One of my favorite rounds ever was recently on #10 - a course I could play every day with all of the contouring and variety presented throughout it. So many greens can play large or small depending on daily setup. I was also very fortunate to have a great caddie (Chance) to sherpa me around the course and he knew every contour and break. Another fun break of luck: summer storm threats scared everyone else away, so while we were essentially the only ones out there, Chance and I rolled some balls around to see the drama up close. Personal highlight greens were on 5 (back right pin, middle left pin), 6 (front right pin, middle pin), 8 (whole green), 12 (middle left pin, any back pin), 14 (whole green), 15 (whole green), 17 (whole green), and 18 (back two-thirds). There are so many wonderful tee shots and second shots on the course where you are thinking about how to approach the hole while also pausing to take in the landscape. It's not the kind of hit-you-in-the-face walk in the woods, but the one that sits with you for a while. Look out for the large eagle's nest in an old pine on the tenth hole.

Recently played #10 (which was incredible) but in talking to my caddie he mentioned construction of #11 is moving along steadily, with plans for #12 and a short course to be announced before too much longer. It sounds like the Sandmines area is going to be its own little world as a sibling site to the main facility.

What a great closing nugget about the Hawks! That's something I'll tell my son when we're watching, and he'll go "Rad!" Can't wait to watch after playing there (too long ago) and can understand the special feeling. Will be fascinating to watch the variety of actual shots and emotions - which I think will feel different than frustrations we saw at Oakmont.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read! I've always had a bit of trouble adequately articulating just how I felt standing in the MP parking lot before a round; the excitement, joy, anticipation and appreciation for the walk ahead. I used to describe MP as a 'vibe,' but that doesn't due the place justice. Elegance and grace are perfect adjectives when I think about Mid Pines.

Have been out to Portmarnock a number of times. They were talking about a possible Open when I was first there in 2017. From what I've heard they would make 18 the 1st hole and the current opener would become 2? Don't love that, I thought the first tee enclosed by the clubhouse and pro shop with the water along the right was an awesome setting for the first tee shot. Them having 27 holes gives them plenty of room, the neighboring hotel course could give them some additional as well. Only logistical issue could be getting fans in and out, the course sits out on a point and their is really only one way in and out of there. All in all, I think it would be a good test and would be awesome to see The Open in Dublin.

Interesting stuff, thanks Garrett. This particularly piqued my curiosity as a UA alum. Seems to be an interesting halfway house (scuse the pun) between starting from scratch having bought up a huge parcel of land somewhere very remote and having to blow up an existing course near an urban centre. Would be great to hear the rationale behind the primary elements of Gil's 'classical restoration'. It sounds like little has been changed of the original layout, so might be interesting to understand how these updates reflect the way in which his design philosophy has changed in the interim. Accepting that the answer might be our favourite punching bag: technology. As a side note, how great it must be to have been in the business so long and yet remain so respected that you are being paid to revisit your own work!

Yes, it's probably a slightly different question depending on whether you are viewing through an amateur/pro lens. Agreed that creating one's own routing can be a real joy - I think you could make a routing around PGC for any number of holes from 3 - 27! Might just be an interesting one to hear how much consideration an architect gives to this (within the confines of the land available). A good example might be Portrush, where you have some of the most dramatic/scenic holes near the start and end, but arguably the more challenging holes in the middle of the round. Or would the seventeenth at Sawgrass be quite so iconic if it were the fifth? Again, maybe that is a reflection of tournament golf and being a little at the mercy of TV which is always going to focus on the closing stretch.

If we start seeing Mackenzie and Ebert get jobs in Australis over OCM and MDP, then we can predict where the open is headed. However, we're all missing here that if say they make the Open be playable in any region in the commonwealth, that creates the opportunity for a DLF Open Championship

I laughed as I watched Johnson Wagner go round the Open Clubhouse on 'Golf Channel', wondering what Max Faulkner would make of it all. I'm just curious how big the Open Championship would be if it had none of all the fancy stuff and just relied on the history, Claret Jug and prize money. Would players still come? As for venues, I'd like to see Royal Cinque Ports back. If RSG is well-positioned then RCP is, too, and RCP is as good. And though it was always considered too remote, Saunton is only four hours from London and two from Bristol these days. It has loads of space, and the East Course is definitely Open-worthy. I wouldn't like to see the Open Championship go anywhere other than Britain or Northern Ireland. Portmarnock is superb, but it's in the Republic. If it happens, so be it. But it wouldn't feel right. It should host the Irish Open every few years, though.

Wow, I had not realized we haven't seen The Open at Lytham in 13 (!!!) years. That's a shame. 2012 was a great championship. I understand what the R&A is trying to do, I really do, but if we're not going to get Carnoustie for future Opens because of a hotel... what are we even doing. And without getting political it is truly a shame we haven't seen Turnberry host this event for more than a decade and a half now. Such great history there with equally great holes. (Fwiw, Garrett, Donny T's term ends in January 2029, so I guess we'll have to tack on another year of waiting.)