Press Release
13 March 2000

BUNKERS READY FOR THE OPEN

All 112 bunkers on the Old Course have now been refaced in preparation for the Open Championship in July. The work has been carried out by the Links Trust's Old Course greenkeeping team over the last 12 months.

From the notorious Road Hole Bunker on the 17th to the innocuous-looking Kruger on the 9th hole, every individual bunker was stripped down and the sides were refaced using layer upon layer of turf - a process known as revetting. Three of the largest bunkers - Hell, Shell and Cottage - had more extensive work carried out. They were rebuilt using railway sleepers sunk into concrete to create a template for future repairs. Around five and a half acres of turf from the Links Trust's turf nursery were used in total.

"It is a major achievement for the greenkeeping team," said Alan McGregor, general manager. "This is the first time in the history of the course that all the bunkers have been revetted in one go - usually bunkers are repaired and renewed on a five year rolling programme."

Greenkeepers were out in all weathers through the winter and it took five men two months to complete the task and they used six acres of turf. It was a big challenge but well worth the effort required and will contribute significantly to overall presentation of the course.