GOLF COURSES
Foley Combination Couldn ’ t have been Better at St Andrews for the 150th Open
ne hundred and sixty-two
O years after the first Open at Prestwick , St Andrews hosted the historic 150th edition of golf ’ s most famous championship .
In early July 2022 , the anticipated recordbreaking crowds lined the Old Course to witness golf ’ s best players compete for the Claret Jug . Every blade of grass from the pristine greens , immaculate fairways and challenging roughs which have been cut with blades sharpened by a Foley grinder , and that is how Director of Greenkeeping Sandy Reid wanted it .
Sandy is no stranger to hosting an Open , with three under his belt during his time at Carnoustie . But , this historic milestone in the championship ’ s history may have been the best yet for the Open veteran .
“ It ’ s the highlight of your career because it doesn ’ t get any bigger than hosting The Open , and you try to absorb all of that and cherish it ,” Sandy explains . “ It ’ s the 150th Open , so it ’ s a big celebration . There are big crowds , and that means the infrastructure requirements are bigger , and there is a more significant impact on the rest of the estate .
“ We never stop planning for it , but from 18 months out , that ’ s when you ’ re doing more winter preparations . The infrastructure build starts at the beginning of April , so away from the playing surface , there is a lot of attention required .
28 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | September / October 2022