The Wet and the Dry:
Irrigation System and Links Review. By Brian Chapman.
Introduction
July 23rd 2006. It is 10pm and the sun has finally set beyond
the Red Rocks. Two vapour trails magically meet over the dark outline of the grandstand round the last green to form a V; a sign perhaps of valediction for all that had happened over the preceding days. The first Hoylake Open for 39 years has finished, and the hard work of the thousands of people involved has produced a great Championship. Despite the dry hot weather, the course has proved itself against the finest of competitors, and the best player in the world, has won it. Amongst the members of the club are some who, while
delighted at the outcome; record crowds, the wonderful weather, the huge support of local inhabitants, and the very positive press comment; are already thinking ahead. Yes, it has been fun, and all has gone very well, but it could be even better next time! We’ve learned a lot and there is much to be done which cannot wait. Fast forward to April 2007, and the Links Review gets under
way. There are a number of reasons why we embarked upon this project. Obviously it was important to ensure that we should take account of the lessons learned from the experience of staging of a modern Open after a gap of nearly 40 years. But the main reasons for what has been a major series of works, has to do with the playability of the course throughout the year every year, and to ensure its enjoyment by all standards of members and visitors alike. Frankly because of the number and severity of the bunkers the course was getting just a little too demanding for ordinary mortals. But while making the course more playable for the majority, could we also make it more demanding for competitors in a future Open? And this is not just about building a lot more back tees. Also very much in mind was the need for any course changes to be geared towards lower maintenance costs associated particularly with the protection of distressed areas (heavily used walk-off routes from greens, walkways etc.) It would be important to remember what sort of a golf
course we have. Much of it is relatively flat and the excellence of the holes owes a great deal to subtlety. The greens tend to be at fairway level and often lack definition. A bunker may
Magical vapour trails over the 18th stand
be far shorter of a green than it may appear. The fast firm putting surfaces are often defended by tricky swales. Horace Hutchinson writing in 1892 described the putting greens as “the most perfect in all the world”, so we have much to live
up to. The historic boundaries of the course are an important feature although some of the old “cops” marking those boundaries have disappeared or reduced in size. Bunkering plays a part, but only a bit part. 1st,8th,and 11th, arguably
17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60