I’m not one to watch much television, especially during the second week of July, but I always put this week’s PGA Tour stop on my DVR for viewing once the snow flies.
A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier’s final round today is at the Old White Course, which was originally designed in 1914 by C.B. Macdonald, with Seth Raynor as his construction Superintendent. Raynor then returned a decade later to make updates/changes.
The course was completely destroyed in 2016 by floods, and was quickly renovated and restored by Keith Foster, who specializes in Classic Golf Course Architecture. His work highlights Seth Raynor, not himself, making it a well respected restoration, which has brought national attention to how great Raynor architecture is to experience, given its TV exposure.
If you’re interested in seeing some great examples of Template Holes, Raynor architecture, and something different from the boring weekly Tour stop, take a peek, or DVR it like me!
Here’s a guide for which Templates are which holes:
#2 — Hog’s Back
#3 — Biarritz
# 8 – Alps
#9 — Punchbowl
#10 — Principle’s Nose
#12 — Long
#13 — Alps
#14 — Narrows
#15 — Eden
#16 — Cape
#18 — Short (with a Thumbprint)
If you watch, pay attention to the grassing lines of fairway and approaches, how there isn’t much rough fronting the bunkers, how the approaches are wide, which allows players of all abilities to get the ball on the green, how short grass lets the ball roll more off-line from the center of the golf holes, as well as how it creates strategy/options to play shots. Also notice how the entire green pad is filled with putting surface – the green goes all the way to where the green spills off into bunkers and surrounds. Also notice the lack of mounding around greens and on the backsides of bunkers, which creates the infinity look of the green complexes, which are very true to Raynor architecture. You are also able to see into the bunkers and see the sand from your approach shots, Raynor’s way of adding to the intimidation factor of being able to see into the hazard you’re trying to navigate around.
No rough fronting the approach to prevent run-ups or to block balls from ending up in bunkers
Unfortunately, the Tour players play the “bomb and gouge” game, and play past much of the strategy with how far they hit the ball. However, just imagine how 99.99% of the rest of the world would play the course.
Enjoy the beautiful weather today, but don’t forget to DVR the golf to watch later!
Mike Manthey
