Spirits dampened by watered links

Later this year the second phase of a u2.5 £2.5 million sterling irrigation system will be installed on the Old Course at St Andrews, making it the biggest undertaking of its kind in Europe. And despite the fast-running nature of the course this week, there are those who would see the development as a retrograde step.

Among them is Joe Findlay, the course superintendent at Royal Portrush, which earned rich praise for its staging of the last four Senior British Opens. "Links characteristics are free-draining soils, fescue fairways and a mix on the greens," said Findlay. "But judging by their comments in the media, a lot of course superintendents are succumbing to the idea that `green is great'."

In Findlay's opinion, this goes against traditional linkland aversions to liberal watering, fertilising and other chemical applications associated with the American game. But architects and course managers will argue that a huge increase in green-fee traffic makes it imperative for links terrain to be properly irrigated if it is not to go into serious decline.

This is clearly the view at the Home of Golf where four bore-holes serve a 750,000 gallon reservoir and over 4,000 sprinkler heads. With more to come.