Bellerive Saved By The Fans; Marks The End Of Jones Family Era Reign Of Venue Doctoring

As I write for Golfweek's PGA Championship digital issue, Bellerive and the players were propped up by high energy and positive fans. But this design and many others mangled over the decades by Robert Trent Jones or son Rees are part of a phase in golf now in our rear-view mirror. Tastes have changed for the better. And now that nice golf course land at Bellerive deserves better too. 

Oh we still have to suffer though the dated, ordinary and blandness at Torrey Pines, and Rees will surely do his best to shield attention from being given to Tillinghast at Bethpage next year. Otherwise, the Jones family run has finally expired. 

Eamon Lynch also took on the Bellerive matter and noted how it was hurt by being given a 100th PGA for reasons no one will ever quite grasp. That put another target on the course's back and mercifully, history will look past that decision thanks to a great finish. 

As for its future, Bellerive seems assured of more events but the PGA currently only has two slots open before 2031 and The Forecaddie says one of those would go to the PGA's new headquarters course in Frisco, Texas.