Over the next century more bunkers would be added, filled in, expanded and changed. The St Andrews Links Trust has managed the course since 1974 and notifications of changes to the course are circulated to all the town’s clubs.
So are the recent changes worth all this hullabaloo? Not if you look at the evolution of the course historically. Old Tom was a custodian of the links in every way. No one took more pride in the course or was more protective of it. He, more than anyone, knew that more than nature was at hand in St Andrews, and he certainly did not believe that the work of Da Anderson or Allan Robertson should remain untouched.
For St Andrews, making changes to the Old Course really is nothing new.
Changing Times
So what changes are the R&A, in harness with the St Andrews Links Trust, actually making in preparation for the 2015 Open Championship? R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson reveals all:
Phase 1
The 2nd: Right of the green is so flat there is no premium for hitting the green. We'll make this area more undulating. There are two bunkers short and right, 25 yards away from that green. No one is ever in them so they are being moved closer to the green.
The 7th: There is a collection area in the fairway where balls go into and it's full of divots. That dip has been filled in and it has been turned into a very slight mound.
The 11th: We have eased off the slope on the left-hand side. The left side of that green has been unusable – not just for The Open, but normal play, except in winter when the greens are slower.
The 17th: The Road Hole bunker is rebuilt every year as it gets so much play and damage. We will finalise a design and map it digitally so that every time it is rebuilt it remains faithful to what it was.
Phase 2
The 3rd: The bunkering on the 3rd doesn't extend far enough for it to be a risk to drive up the right. The proposal is to create another bunker further up in line with the others, and take out the first fairway bunker.
The 4th: We are going to put some gentle undulations right of the green. There is also a bunker right of the 4th green that we are going to move closer.
The 6th: We are going to undulate the flat area right of the 6th green, merging with the 7th tee.
The 9th: The proposal is for a new bunker 25 yards short of the green on the left. This is to increase the risk/reward ratio of having a go at the green.
The 15th: We are going to undulate the area over the green to the right of the back bunker.
