Jack Nicklaus says he is happy with tweaks made to Gleneagles – venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup – after flying in to oversee alterations to the Scottish course he originally designed nearly 20 years ago.
Nicklaus is widely thought of as the greatest player ever to play the game, with 18 majors to his name, and took the opportunity to speak out about the modern fashion for golf balls to fly ever greater distances leaving golf courses needing to be lengthened and altered.
Balls cheaper to alter than golf courses
As golf ball manufacturers continue to develop even longer balls and governing bodies continue to sanction the trend, Nicklaus said of Gleneagles: “The golf course, first of all, was not meant to be the toughest golf course in the world. It was a golf course for Gleneagles and its hotel and guests.
When I was asked to do the course more than 20 years ago, in those days it was a pretty challenging golf course. With the equipment and the golf ball and everything going so much further, it needed alterations.
“I would prefer golf balls being altered, personally, but until that happens, alterations need to happen to golf courses.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a golf course that breaks the back.
“There are plenty of opportunities for birdies, but it also makes you play golf.”
Nicklaus said the game could become less time-consuming if a halt was put to the advance of ball technology.
“There are 17,000 golf courses in the States that are obsolete to the professionals,” he explained.
“It costs very little to adjust the golf ball. The cost to change this golf course for the Ryder Cup was ridiculous.”
Nicklaus was in Scotland this week to check on the work done on the Centenary Course between October 2011 and March 2012.
Ryder Cup course open for play
It reopened to the public in April allowing golfers the chance to experience the Ryder Cup course during the two-year run-up to the tournament.
Over 50,000 tonnes of earth were moved at the course over the six month alteration period – with 30,000 square metres of turf laid, and 1,000 tonnes of new sand used in bunkers.
Improvements have been made to the drainage in all the bunkers, using the “Better Billy Bunker Method” developed at Augusta National Golf Club.
Patrick Elsmie, Gleneagles’ Managing Director, said:
“After many months of working closely with Jack and his team to remodel the PGA Centenary, we’re delighted to welcome him here to give the course his seal of approval.
“It’s terrific to hear his positive comments on the course, which have been echoed by those guests and members who have had the opportunity to play it since the reopening in late April.
“In the run-up to the Ryder Cup in 2014, we expect thousands of golfers will take up the chance to play the final tournament course before it sees the golfing greats of the US and Europe do battle.”
To book a tee time on The PGA Centenary, or any Gleneagles course, contact Gleneagles Resort Sales on 0800 704 705.
For more about Gleneagles, http://www.gleneagles.com
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