"Looking back to move forward - Britain’s restoration opportunities"

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UK Golf Guy David Jones queried a range of people, yours truly included, about restoration and what classic British courses could use some dusting off and light sprucing.

In contrast, British projects are a little less high profile. There are some exceptions, such as at Woodhall Spa, Moortown and ongoing work at The Addington, but relatively few of the really classic British courses have been touched.

Clubs may be put off by the extravagant sound of a ‘restoration’, and indeed some of the budgets in the US are truly mind-boggling. Upcoming work at Yale is said to be costing $25 million. 

Dai Thomas makes the point that a multi-million pound budget isn’t necessarily needed to make significant changes. He say, ‘What many courses need in the first instance is comprehensive tree removal and wider mowing lines. Mowing line work doesn’t really cost much if anything. Tree removal usually does cost quite a bit but once done makes a huge difference’.

Check out what the experts nominated here.

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, December 23rd, 2021

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Quardilateral: Old Course Green But Still Grand

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Roundup: The Great Links On A Heavy Snow Day

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Uh, Ok Files: Old Course Hotel Claims American Golfers Less Likely To Hit One Sideways Than Scots

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Thanks to reader Brian for this Caroline Wilson story where the Herald writer tells us American golfers are less likely to hit balls into the Old Course hotel than Scots.

This “news” comes as the hotel has filed for netting to protect the Jigger Inn’s outdoor revelers from incoming golf balls after all these years.

The five-star hotel, which is owned by Herb Kohler, a bathroom hardware magnate from the US, has historically had a problem with wayward balls hitting its walls and it seems Scottish golfers may be mostly to blame.

According to hotel bosses it is the American golfers who are able to add enough curl in their stroke to prevent it hitting the walls of the hotel, which borders the famous 17th ‘Road hole’. Scots golfers, are said to be more likely to hit the building.

A hotel source said: “They have to hit it over the green sheds which is part of the hotel. It is famous and notoriously difficult.”

And we know those Scots all just hit it a few feet off the ground!

The story does seem to be talking about a pair of different tasks here: hitting over the faux railway sheds from the Road hole tee, versus slicing one into the actual hotel.

This all came up because The Jigger Inn is far down the hole and more in play for a shanked second. Nonetheless, to protect outdoor diners while the indoor portion is off limits, they’ve asked Fife planners for permission to safeguard folks from the wayward Scottish golfers…

Plans for a 14 metre long and 4.7 metre high safety net have been submitted to Fife Council, with applicants the Old Course Limited formally requesting a temporary relaxation of planning permission to put the barrier up until at least November.

Normally specific planning consent would be required to put up a fence or wall exceeding two metres in height.

Johan Rupert On COVID-19 Cancellation Of 2020 Dunhill Links: "Sorry, I love St Andrews too much"

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Martin Dempster catches up with Alfred Dunill Links chief Johan Rupert about cancelling the annual fall European Tour event in St Andrews that includes a pro-am. Safety was at the forefront of his decision.

“People could be acting in good faith and just accidentally cause reinfection. If you look at that time of the year in September and October, it’s cool, so people are indoors, they are going to be in pubs. Imagine everything going well and a couple of asymptomatic people come and they restart it. It is not responsible.

“Sorry, I love St Andrews too much and I love the Old Course too much. It is the culture, the space and the people that we love and we are not going to do anything to endanger that.

“My only sadness about the event being called off this year is for the community of St Andrews and also the community of Carnoustie because I know how much this event means to them. Also the caddies. I’ve had the same caddie for 17 years. It is devastating in that respect.”

The event would have been played in early October immediately following the Ryder Cup, which has also been postponed until 2021.

Nicklaus Wins The Open After Woods Bogies Road Hole, Or So The Fantasists Say

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The Open for the Ages is over and I’ll be honest, it was on too early in the morning for me to watch but I do look forward to watching even knowing the outcome.

From, Henry Dobereiner-Darwin-Longhurst or whoever crunched the numbers and divided it by the fan vote to produce an excuse to watch golf at St. Andrews and watch some links golf.

Nicklaus, the Champion over the Old Course in 1970 and 1978, trailed Woods by a single stroke with three holes remaining, but a birdie on the 16th lifted the Golden Bear back into a share of the lead.

Why, of course it did. And then Tiger three-putted the Road hole green…

Woods then bogeyed the 17th after missing the green to the left with his approach, meaning two closing pars were enough for Nicklaus to prevail with a final-day 68 and an aggregate score of 16 under.

Don’t spoil it for me by saying Jack threw his putter in the air. Judging by the choice to use 1978 Jack, I’m betting everyone is ok.

Anyway, the highlights, followed by the full broadcast:

Old Course Hotel Adding "Glass-Fronted" Bar Overlooking The Road Hole

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The Scotsman’s Stuart MacDonald explains the Old Course Hotel’s plan unveiling for a “luxury pub” with views over the Road hole.

The key attribute of the proposed terrace bar? Glass frontage.

Presumably glass that can stop an incoming dimpled white pellet stamped with things like Titleist, Taylor Made, Callaway or Bridgestone? Maybe?

Oh no, it’s about preserving the archtiectural integrity of the building once described by Henry Longhurst as looking like a chest with all the drawers pulled out.

“The need for the development is to continue to meet the demands for function space and to provide the highest quality of facilities to guests in a five-star hotel.

“The use of glass on the north and north-east elevations is designed to maximise and enhance views across the links and towards the town’s skyline, but also sensitively arranged to avoid overpowering the existing window forms and arrangements.

“The small-scale nature of the extension and the proposal to use like for like materials and finishes to match the existing hotel building is not likely to harm the setting or the historical significance of the St Andrews Links Designed Landscape.”

