the fairways or does that grass grow flat like that? It just seems it would take forever to mow the entire course.