Observers at this week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship are saying the host Blue Monster course is looking it’s best in 25 years.
But new owner Donald Trump has reminded everyone what is about to take place next week.
“It’s a little ironic, because we blow it up on Monday,” said Trump.
But then that should not come as any surprise as Trump stated this time last year he had hired renowned Pennsylvania-based golf course designer, Gil Hanse to oversee major changes to the Miami venue.
“So right after the tournament it gets blown up and we are building a brand new incredible course designed by Gil Hanse, and it’s amazing,” added Trump. “We’ve worked very hard with the PGA Tour and it’s going to be a very big, magnificent course. There’s no piece of land like this.”
Donald Trump set to ‘blow up’ Blue Monster next week and with Gil Hanse (l) to oversee changes.
Hanse is currently based in Brazil and on site for the start of work on the 2016 Olympic Games host course in suburban Rio De Janeiro.
Hanse, who designed the Scottish links gems Castle Stuart at Inverness and the much-acclaimed Craighhead course at Crail, beat off some of the greats of the game to win the contract to design the Brazil course.
“We started as a renovation, and as we got more and more into it, Gil and I started to say ‘Wow, we are really making it a much bigger and I think much more magnificent course,'” said Trump.
“We are really doing massive changes, and we are building a brand new incredible course.”
Changes Hanse will bring to the Blue Monster include:
The par-5, 529-yard first hole will be extended 100 yards and there will be a lake to the right of the green.
The 15th, which Trump said is “a very plain par-3,” will become a water hole with something close to an island green.
The 9th green will be moved far over to the right and the 10th tee will be moved to present location of the 9th green. Moving that tee will more than double the size of the driving range.
However there is no changes planned for the iconic 18th hole other than laying new grass.
Trump indicated the proposed changes will create an amphitheatre like atomsphere at the 9th and 18th holes.
“People will be able to stand up on these hills and see what’s going on in the fairway,” he said. “That’s a big change also.”
And one of those backing the Hanse changes is defending WGC – Cadillac Championship Justin Rose.
“We play a lot of resorts but sometimes after 20, 30 years, they do need a bit of an update and I think this golf course will benefit from it,” said Rose.
“I think it needs to maybe get back to living up to its reputation as the Blue Monster. It’s been fairly low scoring here the last few years and I think a revamp is certainly going to do it some good.”
