Aronimink Eyes Another 500 Yards To Land A Major

Joe Juliano talks to Aronimink club president Joe Brooks about courting both the USGA and PGA of America for a future major even as both have their venues selected through 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Brooks said Aronimink, which is playing at 7,237 yards this year for the AT&T National, has a long-term plan on the books to lengthen the course to as much as 7,700 yards should the PGA or the USGA deem it suitable for a major. Any plan, he added, would be subject to the approval of the membership.

He said that the company of renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio sent senior design associate Tom Marzolf to Aronimink a few months ago to look over the property, and that the course could be stretched without requiring many infrastructure changes.

A particular area of concern is lengthening the 18th, which is playing at 436 yards this week. Most players in the AT&T National can reach that green with a 9-iron or wedge approach.

The move of the course maintenance staff next spring to a new facility and the removal of a hedge that borders the hole will give No. 18 a chance to expand.

"That would give us the opportunity to move that tee, certainly extend it any amount of distance because we own that land back there," Brooks said.

I just wonder after what we saw at Congressional if 7,700 will be enough in 8-10 years? And remind me again, how is this a good thing?