The entire Good Good ecosystem does not appeal to me. There are a number of reasons for that: my age (36) and capacity to broaden my consumption (full-time job, father of two under 4 = not high) being chief among them. Wholesome is a nice word for this group. It's not to my taste, maybe too wholesome? Seems to lack an edge and authenticity. Maybe it's a generation thing: they feel very Gen-Z to me in a way that does not appeal. So yeah, I didn't celebrate this when it was announced. But KVV gets this right -- let the kids in! Golf is too old, too tired, and too traditional. Let's see what they can do. Maybe it won't be good -- maybe it will be! Let's find out.

Also might be the unholy trinity of descriptions there. Gary Player, Euro tour design and Augusta-like.

The data center/solar farm trend on golf is disheartening. I understand all the whys, but wish they would go after land just outside of cities that can be just as desireable and probably way cheaper. Actually treat them like farms and maybe revitalize dying towns. Heard we are losing another one (Willow Creek) in Des Moines to Microsoft. Getting tired of seeing large blocks littering the land. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now 😁.

I'm going to drop the hottest take of all in this comments section: Culvers custard, like Spotted Cow, is wildly overrated.

If you come out let me know. Just played it yesterday and it was so much fun. I wish some of the green surrounds were firmer like they used to be but the greens were fantastic. Such a fun round. Cheers !

Great write up! I played out there about 20 years ago for a GolfClubAtlas Kings Putter event (lots of great CA folks - Huckaby, Papazian, Tommy N, Benham, K Reilly, Shack Sr.), and it's great to see that Rustic seems to be maintained in about the same as the early days. Coming from the bermuda fairways in NC, it was shocking to see how firms the green surrounds were so far from the putting surfaces and how that had such an impact on how the course could be played. I still remember being in awe watching people try to navigate 50-80 yards of short grass from the center/right side of the 13th fairway. Truly minds in a blender stuff! Really want to get back out there again, as I have a new reason to visit the Los Angeles area from time to time.

I had the opportunity to play this course a couple of times since the renovation. It is a golf course that is a strategic challenge to play for the reasons outlined in the article. The conditioning of the course (fast and true greens and healthy rough) makes the course a penal enough test for the good golfer without taking away the joys of playing a world class golf course as it is almost impossible to lose a ball on the course. Whether Baltusrol will be viewed as a tier 1 championship course after the restoration is up for debate, however, it is wonderful day of golf and half of one of the best 36 hole days of golf in the world. Was a privilege to play. Great article Garrett.

Seems like a much more interesting course than what I remember from prior US Opens and PGAs, which never interested me at all. I have always heard positive things about the Upper Course. Would be interested to see a feature on that one as well.

I was able to walk this course twice, during each of the last two PGA Championships held here. My impression had always been that it was a long, tough tree-lined slog. I had a hard time remembering individual holes. The photos of the renovation certainly seem to show a course with a much different character than the one I saw. Glad to see you think the changes have been for the better. Always thought the finishing stretch of back-to-back par 5's here was cool. Not something you see everyday.

As to hosting a future Ryder Cup, the PGA of America should probably avoid the New York Metropolitan area.