EarthGolf

It will be an interesting contrast in changes. The changes made at TPC Boston were done to a course that was considered “vanilla” from a golf course architecture standpoint. That allowed for a lot of opportunity for improvement. Cog Hill, which is highly regarded by most (although I think it’s probably a little too highly regarded), will become the newest notch on the belt of the “Open Doctor” Rees Jones. In it’s quest to secure a US Open, the course owners are placing their high hopes in Jones’ hands.

The most extensive work will be on the greens. Often criticized for being too spongy, they will be completely redone. Each green also will have a SubAir system, which will suck the moisture from the green in wet conditions. The result should be much firmer and faster greens.

“Obviously, it’s going to become more challenging,” said Trevor Immelman, who won the last Western Open. “Once you put in the SubAir system, you really can control the firmness of the turf. It’s going to improve the golf course and improve the event.”

The other major changes call for a pond to be built on the right side of the seventh fairway. The intention also is to have the water come more into play around the eighth green. And if you didn’t think the par-4 18th hole was hard enough, Jones said the new green will be shifted closer to the pond.

The fairways bunkers also will be repositioned to accommodate today’s power hitters.

“With the fairway bunkering, we’re establishing the locations so they match the original intent of the hole,” Muirhead said.

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