Beau Welling is doing something similar in Vermont at Stowe Country Club, taking a nice private course and totally redoing it to turn it fully private (and way more expensive than most other privates in area from what I understand). Not sure if involved with private equity but wouldnt be surprised. Depressing trend.

Love this, thanks for the thoughts!

Some thoughts on this! 1) Buy a yardage guide if available to think about how the hole sets up and provide some thinking of what the hole is trying to do 2) When the hole is finished, try to look at it from behind the green back to the tee and think what different pin positions might do3) Hit some extra putts to different possible pin positions to see different ways slope can play into the green4) If you have a caddie, talk to them how they would play the hole, especially if they are a good player to talk through different slopes and different ideas - I just did this a lot at Lido and elsewhere in Wisconsin and provided a lot of interesting extra insights.

As someone who is newer to appreciating golf architecture, but also wants to simply play good golf, what are some tips you have for blending appreciating the strategy of a course while also just trying to hit your shot. For example, if you're playing a course for the first and potentially only time, I go in trying to just "take it all in," yet when I step up to the first tee, I'm thinking about targets, swing, etc. and not the strategy of the hole, green complexes, etc. Can it be done? Does it get easier to do both over time? Curious your thoughts.

I think it’s important to have independent media coverage of events in all pro sports. There’s an ebb and flow to all relationships and right now it seems like professional golfers and the golf media have reached their nadir (at least for recent times). I don’t understand Morikawa’s desire to needle the golf media at large the same as I don’t understand Schupack’s desire to raise the pro am quote so prominently. They both seem intent on proving their point, but in the name of what?I thought Brendan and Andy put it well on SGS - who cares? No one wants to be pulled this deep into the navel gazing exercise the same as no one wants to be pulled this deep into a marital spat between their neighbors. The public needs an independent third party because we cannot stand for more fluff pieces about how wonderful and perfect the Urban Meyer Florida Gators were (thank you Netflix!). The human experience is complex, difficult, and contradictory, and honest, accurate coverage provides for that. Athletes should rightly recognize there are potential traps that come with airing out everything in public - but that is how everything is in life. I don’t think the golf media is regarded as going all in on a person with a desire to put everything on blast the same way that some political media (or British tabloids) are more known to do. Instead, giving people a little uncontrolled window into who they are can often produce a greater result than a bunch of packaged, sponsored posts from your agents and marketing agency. I think both sets of folks need to take a deep breath after the whirlwind of all the LIV /PIF drama from recent years and reset. There are good on the course and off the course discussions to be had about players and the business of pro and amateur golf. Players and media are a massive part of those conversations and many levels, and I hope they embrace their roles for the better.

So, architecturally speaking 3 of the 4 majors have an identity (Augusta is Augusta; US Open is tough and penal; Open Championship is links or links-esque). What are plausible and alluring possibilities for the PGA Championship that'd giving it an equally compelling architectural identity?

There is a tremendous amount of diversity today in golf course design, with both old, "golden age" type courses and new, resort-style courses finding prominent spots on top 100 lists. These courses often look and play very differently. Consider, for example, Garden City GC or Skokie CC versus Erin Hills or Bandon Trails. What is the best way to compare/contrast these courses against each other? Is it just a matter of personal preference? Or are there design/strategy elements that are universal that should be analyzed that can help to achieve a more comprehensive view of whether a golf course is well-designed and conceived? Todd Smith

Just wanted to chime in and say what a great last-minute addition Elie was to a recent father-son golf trip to Scotland. We actually added it just last week after hearing Andy mention that if he could join any club in Scotland, it’d be Elie—and that endorsement didn’t miss.Spencer (my younger son) and I teed it up last Thursday afternoon in linksy conditions: sunny, windy, and playing firm and fast. We met guys from Rhode Island before the round and played a 4-ball match, which was perfect given Elie’s 16 par 4s / 2 par 3s setup. Honestly, it’s made for match play. Hole 3 was dead into the wind—driver all day.The stretch from 10 to 13 was absolute magic. Natural ground movement, coastal views, and challenging shots with windy conditions. #13 in particular was one of our favorite holes across the whole trip. Elie's compact but never cramped. And the way it plays with wind and terrain makes you play every club and shot.Glad we squeezed it in when we did—turns out there’s very limited visitor play at Elie in July and August. If you’re planning a Fife trip, I highly recommend getting a round at EGHC. Totally lived up to the hype.Oh, and the LA boys got the better of the New Englanders. We all celebrated with a few well-earned Guinness pints afterwards. Can’t wait to get back there someday.

A very thought provoking read, Brett. Change is truly the only constant in our lives.

I like this though process however, I believe you are right. There are simply too many to count!