Black sheep prove welcome eco-friendly 'mowers' at Machrihanish Dunes

GOLF DIGEST: IN these straitened times, golf clubs are being forced to think outside the box when it comes to looking after the bottom line.

So when we heard that the owners of Machrihanish Dunes, a new links course on the west coast of Scotland, had invested in a flock of sheep to keep their fairways trimmed we assumed they were taking penny-pinching to a new level.

But not only are these ‘mowers’ cost-effective, they’re also essential. Built on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the 260-acre layout has areas where mowing using heavy machinery is strictly prohibited.

As such, the course brought in 25 Black Hebrideans, black sheep are obviously welcomed here, to help thin out the rough and other parts of the course where mowing is not allowed due to environmental restrictions.

These eco-friendly mowers do have the occasional drawback, however.

“Their droppings have to be cleared each morning and sometimes they urinate on the putting surfaces leaving marks the size of a 50p,” explained the head greenkeeper. “But on the whole they are no extra trouble.”

Obama protesters make sad point

BARACK Obama’s love affair with the game has been well- documented. So much so, that some broad-minded individuals chose a golf course to spread their hate-filled message in Boston recently.

Members of the Lakeville Country Club were greeted with a swastika carved into the 18th green next to Obama’s name. The USA’s Secret Service was called in to investigate the incident.

“This is sick,” said owner Gary Mosca. “They are going to do this stuff and cause a problem just to be anti-establishment or just to be tough guys. Their minds are probably demented enough to think of anything.”

Australian Open decide to call a halt to 'party hole'

THE ‘party hole’ at the Australian Open has been scrapped after a short but controversial tenure at the Royal Sydney club. For the past two years, the beer flowed freely and DJs pumped out music around the 17th hole in a bid to create a stadium atmosphere and attract new fans to the game.

Modelled on the notorious 16th at the FBR Open on the PGA Tour, the innovation was not to everyone’s taste. Matters reached a head last December when a drunken ‘fan’ heckled Robert Allenby about his mother, who was gravely ill with cancer at the time. She has since died.

Outraged, Allenby vowed never to return while he claimed the hole promoted alcoholism. Now, having sought the opinion of leading players, organisers have decided to do away with the concept.

“The Robert Allenby issue could have happened elsewhere,” said Stephen Pitt of Golf Australia.

“That risk isn’t confined to golf. But it was probably exacerbated by alcohol. It’s a risk that at the end of the day we would just rather not have at our event.”

Aussies ready to pamper Woods

STAYING in Australia, the organisers of the Australian Masters in Melbourne have pulled out all the stops to ensure Tiger Woods feels at home.

Not only is Woods reported to be receiving in the region of €2.5 million in appearance money to entice him Down Under, the world number one will have access to a private jet, VIP security and top-secret accommodation during his stay.

The organisers have even laid on front-row seats at a broadway show and are determined to afford Woods a “rock-star welcome”. Incidentally, the event will now be co-sanctioned by the European Tour. And that’s good news for Gary Murphy as he fights to hold onto his card.

The Kilkenny golfer is currently 123rd on the Order of Merit (only the top 115 hold onto their playing rights for next season) and the Australian Masters is likely to be his last chance to climb the rankings.