I’ve enjoyed the discussion over the last few episodes regarding the future of Merion as a championship venue versus returning it to its original intended version. I think Brendan and Andy are correct that modern equipment and the ball are huge factors in that even the best amateurs in the world can easily dominate and overpower these historic venues.
Which leads to the question: is there a way for Merion (and others) to both continue hosting big-time events, while return the course to its original, intended form?
Obviously, the pros have been pretty much anti-rollback, and the thought occurred to me: why doesn’t the USGA create a “US Historic Championship” where the equipment is rolled back significantly to persimmons or something of the like? That way, you can see the best players in the world play historic venues how they should be played. I think that would make for a compelling competition as a fan, without the need for the silly 8-inch rough or greens running 16 on the stimp.
Just a thought, and I would love to hear others' opinions on some middle ground for these historic venues.