Mike Clayton (9)

I was very pleased to read that 9 South green shape and surrounds are to be modified in conjunction with its resurfacing. It remains to be seen how good the changes will be, but damn good idea, in this blogger’s view!

Yet again, this shows that Mike Clayton’s opinion is not the be-all and end-all of golf course design, and begs the question about how well our considerable money was spent in his employment.

The story goes (if I’m wrong, please speak up) that at the time of the course “modernisation”, the committee requested Mike Clayton to modify this hole, but he said he thought it was a good design and “refused” to change it. Really! He refused to change it. Any half self-respecting committee would have said change it Mike, or we’ll get someone else. I mean, who’s paying who?

But of course, that didn’t happen. Weak committee at the time, controlled by Gary Richardson, whose friendship with Mike Clayton is a clear conflict of interest. But, has anything changed nowadays?