Changes

The greens committee of Taconic is currently considering a bunker renovation course restoration project to start in the next 3 to 5 years. Depending on what changes As of spring 2006, they are decided onworking with architect Gil Hanse, who has had a hand in restoring such classic courses as Merion East, Kittansett, this could be and Fenway. One exciting proposed change is adding a positive or negative turn lower tee for Taconic: #12 to the left of the existing tee. actions such This would make the tee ball more intimidating, as restoring the old Stiles angle would be sharper and the shot semi-blind up and Van Kleek cross bunkers over the steep falloff; hopefully Hanse will also think about removing the huge oak on the 7th corner of the hole to open up the dangerous long left driving alley more. From an interview on golfclubatlas.com, a few of Hanse's thoughts on restoring classic courses such as Taconic: "I think that the restoration of any classic courses should not be constrained in any way by what is considered reasonable in this day and age. I think that the true charm and character of these courses can often be found in what has been removed or perhaps moving altered from the original design. Most often the reason that these features have been removed is that they were considered unfair or obsolete 6th hole bunkers further uphill toward . It is our contention that what is often considered unfair by the mainstream member, is the very stuff that you want to reintroduce. Because these features must have had a very real influence on the playability of the green would golf course for them to be so controversial. The fact that someone had to think about a step in feature is what every architect should be striving toward.  So often these courses have been emasculated through the right directionremoval of 'controversial' features, but major relocation of bunkers and greens could sour then tree lined so that the wonderful ambience and fluidity destruction of any form of recovery or angle of attack is removed from the course currently enjoys. A better step In essence, golf on many of these courses has been reduced to hit it in play or in the trees. If you hit it in play, it would be unfair to start with clearing have anything in front of you i.e., cross bunkers, berms, or a natural feature that obscured your view. If you hit it in the trees, you really don't deserve a chance at recovery, so chip it out unnecessary tree plantings in order to reestablish driving strategy sideways. I truly believe that the introduction of way too many trees and also open the eradication of classic features have seriously eroded the quality of these old courses. The beauty of many of these courses is that the architect set the course up to make recovery shots more vistas across fairways difficult, through the angling of a green, the locations of bunkers, etc. Difficult, yet not impossible as it is from the tree lined courses of today." Hanse's ideology and experience appear to distant peaksbe an excellent fit for Taconic as it moves forward with course changes. The course was originally built on farmland, Thinning out trees and while the majestic pines add separation and isolation to individual holes, opening up selective adding long-forgotten crossbunkers are a necessary step in making Taconic an even purer golden-age golf course views would add to than it is currently. With well-thought out restoration strategies completed, Taconic will shine even brighter as one of the classic nature few true jewels of the layoutNew England golf.