Posted on 03/02/2006 5:08:12 PM PST by gobucks
In the golfing galaxy, the arrival of March means the Masters is near. The first shot soars into the air at Augusta National five weeks from today, bringing the annual avalanche of sights and sounds: Amen Corner, the azaleas, the pine trees ...
Jack and Arnie ripping the place?
First, some context: Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer did not engage in a foot-stomping, steam-spewing tirade. Nicklaus and Palmer sat calmly in oversized leather chairs at a recent Golf Digest event and criticized the course changes made by Augusta National Chairman Hootie Johnson.
This is not standard behavior for former Masters champions, who seldom go public with negative thoughts about Augusta National.
"I still like the course, but I think they've ruined it from a tournament standpoint," Nicklaus said. "Augusta is a big, big part of my life, and I love it. That's why I hate to see them change it."
Said Palmer: "I love the place ... but now, I'm not so sure. There are some things that are taking the realistic Augusta away. It's changed dramatically from the course I've known the last 50 years."
Johnson engineered changes on six holes last summer, lengthening the course by 155 yards (to 7,445) and adding trees and bigger, deeper bunkers. Nicklaus and Palmer apparently are most unhappy about the narrowing of some holes; Nicklaus suggested the changes destroy Bobby Jones' original vision of giving players latitude off the tee, so they can choose different angles into Augusta's famously slick greens.
Nicklaus and Palmer, with 10 Augusta titles between them, play prominent roles in the history of the Masters, and history is a huge part of the tournament's appeal. So when Nicklaus bluntly says Augusta National officials have "ruined" the course, it's worth considering.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Jones must be turning in his grave.
Alister MacKenzie also.
Golf Digest has a story about this too; I found it on ESPN's site. It really backs up your comments. I'm glad Jack and Arnie are saying something; people will listen to them.
Jack should just take his green jackets and go home. While he's at it, he should learn to button his lips and be on his way. Sounds like a temper tantrum from someone who is too damned old to be throwing one. Sure not one of my favorite golfers, no class and never had any.
Ping
Exactly. ....they're trying to turn Augusta National into a U.S. Open-type course, ruining its unique attributes in the process. I guess Hootie and Co. have been embarrassed by how players in the last decade have made the course look (relatively) easy, consistently posting very low scores. The reason: a combo of ultra-juiced golf balls and high-tech clubs. As Jack has suggested on numerous occasions, de-juicing the balls would solve the problem. No need to mess with courses. ....especially the classic ones.
It wasn't a tantrum, as the article made perfectly clear.
Don't you have a harsh word for Palmer as well (who made similar complaints), or is Arnie untouchable?
I guess by "players" they mean "people who actually know how to play golf".
All the rest of us love this type of tee because we can walk up to it with a driver and tell sweet little lies to ourselves about the chances of our ever seeing the ball in our hand, again.
Arnie is not untouchable. I know that he has been quite ill.
Age limit is 5 years old or younger for temper tantrums. Nicholas may well be a great course designer but he has a big mouth and needs to shut it every once in a while and learn something from others. I think his ego gets him in a lot of terrible situations, and this is one of them. And I still don't think he has much class, nor has he ever. He is biting the hand that fed him, and fed him pretty darn good.
I will have to see what the results are, I dislike that the Masters has turned into a driver, wedge and putter course.
Augusta turf is not plushy soft, btw....it's almost rock hard. I generally agree with Jack & Arnie. As we all know, lenghting a course plays to the strengths of the big guys, while making it worse for the "players". I say all this never having played the course, but I have watched every second for 30 years.
I just don't see how, from a course design point of view, his expressing disappointment and disdain for the latest changes to Augusta is a terrible situation.
As the entire golf-world realizes, every time you Tiger-proof these courses, all you really do is make it impossible for all but a select few to win.
The Masters was always about lightning quick greens and the pressure of the back nine one Sunday. Now it's about 340 yard drives and who can spin a 4 iron. As for Nicklaus' ego, after destroying the field of professional golf from 1961 thru 1982, I'd say he's earned his inflated sense of superiority.
The whole "fitness" argument is way overrated. Look at Phil Mickelson and John Daly, who've most likely have never seen the inside of a gym in their lives. Phil is among the world's elite players, and John hits the ball as far as anyone. ....while puffing on cigs and throwing down brews. In the early 60s Fat Jack and Billy Casper dominated players who were far more fit.
Technology is what's changed, and it's changed considerbly. I realize it's unrealistic to standardize clubs and go back to persimmon woods, but de-juicing golf balls is doable. ....and relatively cheap.
Softening the fairways isn't a bad idea.
The equipment made them do it.
Golfers today are not the golfers of the Nicklaus and Palmer era...equipment improvements have made them better. Ironically these changes the "titans" are criticising, in truth, keep the course comparatively as competitive as it was when they played.
???
He had prostate cancer several years back, but I think he's doing pretty well now.
You don't even know his name.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.