Some of the leading names in the world of golf course architecture have joined the debate raging around planned changes to the Old Course at St Andrews for the 2015 Open Championship.
Tom Doak, one of America’s highest profile golf course designers, has told The Scotsman newspaper he is “horrified” at the changes planned by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the St Andrews Links Trust.
Doak, the designer of The Renaissance Club in East Lothian Scotland , Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand and Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Oregon U.S.A has written to four golf course and green-keeping bodies around the world asking for them to support his bid to overturn the changes.
Plans for petition
He plans to petition the R&A in a bid to stop the changes.
He described the Old Course as “an international treasure that should be guarded.”
Earlier, we blogged about the full list of changes planned to The Old Course, the Home of Golf, and the most historic golf links in the world.
Doak’s letter was sent to the presidents of the Australian, American and European societies of golf course architects as well as the Scottish regional administrator of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association.
Separately, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects has polled its members to get their views.
EIGCA President, Rainer Preissmann, commented; “In the last few days there has been much debate within the golf industry about the improvements being carried out to strengthen The Old Course for the world’s top golfers.
It has demonstrated some strong feelings. Because we represent over 115 members, each with differing views, the EIGCA do not have an official position. We have therefore polled our members to understand the spread of opinions within the EIGCA.”
The questionnaire will not relate specifically to the current proposals but will ask about the broader principles of alterations being carried out on the historic Old Course.
The result of the poll will be published next week.
The golf world is divided over the changes, which the R&A has said are being made to “stiffen its defences” ahead of the 2015 Open Championship, and to ensure that The Old Course retains its prominence as one of the leading venues on the Open rota.
Top professional golfers have also voiced their opposition, with Ian Poulter taking to Twitter to say “what’s next, draw a tasch on the Mona Lisa,” and “put a wind mill and a bridge across the Valley of Sin.”
Graeme McDowell and Colin Montgomerie also voiced their opposition to the changes, which include flattening the back left portion of the 11th green, lowering the mounds on the leff of the 4th fairway, widening the Road Hole bunker and adding new bunkers at the 2nd and 9th holes.
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