Jack To The Rescue! At A Tired 25, Valhalla Gets Third Touch Up

Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal features some eye-opening quotes from Jack Nicklaus about the next series of Valhalla touch-ups changes in advance of the 2014 PGA Championship.

Steranka said that in addition to rebuilding all 18 greens, the project will include work on some bunkers, repairing drainage problems in a few fairways and expanding the practice range. Nicklaus and son Jack II will oversee the construction.

Nicklaus said that in the 25 years since the course opened, “golf equipment has changed dramatically, and golfers have changed the way they play the game dramatically. A course needs to change with them ...

“Most golf courses at that point, the irrigation gets tired, the greens start to get tired and the drainage gets tired. All of these things need to be brought up to snuff.

“It’s not a complete makeover,” said Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game. “ ... But we are looking toward the next 25 years. When we’re done with this, the next time the (professionals) play here, this course will be moved up in the rankings.”

Wow...it's a sad day when Jack is talking about the rankings.

“We have band-aided a few things over the years, trying to fix things without trying to inconvenience anybody,” Nicklaus said. “Unfortunately, we’re going to inconvenience the members a little. But after 25 years, that’s not too bad.”

It doesn't say much for modern design and construction practices if a new course only has a 25-year shelf life? Especially one that seemingly performed admirably during the 2008 Ryder Cup.