STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) Bulletin July 2014 | Page 5

GOLF
Stuart Ormondroyd
Senior Turfgrass Agronomist, STRI

ROYAL LIVERPOOL
HOSTS THE 143rd
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Who can forget the return of The
Open to Royal Liverpool in 2006 after
a 39 year absence? For those watching
and participating they experienced
searing heat and fawn-coloured links
reminiscent of Open Championships of
years ago. Tiger Woods smiled and lifted
the Claret Jug after some classic golf on
the sun-drenched Wirral coastline.
Now The Open returns to Hoylake
for the 143rd Open Championship
on a course designed by Harry Colt.

The man in charge, Course Manager
Craig Gilholm, has gained valuable
experience since his baptism of fire,
arriving just before the 2006 Open, and
is well prepared for his second Open
Championship in charge.
For the 2014 Open The R&A have
again opted for a Championship hole
configuration where the Club 17th
and 18th become the 1st and 2nd
Championship (hereafter C) with the
1st becoming the 3rd C and the 16th

becoming the 18th C. The reasoning
lies behind the fact that the 18th C
makes for a better finishing hole and for
spectator viewing too.
I am often asked “When do you
start preparing for an Open?” and
the answer is as soon as the last one
finishes! Indeed, the hot summer
of 2006 highlighted deficiencies in
the old irrigation system and, to the
Club’s credit, a totally new upgraded
and extended system was passed by

Bulletin July 2014 Issue 266

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