But when used by elite tour professionals, golf's distance conversation takes a more serious turn, according to Gil Hanse, the leading golf coursearchitect.
Mr Irvine will return this month with golf coursearchitect Martin Ebert and agronomist Alistair Beggs, to trace the original greens and produce a plan for the restoration.
After the Cadillac Championship, the Blue Monster will be shut down for six-to-eight months for a renovation led by golf coursearchitect, Gil Hanse, the man chosen to design the 2016 Olympic course in Rio de Janeiro.