#138 Restoring Chandler Egan's Pebble Beach

The podcast discusses the history of the Pebble Beach Golf Course and the significance of Chandler Egan’s renovations. Egan, a forgotten figure, dramatically transformed the course before the 1929 U.S. Amateur, and the restoration of individual elements of his design highlights its quality. However, a complete return to Egan’s layout is considered complicated and costly, even though similar projects at other courses have been successful. The discussion highlights the conflict between economic interests and the desire to preserve the original architectural plan. Opinions on a full restoration are divided. Chandler Egan played a crucial role in the development of Pebble Beach, dramatically altering the course and introducing strategic elements.

• Original Design: The course was designed in 1919 by amateurs Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, but Egan was the driving force behind its brilliant redesign.
• Egan’s Transformation: Before the 1929 U.S. Amateur, Egan lengthened eleven holes, redesigned sixteen greens, and altered the angles of play from the tee and fairway to the green.
• Strategy and the Ocean: Egan aimed to bring the ocean into play, most notably at the 9th hole, where the old fairway still hugs the cliffs.
• Forgotten Figure: Although a multiple U.S. Amateur champion, Egan faded into obscurity over the last century. However, his role in transforming Pebble Beach into a national treasure is now receiving increasing recognition.
• 7th and 17th Holes: Egan’s design of the 7th and 17th holes is particularly notable, especially the hourglass shape of the 17th green, which had shrunk over the years but has now been expanded.
• Restoration: The debate continues over whether the entire course should be restored to Egan’s original design, as some greens from the Egan era have already been improved, raising the question of why not restore the entire course.
• Enhancing Course Quality: Egan’s changes made the course strategically more demanding, elevating its quality for championships.

Egan’s contributions are now gaining more appreciation as his work as a Golden Age architect is increasingly recognized. Chandler Egan made significant modifications to Pebble Beach to enhance its strategic challenge and prepare it for the 1929 U.S. Amateur. His specific changes included:

• Lengthening the holes: Egan extended eleven holes on the course.
• Redesigning the greens: He reworked sixteen greens, significantly altering the course.
• Changing angles of play: Egan modified shot angles from the tee and fairway to the green, greatly impacting strategy.
• Incorporating the ocean: He aimed to bring the ocean more into play, as seen at the 9th hole, where the old fairway still follows the cliffs.
• 7th and 17th Holes: His designs for the 7th and 17th holes stand out. The 17th green, which had shrunk over time, was restored to its original hourglass shape.
• Strategic vision: Egan’s changes introduced strategic elements, making the course more challenging and improving its quality for championships.

Egan’s work was not just about visual transformation but also about making the course more challenging and providing the best possible setup for the U.S. Open. His changes helped elevate Pebble Beach to the status of a national treasure.

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