How to make Augusta more Challenging?

[under_par]

Hi All,

So it is that time again and if you look at the trend of past Masters the course is getting longer and longer. Well, once they run out of property what would they do to make it more challenging for the golfers?

I am temtped to say that they would make it look more like the Opens (with the dry greens and tall rough) but I would dare say that they will redesign some of the holes to make it more difficult (with more bunkers or more trees).

What do you think?

[x-forged]

i think they would narrow the fairways, lengthen the rough, and add some bunkers like you said. But then again Augusta plays incredibly hard at the Masters, so I dont think it will need much to make it more challenging, unless they want it to play like Oakhurst or something.

[tiger_who]

you want to make augusta MORE challenging

[under_par]

you want to make augusta MORE challenging

It will happen one day brother where the technologies will make Augusta a tame course...we hope not in the near future but I would guess in 5 years.

[BruceH]

But why?

I guess enough vandalism has already been done that any more butchery would be par for the course (so to speak).

[Jack_2251]

I think that they should make the standard of the Masters, British and Us open so that the pro's will shoot around even par, so it is still playable, but no impossible (oakmont)

[Big_M]

It will happen one day brother where the technologies will make Augusta a tame course...we hope not in the near future but I would guess in 5 years.

I disagree... average driving distance will stop going up because of technology very soon.

To answer the question... if they did change something I can't see it be making it play like a US Open course... for that matter I don't see them going crazy adding bunkers or anything either, but maybe a little something.

[Thrash13]

I enjoy the U.S. Open because it's tough for guys to shoot rounds under par. The Masters, however, is different for good reason. It's tough enough that a bunch of guys aren't consistently finishing at -10 or better, but it's playable enough to have low rounds on occasion. The course has been changed far too much in recent years, and it doesn't need any changes for quite some time. I don't see the scores changing much over the next decade or so at the very least. As long as the greens stay as tough as they are now, the scoring will never get too out of hand.

[Craig Mac]

I enjoy the U.S. Open because it's tough for guys to shoot rounds under par. The Masters, however, is different for good reason. It's tough enough that a bunch of guys aren't consistently finishing at -10 or better, but it's playable enough to have low rounds on occasion. The course has been changed far too much in recent years, and it doesn't need any changes for quite some time. I don't see the scores changing much over the next decade or so at the very least. As long as the greens stay as tough as they are now, the scoring will never get too out of hand.

Well said!!

[TourSpoon]

Well if they wanted to make it tougher they could actually have rough. Most of the "rough" lies are pretty sweet.

[Thrash13]

Well if they wanted to make it tougher they could actually have rough. Most of the "rough" lies are pretty sweet.

That's not what Augusta National is all about though. If they put in thick rough, they will lose a lot of fans.

[TourSpoon]

That's not what Augusta National is all about though. If they put in thick rough, they will lose a lot of fans.

Agreed. Super slick fairways and light rough is what comes to mind when I think of the Master's.

I think the only way they could lose fans is to put up a windmill on the 18th, a dinosaur on the 17th, a tunnel shot on the 16th, etc. I don't think that a little rough would hurt.

[AmenCorner]

Agreed. Super slick fairways and light rough is what comes to mind when I think of the Master's.

actually, the lack of rough is what makes Augusta difficult in its own unique way. Whereas the rough would typically keep players from rolling in to the trees or the creek, the rough is not there to do that. This includes the greenside mounds which they shave during the tourney. Difficult, but in its own way. Actually, the thing that affects the playability the most at Augusta is precipitation. When it stays dry, the place is treacherous. When it rains alot, they go low.

[Avid Golfer]

Hi All,

I think they either need to cut away all the rough making it so bad drives roll into the trees and pine straw (back like it was in the time when Norman and Faldo were regular contenders at the Masters), or they need to grow the rough thick.

I recall years ago seeing players hit good drives into the fairway, and then seeing their balls spin off the green on approach shot after appoach shot while other players hit bad drives into the so-called rough (aka first cut, aka fringe) and then have thier balls stay on the green (because the *first cut* took backspin off the balls). It was revolting and disgusting to see bad shots rewarded while good shots were punished. After that the Masters was no longer a quality tournament in my eyes. The Golf Channel had some bit yesterday about Augusta getting more difficult, but I wasn't paying to much attention at the time (I think I was posting a reply on this site ).

[Three Putt]

It's great, best kept course in the world....no comparision.

Tee it up and let it fly...Nice to see a shotmaker like Z. Johnson win it last year.

Quite honestly I find 8" (US Open) rough extremely boring, I like to see golf shots, not a tour pro hacking out of the rough sideways to get to the fairway. If you like that sort of stuff...quit golf and take up Chess.

That's the problem with the US Open the big DS members of the host course get all excited to make their home course as tough as possible...

[AmenCorner]

It's great, best kept course in the world....no comparision.

I could not agree more, on all counts. Nice post.

[r7 425]

I think Augusta could atcually add a few more fairway bunkers..This would make the course a lot longer without moving the tee boxes...I think Augusta has favored the big hitters recently but if they put a few more faiway bunkers closer to the center of the fairway...things would get interesting

[zmzman]

I think Augusta could atcually add a few more fairway bunkers..This would make the course a lot longer without moving the tee boxes...I think Augusta has favored the big hitters recently but if they put a few more faiway bunkers closer to the center of the fairway...things would get interesting

I agree that the bunkers are a good way to toughen things up. They're no longer in play because of technology changing the way the course was originally intended to be played. That and maybe move the tees back on a couple of the par 3's (Not the 4th though, that's a monster)

I did really enjoy last year though because of the cold and wind resulting in a +1 finish. I personally find the best players playing the toughest courses fun to watch because it IS a Major. It SHOULD be the toughest test for a player, he should have to play to the best of his ability to break par...that way we can find out who really is the best there is. Majors are so important to these guys, it's life changing for them...make em sweat I say If I wanted to watch guys shooting 63 everyday I'd watch the champions tour. (They should have to play harder courses/tees....just sayin')