A Seminole Primer And Preview Plus A Distance Debate Note
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Michael Bamberger predicts that Seminole will be the real star of Sunday, May 17th’s TaylorMade Driving Relief Skins Game.
The club’s history with elite players dates to Ben Hogan’s era and his affinity for the place, as Jim McCabe writes for PGATour.com.
Making its national TV debut Sunday on NBC and Golf Channel (2 pm ET), the Donald Ross design could come off a bit underwhelming with limited production values due to safety concerns. But Andy Johnson’s article about the Ross approach to a tough site is worth a read as well as for Jeffrey Bertch’s photos.
David Normoyle also looks at Seminole and captures some of what makes it special.
Seminole is admirable and worthy of study because Donald Ross, helped by several other architects since 1929, offers for us today a course in the swamps of Florida very much like St. Andrews and the National in that: 1) it is remarkably easy for a group of average golfers to get around quickly, while 2) being remarkably difficult for an expert in that same group to get the ball into the hole quickly.
That is the holy grail in golf design, and Seminole achieves it. Few others do, though many more should.
Finally, there is the foursome taking on the course and what Mssrs. McIlroy, Fowler, Johnson and Wolff might do to make Seminole look like a museum piece.
Henry Kissinger likes to say that great historical events begin with great personalities. The resurrection of the 560-yard par-5 may not qualify as a great historical event, but it would make for better golf.
Rees Jones, a Seminole member and the course-architect sometimes called The Open Doctor, believes that. Mike Davis, the USGA’s CEO, is a Seminole member and a driving force behind the USGA’s recent Distance Report, believes that. Nick Price, a Seminole member and USGA executive committee member, believes that.
Seminole will be the site of next year’s Walker Cup match. That will give Jimmy Dunne, the Seminole president, and Mike Davis plenty of opportunity to compare notes and their wish lists. McIlroy, as the son of a Seminole member, as a U.S. Open winner, as a former GB&I Walker Cupper, can offer his insights. He can help chart a course. He can persuade the lodge brothers — his fellow touring pros — that the time has come.
Tipping points are movements. Movements start with people. They start with a message. Enter Rory, a microphone under his chin.
