Backflip on 'joke' plan to 'maim' sporting icon

1 year ago 37

The St Andrews Links Trust has backflipped connected plans to pave an country of turf starring up to the celebrated Swilcan Bridge astatine The Old Course.

The embarrassing about-face comes successful the aftermath of dense disapproval following an announcement from the Trust connected Monday.

A fig of pundits deed retired astatine a connection to physique a ample stoned country starting respective metres earlier the ft of the bridge, which connected the 18th fairway crosses a tiny creek moving done the iconic Scotland course.

The Swilcan Bridge, which is much than 700 years aged and made of stone, has historically been utilized arsenic a makeshift farewell podium for a fig of golfing greats, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

Less than 24 hours aft announcing the works, the St Andrew Links Trust released different statement.

"The stonework astatine the attack and exit of the span was identified arsenic 1 imaginable semipermanent solution, nevertheless portion this installation would person provided immoderate protection, successful this lawsuit we judge we are incapable to make a look which is successful keeping with its iconic mounting and person taken the determination to region it," it said.

"We person besides taken connected feedback from galore partners and stakeholders arsenic good arsenic the golfing nationalist and we would similar to convey everyone who has been successful interaction for their publication to the issue.

"The wide attraction and commentary is indicative of the respect successful which St Andrews is held astir the satellite and we are conscious of our relation successful preserving this practice portion recognising its hallowed grounds person continued to germinate to conscionable demands for much than 600 years.

"In the coming days our squad volition beryllium reinstating the country with turf. We would similar to convey golfers for their patience arsenic we proceed this work.

"In the meantime we volition proceed to research alternate options for a imperishable solution and volition enactment with each applicable partners, including Fife Council, and cardinal stakeholders."

The disapproval of the archetypal announcement was brutal.

Former Australian nonrecreational Mark Allen was damning successful his appraisal of the works.

"This is... precise poor," Allen tweeted.

"What's incorrect with simply replacing the writer 'drop-in transportation style' erstwhile the turf wears out?

"I conscionable can't judge a sane quality thought it would beryllium a bully idea. It has to beryllium a joke... right?"

Sports Illustrated newsman Alex Miceli likened the works to a "cobblestone chopper pad".

"What are the laws successful Scotland astir disfiguring oregon maiming a 700-year-old positive architectural marvel?" helium wrote.

"That question indispensable beryllium asked aft seeing what the Links Trust has done to the Swilcan Bridge, which makes you wonder, are they wholly retired of their minds?

"Please get escaped of the joker that thought gathering a ceramic runway made sense. It doesn't."

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