Gil Hanse’s reputation continues to grow with the acclaimed golf course designer being singled out for special praise ahead of this week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship.
Players, caddies and officials who have gathered in Miami for this week’s $US 9m are singing the praise of the once little known designer.
However those who have paid attention over the years will not be surprised Hanse finds himself being lauded this week.
Gil Hanse has restored the bite to the Blue Monster – the par 3, 15th with the 16th in the background.
His first project outside of his native America was to design a second course at the Crail Golfing Society located just a short distance from Kingsbarns and St. Andrews.
Observers were so impressed with the ‘Craighead’ course at Crail, Hanse was invited to design Castle Stuart to the east of Inverness in northern Scotland.
Castle Stuart played host to three Scottish Open’s from 2011 up until last July when Phil Mickelson captured the ‘Scottish Double’ with victory also a week later in the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
The 9th green on the Craighead Course at Crail – Gil Hanse’s first design project outside the States. (Photo – Crail Golfing Society)
Hanse’s work at Castle Stuart and across America led to his company being selected ahead of the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Gary Player to design the 2016 Olympic Games host venue in Rio de Janeiro.
Then Hanse was commissioned by Donald Trump straight after Tiger Woods had driven off with the 2013 WGC – Cadillac Championship to add bite to the Blue Monster, and the affectionate name for this week’s Doral course in suburban Miami.
Under the care of Hanse and his partner, Jim Wagner the course that has held a PGA Tour event annually since 1962 looks virtually unrecognizable.
The field teeing up this week are already finding a different course, and while the routing is seemingly the same the course has been tweaked at almost every point, and this despite just 150-yards being added to the lay out.
Sand-capped fairways now drain much better than before while gone is the resortÂ’s bulbous, cauliflower bunkers and replaced by hazards that have a character that befits the name – the Blue Monster.
What has already surprised those who have played the course often is how much land within the whole Doral estate has not being used.
It has enabled Hanse and Wagner to push back greens and nearly double the size of putting surfaces, expand ponds, swing fairways closer to water, and dramatically enlarge the practice range from six acres to 16.
Justin Rose slayed the Blue Monster in 2012 for a first WGC win and then was tied for eighth last year behind Woods.
However as it’s suggested by many past form may count for little this week.
“I’d say it’s definitely a different Doral,” said Rose. “They have obviously been working hard at it.
“A lot’s clearly been done since last year; the golf course is a new golf course.
“There are elements that you recognise, but the shots and the lines and the reads on the greens are all completely new, so yes, I played well here in 2012 but again this is essentially a new golf course.”
