|
To create a course that looked like it fit in -- even though there was no template for what a Brazilian golf course would look like -- Hanse turned to the sandy Australian courses like Kingston Heath, outside of Melbourne.
"Our goal is to move the amount of earth you need to make something interesting but mask it so that it looks natural. Therefore it feels, in theory, traditional," Hanse said. "We're really not honoring any traditions for that course. But we're hoping that our presentation honors the tradition of building natural golf courses."
Building new and updating a traditional course both have their advantages, Hanse said.
"When you have the opportunity to build something from scratch, that's your own idea ... we have a lot of fun with that," he said. "But we're quite capable and ready to turn our focus to something like this, where it's more of a preservation and restoration mode. And I think we learn a ton from soaking up what the original architect did."
The U.S. Open returned to The Country Club on the 50th anniversary of Ouimet's victory, with Julius Boros beating Arnold Palmer and Jacky Cupit in a playoff. On the 75th anniversary, in 1988, Curtis Strange won a playoff against Nick Faldo.
When the Ryder Cup was held at the course in 1999, the Americans came back from a 10-6 deficit on the final day in what has come to be known as the "Battle of Brookline." Justin Leonard helped the United States clinch with a 45-foot putt on the 17th green -- the same hole that was pivotal in Ouimet's win.
Hanse kept his hands off that green, too.
"With any course we work on, you just want to get a good champion. You want to have good competition and identify a really good champion," Hanse said. "This club has always hosted great championships, exciting finishes."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries
Community |
Perspectives
|
Law & Courts |
Leisure Time
|
Spiritual Life |
Health & Fitness |
Teen Scene
Calendar
|
Letters to the Editor