[Gary Slatter]

Welcome Neil, good luck holding back!

Neil is the golf super here for the Torrance (reopens July 13) and Kittocks (former Devlin) Course.  Previously he has worked at Muirfield, Lossiemouth and Carnoustie. 
He has also just built 63 of the best sod walled bunkers in Scotland - if anyone needs any advice about bunkers, Neil's the man.  Maybe he likes them so much because he, as a lad, caddied for Tommy Nakajima who spent too much time in the OC 17th bunker, in the Open.

[Brad Tufts]

Welcome Neil!

Question:  What is the work going on at the property near St. Andrews?

Were the courses not well-received at first, or just re-developed?

Thanks.

[Scott Macpherson]

Yes, welcome Neil.

Great to have you on.

I will look forward to your contributions, and hearing more about how you prepare the Torrance course (designed by Denis Griffiths from Atlanta) for its first hosting of the final qualifying for the 2010 St Andrews Open Championship.

scott

[Andrew Mitchell]

Welcome aboard Neil

I would have thought that caddying for Tommy Nakajima would have put you off bunkers for life!  I don't know much about either of the St Andrews Bay courses, despite having stopped in the hotel on one occasion and having driven past on several others.  Some thoughts and pictures of the courses and your bunker work would be appreciated. 

Your name rang a bell and whilst typing I remembered why.  You and Gary Slatter were rumoured to be joining us in our Buda get together last year.  However I think work commitments got in the way and you were unable to meet up with us.  Either that or you both saw sense

[Neil Ballingall]

Thanks for the messages guys.

Brad - The new owners of the property wanted to improve the drainage from the original design and were not going to touch the layout at all but when they realised the extent and cost of the works decided to embark on re-design of the original design by Denis Griffiths. There thoughts on this were - they wanted to toughen up the opening holes - they wanted to totally redevelop Devlin (now Kittocks) which would take in some Torrance holes (the total redevelopment of Devlin was shelved with the downturn of the financial markets) - they wanted more authentic/traditional bunkers.

The courses were very well received by everyone when opened and it was only the owners wishes to improve drainage that resulted in the redesign by Gary Stephenson 'The Linksman'. I have to admit to being a little wary of the changes as I really liked the original but Gary has done a fantastic job with Torrance which I feel will be a real tough test for all levels of play. And then theres the bunkers :-)


Scott - thanks for the welcome, I will keep everyone informed on the run up to the Open Qualifying. We have your friend Rhodri keeping an eye on things now and he seems suitable satisfied by the progress we have made. I hear your digging up the North of England (we tried that so they erected Hadrians Wall), also hear MJ Abbott are your contractors, they completed the redesign here and were very very good you wont have any challenges with them. Good luck with your project.


Andrew - sorry I missed you at the Buda Cup last year and can assure you it was work related and nothing whatsoever to do with all the stories I was told, in fact that made it all the more painful to miss as I have been known to enjoy a sherry or two.
I shall post some pictures of the property and new bunkers when I get back to my own computer.

Guys - thanks for all your interest

Ayewiz cuttin gress - Neil

[Melvyn Morrow]

Neil - Welcome to the mad house.

We all know what we are talking about, it is just that the other 1499 do not or cannot understand – could be put down to the various accents.

Your participation may well bring fame and fortune to those little known courses you have previously work with Muirfield, Lossiemouth and Carnoustie. For some reason they seem to ring a bell.

Welcome

Melvyn

[Dave_Miller]

Welcome Neil, good luck holding back!

Neil is the golf super here for the Torrance (reopens July 13) and Kittocks (former Devlin) Course.  Previously he has worked at Muirfield, Lossiemouth and Carnoustie. 
He has also just built 63 of the best sod walled bunkers in Scotland - if anyone needs any advice about bunkers, Neil's the man.  Maybe he likes them so much because he, as a lad, caddied for Tommy Nakajima who spent too much time in the OC 17th bunker, in the Open.

Neil
Welcome aboard!  Come often and post frequently.
Best
Dave

[Marty Bonnar]

Noo that's whit ah ca' a braw, bonnie Fifeshire name, Mr Ballingall!

Welcome, Neil. I must get out to the Fairmont sometime soon for a wee 'site visit' - ahem! - to the coastal path (which I am deeply fortunate enough to manage the maintenance operations upon). Maybe we can hook up with Mr Slatter and maybe Goodale for a wee game o' the gowf sometime soon?

cheers from lovely Glenrothes,
FBD.

[Gary Slatter]

Noo that's whit ah ca' a braw, bonnie Fifeshire name, Mr Ballingall!

Welcome, Neil. I must get out to the Fairmont sometime soon for a wee 'site visit' - ahem! - to the coastal path (which I am deeply fortunate enough to manage the maintenance operations upon). Maybe we can hook up with Mr Slatter and maybe Goodale for a wee game o' the gowf sometime soon?

cheers from lovely Glenrothes,
FBD.

Great idea, tough to spring Richard long enough for a game!

[Ted Kramer]

Welcome.
It is always nice to have the opportunity to hear from and learn from experts in the field.

Thanks for joining us!

-Ted

[Niall C]

Welcome Neil,

Now that you are on board be prepared to answer a lot of back dated questions on design of pot bunkers; maintainance of pot bunkers; history of pot bunkers and whether Tommy Nakajima ever manage to get out or was he just buried where he lay.

Niall

[Anthony Gray]

   Neil,

  Welcome. I hope you can still get some work done after joining the group.

  Anthony

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