Swilken Bridge

[Tim Martin]

To bring things full circle...

Is the ongoing plan then to just re-sod it from time to time, given that the course basically never closes? (The foot traffic is likely much worse on Sundays)

And/or is there any way to implement a temporary barrier around it on Sundays? Or is that just asking for more trouble with people climbing over it and such to get the snap?

P.S.  Bruce, agreed with no Pineapple on Pizza, but I had some on a Thai dish last night and it was terrific!

I don’t think the artificial turf looked that bad and it would seem a more practical solution than having to continually re-sod. I won’t take offense to anyone claiming that it’s a ridiculous solution.

[David_Tepper]

Plastic "paver" tiles (with holes/slots to let the grass grow thru) placed in that heavy traffic area might be a workable solution. I have seen several links course use them.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=plastic+tiles+with+holes+to+allow+grass+to+grow+thru

Certainly a lower maintenance solution than having to re-turf 2 or 3 times a year.   

[Ally Mcintosh]

David, they have tried that before, quite successfully judging by Josh’s photo below. Trouble with this solution is the same: Heavy wear usually kills the grass and leaves an uneven mix of black matting with grass showing through.

[Kalen Braley]

Perhaps that 6+ foot stone wall, as shown in Josh's pic, needs to be restored.  Can't really tell which side of the road its on, but of course they'd need to ensure its built between the course and the road. 

[Thomas Dai]

Very disappointed with this whole saga. It would have been perfect for the 1st April!
atb

[Adam Lawrence]

So the bridge is protected but the course isn't (a group of us spent a lot of time looking into that, or whether the members of the Trust were failing in their duties as trustees when the changes to the course were made 10 or so years ago).  Count me in the obvious minority but I'm not sure that's the right way round.

I agree, but you know that listing is hugely easier to get for built structures. Something like the Old Course _should_ be protected, but the listing regulations weren't drawn up with golf courses in mind.

[David_Tepper]

Ally -

Perhaps the solution is a stone-paved area more modest/sympathetic in design. What if the current walkway was simply extended by a couple of yards, at the same width?


DT

[Marty Bonnar]

Right,
That’s the bridge sorted. Now, back to the SIGN!


 
F.

[Jeff Schley]

Ally -

Perhaps the solution is a stone-paved area more modest/sympathetic in design. What if the current walkway was simply extended by a couple of yards, at the same width?


DT

Or why does the approach to the bridge, which apparently can't tolerate the traffic have to be grass?  How about a decomposed granite walkway?  Pretty common and quite pleasing to the eye.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

Clearly the superintendent hasn't been doing his job. He should have been having the bridge moved to a new spot along the burn each day to spread out the wear and tear.


That said, the Links Trust should have just built replica bridges every few feet or so. That way the bridgeS could handle way more busloads of tourists and again the wear would be spread out.

[Thomas Dai]

Once upon a time …. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DBBMs3UTl8Q

Atb

[Niall C]

My sources in St Andrews advise that this was all a marketing wheeze thought up by the Links Trust to gain publicity and it was never intended that the buggy parking circle would remain. Their other idea was to turn the Valley of Sin into a pond with an ornamental fountain in the middle but apparently someone has copyrighted that idea.


Niall

[MCirba]

Can someone explain to me why a heavily-trafficked, out-of-play, turf worn area can't just be a heavily-trafficked, out-of-play, turf worn area?

[V. Kmetz]

My sources in St Andrews advise that this was all a marketing wheeze thought up by the Links Trust to gain publicity and it was never intended that the buggy parking circle would remain. Their other idea was to turn the Valley of Sin into a pond with an ornamental fountain in the middle but apparently someone has copyrighted that idea.

Niall

NC - Perhaps blameless for just passing it on, but what publicity/marketing end? 5000 people let out a geshrie on the internet? What profit is expected from that?  Isn't the OC as booked as an Ivy League library?   What isn't St. Andrews enjoying that this would help it/them enjoy?

[Kyle Harris]

Can someone explain to me why a heavily-trafficked, out-of-play, turf worn area can't just be a heavily-trafficked, out-of-play, turf worn area?

Flooding and washout if you lose too much stabilizing plant material, for one thing.

[Sean_A]

Can someone explain to me why a heavily-trafficked, out-of-play, turf worn area can't just be a heavily-trafficked, out-of-play, turf worn area?

Flooding and washout if you lose too much stabilizing plant material, for one thing.

Is the burn not stone/wood reinforced around the bridge? I thought the created kinks in the burn were an anti flood measure as well?

Ciao