PHILIP REIDtalks to Brian Coburn about preserving and protecting Ireland's rich links heritage

THE TIDE is changing, in more ways than one. For Ireland’s links courses, the spring tide – backed by a following wind – is the worst of times when it comes to the on-going threat of coastal erosion. And, although that seasonal hazard will abate as the days of the calendar move onwards, nobody is under any illusions about the menace that tides annually bring with them.

Indeed, this part of Mother Nature’s armoury is but one of a series of factors that the country’s links courses must endure and overcome. Rosslare, Arklow, Tralee, Royal Portrush and Ballybunion, down through the years, are among those seaside courses who have faced on-going battles (mainly successful, due to the construction – at great expense – of rock armour, sea walls and gabions) with coastal erosion.

In the main, though, Mother Nature has been kind to Ireland, blessed as it is with almost one-third of the world’s links courses. And the recent establishment of the Irish Links Initiative, the brainchild of Royal County Down’s Brian Coburn, aims to provide a non-profit making self-help body of like-minded people to “preserve, protect and promote Ireland’s links heritage” so these courses – strung like emerald jewellery around the country’s coastline – can continue to prosper.

Although the Irish Links Initiative is only in its fledgling days, this labour of love for Coburn – the long-time greens convenor at RCD – has already been fully embraced by links courses who have seen the immense benefits of working together to counteract any problems associated with keeping their courses among the most treasured of all golfing global products.

The Irish Links Initiative has set out a number of objectives:

– Maintaining and conserving the heritage of Irish links golf.

– Enhancing the links experience in its natural raw state.

– To promote the education of links management.

– To exchange and share information among links courses.

– Creating greater awareness of Irish links courses.

– To promote Irish links golf locally, nationally and internationally.

For sure, there is a cross-over with some existing marketing devices, especially in terms of promotion, although both Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board are supporting the initiative. Among its other supporters are Toro, the machinery group which now incorporates Lely, while John O’Connor, a director of Capel Developments which owns the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, has also put his weight behind the initiative.

Coburn, not surprisingly given his involvement with Royal County Down’s majestic terrain, is passionate about links golf. “We’re not reinventing the wheel with this initiative,” he conceded, “we’re trying to get a proper structure in place that will ensure all of Ireland’s links courses will remain very special. There are many challenges to be faced, but we have expertise – especially among the course superintendents and green keepers – and it is important that this knowledge can be shared. We will raise the bar and create awareness, and it will give us more strength to talk to the EU on links-associated issues if we speak as one voice.”

In pointing out that links golf goes back to the very origins of the sport and that it provides tremendous enjoyment for players, Coburn added: “Links golf is one of the really great experiences for anyone involved in the game but true links courses are a finite resource . . . given the location of links courses and today’s very real concerns for the environment, it is unlikely many of these type of courses will be developed globally.”

With over 30 per cent of the world’s seaside links courses in Ireland, Coburn feels it is important that “we lead the way” and it is one of the reasons why he formed the Irish Links Initiative last year when the two meetings to establish the body – one in Rosses Point and the other in Portmarnock Links – attracted interested parties including course superintendents, course managers, secretary managers and green convenors from most of the country’s links courses.

“There is a real interest in preserving and enhancing this unique resource which we have. Our intention is to continue with the series of meetings and regional workshops. We also believe that there should be greater promotion of the whole links experience and, to that end, it is our intention to develop a website. This website would not only have a section for our members dealing with problem areas such as climate change and coastal erosion but it would also have a visitor or tourist section providing overseas golfer with all the information they need to know about Irish links courses,” said Coburn.

“If we are to preserve the heritage of our great links courses we believe there needs to be more education for links golf courses superintendents and course managers. We feel there is a real opportunity to share information and ideas on low maintenance links greenkeeping. We consider the future is all about less interference as we preserve this wonderful asset.”

Coastal erosion, through the years, has been arguably the biggest problem facing links courses. There are, in fact, many options available to clubs for managing erosion, including intervention through the construction of revetments and seawalls, but they are expensive and also have to be cognisant of impacting on the coastline’s natural heritage and in reducing the likelihood of moving the problem on and altering the shoreline’s evolution elsewhere.

Links golf courses are not just under threat from coastal erosion. Climate change – leading to a more stressful climate on water resources – will likely occupy future generations. Of more immediate concern, though, are other factors which include new insects which can affect root growth in grasses. For example, the European chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis) is a beetle-like insect that has caused problems only in recent years and the Links Initiative aims to use a networking of green superintendents to help each other in coping with such nuisances.

Other areas that the initiative aims to address is encouraging fauna and flora on links courses, control of gorse and bracken and water management. Ultimately, though, the aim is to maintain Irish links courses at the top order of world golf. “Playability is a big thing on links courses,” admitted Coburn, “and all courses are always trying to improve. Taking care of links courses requires embracing unique principles which includes least interference maintenance, minimal use of fertilisers and limited watering (for) firm greens and fairways. ”

The idea is by working together, everyone can – and will – benefit. It is a labour of love Coburn, for one, believes will succeed.