Being a golf design snob I enjoy my fix of the Fried Egg. And part of what I like is the theory behind certain design and implications of changes.
There was a designer who talked about who the only thing the Top 10 courses in America have in common is that they've constantly changed over their history. Even the great Augusta National has changed significantly: reversing the 9s, different mounding, 16 used to be on the left of the pond, etc.
Anyway, the 10th. Thoughts on a "restoration":
https://twitter.com/user/status/1381344392343076871
Opening up the right (guys kept finding that tree path anyway) allows more shots attacking the hole, potentially bringing the pond back into play. The bunkers are 315-330 from the tee, so if you can clear them safely, you are rewarded with a much better angle into the green, offering a chance to attack pins.
Maybe it's a change that disproportionately rewards big hitters, and takes away some of the punishment. But with how few players have hit it into the pond over the past years, most players are just going with the short right bailout. Some of the most exciting shots have been from players getting lucky and finding that cut line int he trees. Now players finding the angle might spray too far right and they're in real trouble. Brings in a new element of risk and reward to a hole that's lost a bit of drama.
