UPDATED 10:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
Photos of the work on the Road Hole Bunker from the website Hookedongolfblog.com<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.hookedongolfblog.com\/2012\/11\/26\/changes-at-st-andrews-old-course-spark-heated-debates<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UPDATED 2:08 p.m.<\/p>\n
Tom Doak’s letter to the golf architect societies.<\/p>\n
To:<\/p>\n
Bob Cupp, President, American Society of Golf Course Architects
\nRainer Preissmann, President, European Institute of Golf Course
\nArchitects
\nGraham Papworth, President, Society of Australian Golf Course Architects
\nJohn Young, British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association<\/p>\n
Gentlemen:<\/p>\n
I was horrified yesterday to read of the changes proposed to The Old
\nCourse at St. Andrews.\u00a0 No longer content just to add back tees for
\nchampionship play, the club and its consulting architect, Martin
\nHawtree, have planned to move bunkers, add contouring around the
\ngreens, and soften slopes in other places prior to the next Open
\nchampionship.<\/p>\n
I have felt for many years that The Old Course was sacred ground to
\ngolf architects, as it was to Old Tom Morris and C. B. Macdonald and
\nHarry Colt and Alister MacKenzie before us.\u00a0 It has been untouched
\narchitecturally since 1920, and I believe that it should remain so.\u00a0 I
\nunderstood this to be the feeling of many other architects who attended
\nthe World Forum on Golf Architecture in St. Andrews, three years ago.<\/p>\n
I don’t believe it should be IMPOSSIBLE to change The Old Course, or
\nany other historic course.\u00a0 But I think it should be a lot harder than it
\ncurrently is, where only the management of the club and any consulting
\narchitect they hire have to agree.\u00a0 I think that the default position
\nshould be that such an international treasure should be guarded, and
\nthat there should be a high burden of proof that changes need to be
\nmade, before they can be made.<\/p>\n
I feel strongly enough about this to stick my neck out on it, and make
\nthe case publicly to everyone I know, including and especially contacts
\nin the media.\u00a0 In fact, one of the reasons I have never applied for
\nmembership in your organizations is the desire to speak my mind about
\nsuch things without having to arrive at a consensus first.\u00a0 However,
\ncontrary to popular perception, I have no desire to step over you on
\nthis matter if you are interested in taking the same stand.<\/p>\n
I propose to make a petition to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club
\nexpressing that as a golf course architect, I feel that The Old Course
\nis sacred ground, and that architectural changes should not be made to
\nit unless necessary for the maintenance and health of the course.\u00a0 I
\nwould like to know from each of you individually, whether you are
\ninterested in participating in this movement, and whether your
\norganizations might be interested in participating as well.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Tom Doak
\nRenaissance Golf Design Inc.<\/p>\n