http://sport.scotsman.com/golf.cfm?id=750242006Duke's new look embraces past Tradition to fore in course rebuild
MIKE AITKEN
AS A heathland course in an area renowned for its majestic linksland, the Duke's Course was viewed as a square peg in a round hole after it was first built in 1995. Now, however, thanks to an arresting make-over from the American golf architect, Tim Liddy, the Duke's is finally set to find its own niche in the rugged landscape of St Andrews golf.
With substantial financial backing from Old Course hotel owner Herb Kohler - the American entrepreneur also runs Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, where Vijay Singh won the PGA championship in 2004 - Liddy has not only replaced the four closing holes, originally designed by five-time former Open champion Peter Thomson, but also altered every bunker on the 7,500 yard lay-out and created a new look for the 21st century steeped in the traditions of late 19th and early 20th century Scottish course architecture.
Far from transplanting a chunk of Florida into the neuk of Fife, Liddy took the opportunity to spend last winter searching for inspiration in the photographic library at the University of St Andrews. The end result, which includes 100 new or remodelled bunkers and is both craggy and beautiful, officially opens in June.
A colleague of Pete Dye's, who fashioned Whistling Straits, as well as a designer in his own right, Liddy is a champion of the game's roots who already rates the par-3 15th at North Berwick and the par 4-17th at Muirfield as lasting examples of Scottish influence on modern golf design. An admirer of Dr Alister MacKenzie and Donald Ross (the best known architects in America with Scottish heritage), Liddy was happy to go back to the future once it emerged Kohler wanted a more natural look for the Duke's.
Built on the Mount Melville estate formerly owned by the Younger family - Dr James Younger was a past captain of the Royal and Ancient - the land was not the easiest to adapt for golf and was hampered, at first, by drainage problems. "The hillside site is a difficult one for a golf course," acknowledged Liddy.
"But at the same time it's very beautiful and scenic, with views of the North Sea and the town of St Andrews. We always knew it would not be able to compete with the great links along the coast, but could still be a unique inland golf experience. Mr Kohler's love of nature influenced the look of the bunkers. My normal style is quite different: having worked with Pete Dye over the past 18 years, I normally build grass-faced bunkers.
"The bunker style we're using at the Duke's was common on the old Scottish golf courses before they established bunker revetment techniques. I went to the University of St Andrews photo library and researched old photographs of the area's golf courses and found sample bunker photos from the late 1880s through to the 1930s. We built a few of these for Mr Kohler's review and he loved them. In fact the more natural, eroded and wind-blown they looked, the better he liked them. With that, we were off and running.
"We altered the character of the golf course with remodelled bunkering, softening the manufactured shapes and adding new plantings, all to emphasise the natural beauty of the site. The eroded edges and natural shapes [of the bunkers] harmonise with the evergreen trees and gorse found throughout the site. I was fortunate to have so many talented people work on the bunkers. They came from all over America, Canada, and the British Isles. Of the approximate 100 new and remodeled bunkers, we had a dozen individuals shape them into a style that underscored the beauty of the site. As an architect, I can see the personality of each individual in every bunker.
"We also incorporated some of Dr Mackenzie's camouflage techniques with our new bunkering to provide a few areas of distance deceptions. I challenge the golfer to estimate the yardages on several of our views to greens. Also, I softened many of the horizon lines to fit with the surrounding landscape. We added many trees in the perimeter areas and planted heather throughout the golf course, which added greatly to the look.
"Of course the heathland golf courses in the south of England also had a great influence on us. We considered the natural colouring of those courses and used this to guide new plantings of heather, gorse and evergreen trees which frame the golf course and support the individual hole strategies. I also must say Sir Michael and Lady Bonallack were a great support to me. Sir Michael's counsel to me throughout the project was invaluable and one cannot overstate his love and understanding of this great game and its architecture."
Liddy, who lives in the American midwest, based himself in St Andrews while nurturing the project and says he'll always remember the time he spent here.
"Living in St Andrews for the spring and summer was a once in a lifetime experience: to appreciate the nuances of the North Sea and it's effect on the daily climate, the different wildlife and vegetation, and the wonderful people. The Scots, more than [folk] anywhere else, love their golf and are very knowledgeable about the game.
"I loved St Andrews in the winter - with few tourists around it became more of a local experience.
"Everything we do as golf course architects originates with the Old Course. The strategies that influenced the great architects of the past century, Dr MacKenzie and Donald Ross, are all there to discover. It's a magical place. As Bobby Jones once said: 'I can learn more in a week on the Old Course than in a year on many a sterling championship test in America' ".
Although Kohler's decision to hire Liddy rather than Thomson to revise the Australian's original lay-out could have been a source of controversy, the American points out he received nothing but consideration from one of the masters of links golf. While the course has been lengthened by 350 yards, Liddy insists the focus is on strategic play, rather than power golf, and remains true to the fundamentals of the original design.
"Mr Kohler talked to him and felt like he (Thomson) wanted to go in a different direction. I did meet Mr Thompson last summer at the Open and he was very nice to me. He invited me to a breakfast at the Duke's and I will always be grateful for his cordial and friendly attitude towards me."
While his new holes provide the Duke's with a testing finishing stretch - the 16th is a downhill par 3 and the 17th and 18th are delightful par 4s which wind back to the clubhouse - Liddy dreams of returning to Scotland one day. "Of course I would love to design a course from scratch here," he says. "It's one of the most scenic areas on earth. I tell all of my friends and acquaintances to visit the magical 'auld grey toun'. The pace of life and the people are the best in the world."