The 17th at St Andrews - better known as the Road Hole - is being lengthened ahead of next year's Open Championship.
Treacherous par-four gets extra yardage ahead of Open
The 17th at St Andrews - better known as the Road Hole - is being lengthened ahead of next year's Open Championship.
The treacherous par four that features a blind drive, a deep bunker in front of the green as well as a road at the back, has remained the same length for 100 years.
The decision has been made to increase the distance from 455 yards to 490 - with a new tee being constructed on the practice range across the disused railway line.
"The 17th was played at the same yardage in 1900 as it was in 2005 and this fuelled our belief that the formidable challenge of this iconic hole should be returned for the Open Championship," said Peter Dawson, the R&A's chief executive.
"Over the years we have seen the threat from the road behind the green, and to a lesser extent the Road Bunker, diminished as players have been hitting shorter irons for their approach shots allowing them to avoid these hazards more easily.
"This change will ensure that the hole plays as it was originally intended."
Overdue
At the recent Dunhill Links Championship eventual runner-up Rory McIlroy used only a seven-iron for his second shot and birdied the hole.
The Royal and Ancient Club believes the hole needs to be lengthened to restore it to its former glory - and that the move is long overdue.
"It has long been suggested that the 17th hole would benefit from additional length to restore the original challenge of the hole," the R&A said in a statement.
"In advance of the 1964 Open three-time Open champion Henry Cotton recommended the alteration stating: 'I would make a tee just beyond the railway line on the other course (the Eden Course is now the practice range). It would restore this drive to its former value.'
"An increased premium will be placed on an accurate drive of sufficient length over the (railway) sheds, encouraging players to take driver from the tee.
"The fairway will be widened slightly on the left-hand side to ensure that the tee shot remains fair.
"Crucially, the difficulty of the second shot will be re-established, making it more difficult to hold the approach on the putting surface and increasing the threat posed by both the road behind the green and the Road Bunker."
The lengthening of the hole is the only significant change planned for next year's event.