And to prevent loss of life.

The story also features an update on the far more historic Rusacks hotel along Links Road and the 18th hole.

Scottish Golf Podcast: Jamie Kennedy On The Reverse Old Course

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Desperately needing some escapist listening, I was thrilled to see Ru Macdonald’s latest Scottish Golf podcast with Jamie Kennedy, GolfTV digital and content manager, who was one of the lucky ones to play the Old Course in reverse. The playing held last November, the first in a decade, sets up the course as it was originally presented before Old Tom Morris worked his magic. (Tom Kidd won the first Open at St Andrews in the “reverse” configuration.)

As they note during the discussion, the day was a hit but does not come around often enough. Hopefully the Links Trust will take the success and international interest into consideration for more frequent future playings.

Here is the Apple podcasts link to the show. Or you can listen here:

Kennedy’s video documentation of the day and round on YouTube:

The Old Course Reopening On Wednesday To Yearly Ticketholders

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Given its age and lack of significant closures (except Sundays), there is something symbolic and reassuring to know the Old Course and other St Andrews courses reopen Wednesday.

GolfDigest.com’s Joel Beall with the particulars, just in case you were thinking of trying to get on the ballot.

It will not be business as usual. The letter states that “at this time all courses are available for Yearly Ticket holders only.” Tee times will be made in 12-minute intervals with two golfers per tee time.

There will also be no walk-ups, so if necessary there is a track and trace record of who is on the links.

Last week Scottish Golf confirmed that May 29 would be the earliest return date for Scottish courses. However, a number of courses, especially those in Edinburgh, are targeting June 8 for re-opening.

In other St Andrews-adjacent news, one of the all time great golf pros is hanging up his spikes, and now Crail gets just its second pro in club history.

From Martin Dempster’s story on Graeme Lennie deciding to retire year’s end, to be replaced by David Snodgrass.

“The messages of congratulations have been truly 
overwhelming and humbling. I am extremely passionate about Crail GS and the local community and I am very excited for the 
journey ahead.

“Crail is an incredibly special club, with two amazing courses, a friendly and supportive membership and it is a dream come true to become the next head professional.”

Lennie is retiring after 
34 years, during which time he has helped establish the club as one of Scotland’s favourite golfing destinations. It was also his close friendship with renowned course designer Gil Hanse that led to the American designing Crail’s Craighead Links that opened for play in 1998.

For those dreaming of a St Andrews area itinerary, please keep the courses at Crail in mind. You’ll enjoy this view even more in person:

And the 14th hole on Hanse’s Craighead course:

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Guardian: "UK's old university towns hit by Covid-19 'double whammy'"

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The Guardian’s Caroline Davies considers the state of United Kingdom university towns and while several have ties to golf, there is really only one: St Andrews.

From her story:

Around 9,000 students make up one-third of the population, and Scotland’s oldest university, which generated £268.6m for the local economy in 2018, is the town’s major employer, supporting 4,260 jobs.

With the scenic coastline of north-east Fife, and the Royal and Ancient a golfing destination par excellence, tourism is the second major employer.

“But we are a long way from knowing how students will be able to come, and how many. It’s very difficult to see how international students will be able to return in any numbers at all if normal term times are able to start again,” said Alan Mitchell, chief executive of the Fife chamber of commerce. “Equally, it’s hard to see international golf tourism happening any time soon.”

"Right now, every day is Sunday in the cradle of the game."

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Bunkered’s Michael McEwan files as uplifting a look as you can when visiting a locked down St. Andrews.

He covers all elements of the town, operation and details of the limited course maintenance allowed since the lockdown started March 23 to combat COVID-19.

Up and into the heart of the town, there’s only the faintest pulse of life. Auchterlonie’s Golf Shop, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, is shut, as are all of the town’s most famous 19th holes: The Dunvegan, The Keys, The Whey-Pat, The Westport, Greyfriars Inn, Ham’s Hame, The Criterion and more.

The cobbles of Market Street are empty. The six bells of St Salvator's Chapel Tower on the university campus don’t chime. The students have nearly all skipped town. The tourists who top up the population have yet to arrive.

"Appeal fund launched for caddies at St Andrews"

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The Scotsman’s Martin Dempster reports on the caddiemaster’s effort to raise funds for St. Andrews caddies out of work. His effort is separate of the St Andrews Links Trust.

Fraser Riddler has established a GoFundMe goal of £20,000, and is trying to get the word out for his troops. From his write-up on the page:

Unfortunately, the caddies who regularly stride the fairways at St Andrews Links are among the worst affected. Caddies have been part of the fabric of golf in St Andrews for almost as long as the game has been played here.  There are references to caddies dating back as far as 1691 at the Home of Golf and through to the modern day they continue to make a meaningful contribution to the enjoyment of the game by golfers of all ages and abilities.

With no play possible for the foreseeable future and international travel set to be badly affected for the remainder of the summer season, caddie’s livelihoods are being seriously impacted. There is concern for the financial hardship many caddies might face due to the course closures. With this in mind, many have indicated they would like to offer help and support to the caddies during this difficult period.

Brooks Koepka: Give Me The Old Course Every Day

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USA Today’s Steve DiMeglio interviewed Brooks Koepka about a range of topics and while his favorite snack is noteworthy, the wokesters and architecturalistas will rejoice hearing his very non-Florida Man answer to favorite course.

“My favorite course is St. Andrews, that’s easy. I could play that every day of my life and not get bored of it. It’s always different. Every time you play it, it’s like, why is this bunker here? Then you play it the next couple of rounds and the wind’s in a different direction, different strength, and you realize why that bunker’s there.”