One definite exception is on #14, where the bunker on the left side is assuredly reachable. The flip side is that stupid eucalyptus tree was removed, so even if you're in the bunker you now have a shot at the green.
Green expansions are very cool along w/ better tie-ins w/ the now repositioned and mollified bunkers, allowing for some new, fun pin placements. Also, all (or almost all) of the short grass around the greens has been returned to rough.
I haven't played it yet but it looks amazingly clean and crisp. It doesn't look like a 1927 golf course especially in the shape of the bunkers.
The fairway bunker on 14 was an original bunker that Jones filled in prior to the 1955 US Open. Same with the two bunkers on 18 that he restored. There are a few others that they didn't restore like on #4 but I'm guessing that Gil didn't have complete control on this project.
Even though they have widened the fairways (for now) Olympic is going to stay the course and keep the rough around the bunkers which is just dreadful. Some habits are hard to change.
I’ve been quite involved in the Lake Course Restoration/Renovation/Upgrades since Gil was chosen by this great club to oversee its upgrade. And in my opinion and knowledge, exactly what it is—an upgrade with the eyes on the original Watson and Whiting features.
But in fairness, of your brilliant insight and deduction—and your self-proclaimed, “Good eye” that it’s so crisp and clean it7 doesn’t seem to bother you seeing Tall Fescue at LACC in its bunkers! While two completely different courses, the same revetted turf is used to create the unique and beautiful movements in the bunker lips.
On May 25th, I took these photos of 7th & 8th holes under construction. The last two holes we completed. As you can see, there isn’t a bit of grass on the greens, fairways and just newly laid tall Tall Fescue sod around the bunkers. (Which will in fact grow out) 18 tee hasn’t even been planted nor its collar, sodded. Shaymus Maley was digging the greenside bunkers this day on 8 as well as the backside bunker, which to my understanding from all of the instagram & twitter posts you bloviate on, (and which are sent to me by several people) you hate the work there as well! 3-1/2 months later, on Monday, I was out there and played these holes and the conditioning of the turf was incredible, and on its way to playing fast & firm!This was just opening week and you think it should look perfect?Also to note that in an environment that experiences a level wetness, Better Billy Bunker was used here as well as Lake Merced. For those that don’t know, BBB is a process of creating a solid but percolating resin basin for sand hazards which allows sand faces to not collapse in heavy weather conditions. It takes time for these areas to mature, but when they do, the transformation will be really, really good looking!
The job Troy Flanagan & his crew have down on the Lake; Total Turf Construction and Caveman, Shaymus Maley, who all carried out Gil’s magnificent masterplan should take a bow! I’ll let the images speak for themselves as this newly planted, still very immature course was in the condition that it was in!!!
This one was a fun one! Mostly, because of the effort the club has made to make the Lake less repetitive, but really an enjoyable round of golf for everyone!
Let’s take in all of the facts:
-Job started on November 16th, 2022, literally 10 months ago. Yet the turf looks amazing in that short of time!
-Regardless of what you think, supply channels were still challenging at the time from irrigation to turf and sand. Everyone still got it done!
-California, in the midst of its greatest drought ever, receives an historically epic winter that continues well into the spring and early summer, literally felling over 200 trees on the Lake Course alone! That mess had to be cleaned up; which further impacted day-to-day operations! This crew didn’t bat an eye! They got it cleaned up and completed the job ahead of schedule! Not just the tree clean-up, the ENTIRE JOB!
-The entire time, Troy’s crew performed like all-stars, never once complaining, only producing! Same with Total Turf and our HGCD and Caveman crews!
Here are some images taken May 25th of this year and follow-up images taken on Monday, just over 3-1/2 months later! From nothing to something! From sand to fast & firm turf in 3-1/2 months!
[/color]