EarthGolf

The 2012 PGA Championship is still a few days away yet, but after the success of the 2007 Senior PGA Championship, it’s too early to discuss some changes planned for the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. The big change will be the sand.

“I’m concerned about some of the ways the ball has plugged in bunkers,” said Roger Warren, president of Kiawah Island Golf Resort. “I do think it’s important that on a shot like that, the penalty they’re incurring right now, I think, doesn’t reflect what Pete Dye had designed for. So we’re going to look at what we can do to make sure those balls at least become playable.”

The other changes may be to the grass.

Warren said the fairways might be converted to the paspalum grass that is on the greens. Organizers used the grass on the practice range and the first fairway.

Such a conversion would close the course, which averages about 20,000 rounds a year at $320 or so each, to complete. Warren thinks it’s worth it to get ready for the PGA Championship.

It’d be interesting to know what grass is currently on the fairways and why a change might be made.

And a little teaser to the 8,000 yard tournament golf course perhaps?

With driving distances seemingly always increasing, who knows how far PGA TOUR players will be hitting it in 2012? Could The Ocean Course crack 8,000 yards?

“We play very long golf courses for PGA Championships,” Steranka said.

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