A PDF was sent to players and caddies earlier this week outlining the changes to Muirfield Village Golf Club over the last 10 months. The renovation to the Nicklaus masterpiece was done to make the course more playable for the members. This story was first reported by Geoff Shackleford.
Founder Jack Nicklaus has described the course renovation as a desire to “make the golf course better, not necessarily harder”. Recent visits by the PGA TOUR’s Agronomy and Rules staff, confirm the changes are both dramatic to the eye, while substantially improving the playability of the golf course.
The summary below highlights the renovation details:
• Construction started July 20, with the last green sodded October 1.
• All greens were reconstructed with new bentgrass, irrigation and Precision Air systems.
• Most holes had the green complexes 100% recontoured and rebuilt with significant bunker modifications. Only greens on holes 12, 13, 14 and 17 resemble the old greens.
• All tees were resurfaced. New professional tees were added on holes 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, in addition to those already added on holes 8, 11, and 15 prior to the 2020 tournaments.
In total approximately 100 yards in length has been added to the course since July. (This could make the course play as long as ~7,500 yards.
• All fairway & greenside bunkers were rebuilt. On holes 1, 15, & 17 the fairway bunker
complexes were strategically repositioned.
• All fairways were resurfaced, and additional drainage was installed on multiple fairways.
• All green surrounds were resurfaced.
• Hole #15 was rebuilt in entirety from tee to green with new fairway bunkers and
extensive grade changes to the second and third shot landing zones.
To view photographs and hole-by-hole notes for the changes, click HERE
