Am I crazy to have some worry about Mackenzie and Ebert getting their hands on Muirfield? It doesn't seem that much of their work is too popular. Additionally, it also seems to be conducted for the wrong reasons. I don't think an additional grandstand is worth tinkering with the routing of one of the greatest courses in the world. I did mention it in the Course Profile for Muirfield, but I need a link to that video that was done! I thought that was fantastic and I can't find it now. I was very excited to hear about the purchase of Whispering Pines and Foxfire! However, as a local, this just eliminates 4 affordable courses. In an area overflowing with $200 tee times, there are hardly any options for the locals to play..... This was a bit of a downbeat comment... Sorry folks! Anyway, awesome insight as always, Garrett!

Am I crazy to have some worry about Mackenzie and Ebert getting their hands on Muirfield? It doesn't seem that much of their work is too popular. Additionally, it also seems to be completed for the wrong reasons. I don't think an additional grandstand is worth tinkering with the routing of one of the greatest courses in the world. I did mention it in the Course Profile for Muirfield but I need a link to that video that was done! I thought that was fantastic and I can't find it now. Thanks for your insights Garrett!

The big thing that I see different from the boring pga tour set up is how much the ball moves when it is slowing down by the hole. No 1% 6 foot circle around the hole locations Makes the player who can get the straight putt more often a big advantage

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.