Renovation at Bay Hill Club & Lodge

The Championship course at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, one of Florida's top golf courses, was recently reconstructed by a team led by course owner and resident Arnold Palmer.

"The opinion is that we make courses harder and harder," Palmer said of renovating Bay Hill Club & Lodge. "Our purpose has changed a little bit. We decided to rethink that."

The total yardage increased marginally for the pros, and actually decreased from the resort tees.

Instead of yardage, the most significant changes are visual. Most of the bunkers were raised to make them more visible on tee shots and approach shots and lines around water hazards were made more defined.

In addition, the greens were made flatter and were reseeded with Emerald Bermudagrass. The flattening results in more "pinnable" locations on each green, and the new seed is meant to be less grainy than traditional Bermudagrass.

Here is a before-and-after image of each hole at Bay Hill Club & Lodge ...

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 1

The par-4 first hole at Bay Hill Club & Lodge features three greenside bunkers, which are now clearly visible from the fairway.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 2

The green on Bay Hill Club & Lodge's par-3 second hole was rotated 30 degrees clockwise to enable players to hold long iron and woods. This hole can play up to 245 yards.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - hole No. 3

The green at Bay Hill Club & Lodge's par-4 third hole was expanded toward the water to create an array of pin positions close to the hazard line.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 4

Bay Hill Club & Lodge's fifth hole was converted into a true par 5 without lengthening the hole by adding a layup bunker and reducing the green size.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 5

A steep slope front right of the fifth green at Bay Hill Club & Lodge provides a new layer of difficulty to this short par 4.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 6

One of the toughest par 5s in Florida - no. 6 at Bay Hill - just got more strategic with the raising of greenside bunkers and the addition of a collection area over the green.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 7

A more severe false front coupled with a new pin front-right makes the seventh one of the toughest par-3s at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 8

The tee shot on the eighth hole at Bay Hill Club & Lodge is more intimidating now because of a larger fairway bunker.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 9

The imposing left fairway bunker on the ninth hole at Bay Hill Club & Lodge was shifted 40 yards down the fairway to cause players to play right instead of carrying it.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 10

The fairway bunkers on the 10th hole at Bay Hill Club & Lodge were made larger.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - hole 11

Areas around the perimeter of Bay Hill Club & Lodge's 11th green were smoothed out to introduce pins closer to the greenside bunkers and lake edge.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 12

The par-5 12th hole at Bay Hill Club & Lodge was actually shortened from the back tees, but made more strategic with the extension of the fairway bunkering and a green with severe run-off areas.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 13

Bay Hill Club & Lodge's 13th green used to have a lot of movement around the edges, but was flattened to allow for more hole locations teetering on the edge of the rocky waterline.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 14

Bunkers right of Bay Hill Club & Lodge's 14th green were replaced by a runoff area. The green also was flattened to allow for more hole locations front left, tucked behind the bunker.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 15

A back tee was built across the road, which, if used at the Arnold Palmer Invitational would stretch Bay Hill Club & Lodge's par-4 15th to a mammoth 465 yards.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge golf course - No. 16

No. 16 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge plays as a par 5 for members and resort guests, but was made into a true par 5 for the pros by increasing the visual intimidation factor.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 17

The beach bunker Bay Hill Club & Lodge's 17th hole was made much larger, adding to the visual appeal and difficulty of this par 3.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge - No. 18

The bunkers on Bay Hill Club & Lodge's par-4 18th hole were made more visible, and the green was flattened, increasing the likelihood of more drama at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Courtesy of Bay Hill Club & Lodge